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Recommendations
Senior Film Conservator
Looking back at the 1930 milestone that is Believe It or Not #2, the specific stylistic flair of this work is a gateway to a broader Short world. Our archive is rich with titles that mirror the stylistic flair of Murray Roth.
As Murray Roth's most celebrated work, it defines to create a dialogue between the viewer and the stylistic flair.
The second entry in the Believe It or Not series of shorts begins with Robert Ripley in his office sorting his mail. At the time he received about one million pieces of mail per year, more than any other individual. He shows the audience several of the more oddly addressed envelopes. These include one addressed in Morse code; one in Hebrew, one using the naval flag code; and one with a small tear to the left of a picture of Robert E. Lee (i.e., "Rip + Lee" = Ripley). A U.S. marshal then enters the office and arrests Ripley. He is brought to court to defend several of the claims made in his books and newspaper columns. One claim is that "The Star-Spangled Banner" is not the national anthem of the USA (it wasn't until 1931). Another is that Charles A. Lindbergh was actually the 67th person to fly nonstop across the Atlantic Ocean. (The first nonstop flight was made in 1919 by a pair of aviators in one plane, and two dirigibles with more than 30 passengers each also made crossings before Lindbergh).
Based on the unique stylistic flair of Believe It or Not #2, our vault has identified these titles as the most compelling follow-up experiences for fans of Short cinema:
Dir: Malcolm St. Clair
A dancing instructor gets involved with a newly rich family.
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Dir: Reggie Morris
A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.
Dir: Unknown Director
The Judge needs a present for his wife's birthday, so Harry suggests a new corset. They go to the shop, but he's so embarrassed to ask the saleslady he hides in a phone booth.Harry goes in, but finds a GUY wearing one, and runs out.They both dress as women to get back in, but Mrs. Rummy gets there and chases him out.
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Dir: Charley Chase
A young married couple volunteer to take charge of several orphans after the asylum has burned down. Of course they find their hands full with their troublesome charges.
Dir: Victor Heerman
The night of the Policeman's Benefit is at hand and all the coppers with their wives are in the audience. On the stage is a magician. Everything goes well until he asks for the officers' watches. Presumably he will turn them into eggs or something. He has a charming confederate and both enter compartments. When they don't reappear, the curtains are lifted and the fakirs are absent. They escaped through a trap in the stage. Then the chase is on.
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Dir: Ralph Ince
A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.
Dir: Bud Fisher
Mutt and Jeff go on strike and make their own film.
Dir: Alfred J. Goulding
Two tramps wrest a pistol from a hold up man, then try to pull a stick up of their own, unfortunately for them, a cop appears and takes the money back and then chases them through a park with a lake. One steals canoe and the chase continues when a mob of cops go after him in more boats.
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Dir: Richard Smith
Two female candidates for Chief of Police live across the hall from each other, and their political rivalry follows them home, leading to plenty of hi-jinks.
View DetailsAnalysis relative to Believe It or Not #2
| Film Title | Atmosphere | Complexity | Similarity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Don't Weaken! | Tense | Dense | 89% Match |
| Striking Models | Tense | High | 96% Match |
| A Fitting Gift | Surreal | Layered | 96% Match |
| Kids Is Kids | Tense | Layered | 94% Match |
| Chicken à la Cabaret | Tense | Linear | 86% Match |
This guide was algorithmically generated using the cinematic metadata of Murray Roth's archive. Last updated: 8/16/2026.
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