Log in Register

DbcultAccessing Vault...

Recommendations

Cinematic Discoveries Following the Footsteps of Believe It or Not ...

Author

Senior Film Conservator

28 May 2026

3 min read

The artistic legacy of Alfred J. Goulding was forever changed by Believe It or Not (Second Series) #7, this Short landmark continues to dictate the rules of its category. We've assembled a sequence of films that complement the tone of Believe It or Not (Second Series) #7 perfectly.

The Believe It or Not (Second Series) #7 Phenomenon

The vintage appeal of Believe It or Not (Second Series) #7 to maintain its cult relevance across several decades.

Robert Ripley gives a show aboard a luxury liner at sea, starting with drawings discussing the origin of the term "fathom" and Christopher Columbus being banished from America. Film clip highlights include US curiosities such as a leaning lighthouse, a movie theater in a lead mine, a corn mosaic of the American flag, a working water pump in downtown Washington, and a beauty queen who also won a contest for making funny faces, as well as more footage from his tour of North Africa.

Cinematic Discoveries Following the Footsteps of Believe It or Not (Second Series) #7

Based on the unique unique vision of Believe It or Not (Second Series) #7, our vault has identified these titles as the most compelling follow-up experiences for fans of Short cinema:

In the River scene — Scene from In the River

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of In the River perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

In the River

1. In the River 1920

Dir: Edgar Jones

A mail-order bride arrives at a Maine lumber camp but doesn't like her prospective husband.

Ring Up the Curtain

2. Ring Up the Curtain 1919

Dir: Alfred J. Goulding

Stage hand Harold falls in love with the leading lady of a visiting theatrical troupe.

Ring Up the Curtain scene — Scene from Ring Up the Curtain

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of Ring Up the Curtain perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

From Hand to Mouth

3. From Hand to Mouth 1919

Dir: Alfred J. Goulding

A penniless young man tries to save an heiress from kidnappers and help her secure her inheritance.

Pistols for Breakfast

4. Pistols for Breakfast 1919

Dir: Alfred J. Goulding

A young man goes out to eat breakfast with his friend. As a restaurant "regular" with a pistol threatens to eat everyone's bacon, the two friends flee.

From Hand to Mouth scene — Scene from From Hand to Mouth

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of From Hand to Mouth perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

Start Something

5. Start Something 1919

Dir: Alfred J. Goulding

Snub is a traffic cop and succeeds in mixing things up by trying to flirt with every pretty girl motorist.

The Dutiful Dub

6. The Dutiful Dub 1919

Dir: Alfred J. Goulding

Harold is a henpecked husband who suddenly makes a change of front and asserts himself, much to his wife's astonishment.

Pistols for Breakfast scene — Scene from Pistols for Breakfast

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of Pistols for Breakfast perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

Si, Senor

7. Si, Senor 1919

Dir: Alfred J. Goulding

Our hero is a barber in a small Mexican town, wooing a local senorita, against the wishes of her mother.

The Marathon

8. The Marathon 1919

Dir: Alfred J. Goulding

Boy trying to impress girl, gets chased by her father and the police right into an ongoing marathon.

Start Something scene — Scene from Start Something

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of Start Something perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

Never Touched Me

9. Never Touched Me 1919

Dir: Alfred J. Goulding

At the Killjoy Cafe, "everything is first class except the food and the service."

'A mala nova

10. 'A mala nova 1920

Dir: Eduardo Notari

A crime drama in the Gennariello-series. The police detective in Naples that is confronted with modern gangsters and crime events.

Cinematic Comparison Matrix

Analysis relative to Believe It or Not (Second Series) #7

Film Title	Atmosphere	Complexity	Similarity
In the River	Gritty	High	92% Match
Ring Up the Curtain	Tense	Linear	87% Match
From Hand to Mouth	Surreal	High	86% Match
Pistols for Breakfast	Gothic	Layered	98% Match
Start Something	Surreal	Linear	93% Match

* This matrix is generated based on structural DNA and genre proximity to the 1932 classic Believe It or Not (Second Series) #7.

This guide was algorithmically generated using the cinematic metadata of Alfred J. Goulding's archive. Last updated: 5/28/2026.

Back to Believe It or Not (Second Series) #7 Details →

Share this archive