Must-Watch List Comparable to the Style of Black Beauty: Cult Guide

Dir: David Smith

Spunky young Alannah, an Irish immigrant living in a tenement, sells newspapers to support her family. She is soon helping a district attorney secure proof that the unjust town mayor is collecting bribes. For her reward, Alannah and her boyfriend Jimmy are appointed managers of a municipal restaurant.

Dir: Harley Knoles

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

Jim McDonald, the foreman of a shipbuilding plant and head of the labor union, strives to combat the anarchistic propaganda being put forth by Klimoff, the leader of a Bolshevik gang whose goal is to disrupt the country with strikes and anarchy. Despite McDonald's efforts, a strike is called, resulting in chaos. McDonald's child is knocked down by runaway horses abandoned by their striking driver, and dies. Mob scenes take place in America, as well as in Russia. Eventually, the unrest is quelled with an armistice called between Capital and Labor for a year, during which time wages are to be increased to reflect the cost of living, and leaders are to work out a common plan for their mutual advantage. The strikers now realize that they have been pawns of the Bolsheviks and call off the strike, agreeing to the plan.

Dir: David Smith

A hobo hires out as a sheepman. The owner of the ranch is a mysterious individual, who is suspected of being Black Bill, a badly wanted man.

Dir: David Smith

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of The Hiding of Black Bill perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

Timid village schoolteacher Geraldine Farleigh supports her family and must pay off her late father's debt to Bruce Cartwright.

Dir: David Smith

Jim Carvel, whose father Henry, a newspaper owner, has been killed by the local political boss for exposing a theft ring, shoots his father's murderer and escapes to the Canadian Northwest where he befriends Nepeese, daughter of a local trapper named Pierre. Brutal trading post owner "Bush" McTaggart attacks Nepeese while she is alone in her cabin. Pierre arrives home and tries to defend his daughter, but McTaggart kills him. To clear himself, McTaggart blames Jim for the murder, and while a group of Indians track Jim down, kidnaps Nepeese. Jim is rescued by his half-breed friend De Bar while Baree, Nepeese's dog, hunts down and overcomes McTaggart. Freed from McTaggart's clutches, Nepeese marries Jim.

Dir: Alexander Butler

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

In Alberta, Canada, a Cornish emigrant unmasks a rustler posing as the girl's "blind" father.

Dir: David Smith

Having been discharged as the Van Smuythes' coachman for drunkenness, Thomas McQuade has joined the Bed Liners in Madison square. It is freezing cold. Standing beside him is a young man, shabby but neat. They exchange confidences and Thomas learns that the young man has just been discharged from a hospital without a penny, his wife and child having been obliged to return to her mother. He had married against the wishes of his unforgiving relatives. Just then an automobile dashes up Fifth avenue and, when opposite the Bed Line, drops an extra tire. Thomas catches it and returns it to the owner, expecting at least a dollar for the service, but, instead the imposing gentleman asks him mysteriously if he knows the Van Smuythes, and on learning that he does, Thomas is forthwith taken to a palatial house in the Seventies and fed on cold fowl, tea biscuits and wine. While thus pleasantly occupied two women are mysteriously ushered into a side room, where his host, Prof. Cherubusco, the great clairvoyant, tells them that the Chaldean Chiroscope has been successful, for had it not said "By the fifth wheel of the chariot he shall come?" But the professor, learning instead that Thomas is the Van Smuythe's ex-coachman, throws him into the street. So back to the Bed Line goes Thomas, where he resumes his conversation with his new friend. Suddenly a sturdy girl rushes up to him. It is Annie, his sweetheart and maid at the Van Smuythe's, whom he has not seen for a month. She says his old position is waiting for him, but suddenly catching sight of the other man she screams, "Mr. Walter!" And then it appears that she had accompanied her mistress to the great clairvoyant and he had hold her where she would find her sweetheart, and she had also found "Mr. Walter." After paying the car fares home she vows to give her remaining $11.85 to Professor Cherubusco, "the greatest man in the world." Moving Picture World, February 2, 1918

Dir: David Smith

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of Baree, Son of Kazan perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

Ragged Patsy O'Reilly imagines herself as the descendant of Irish nobility. When her father, an impoverished contractor, invents an ore crusher, the family suddenly becomes wealthy and moves to New York City. Patsy is enrolled in a finishing school, and her parents tour Ireland, where they purchase, at their daughter's request, a coat-of-arms from the bankrupt Lord Windbourne family. After the O'Reillys return to the U.S., they are visited by Lady Windbourne and her son, the Lord, who do not mention that the adopted coat-of-arms is their own. Lord Windbourne becomes engaged to Patsy, but is later revealed as an impostor by the true heir to the Windbourne line, Larry Burke, an English officer. Larry marries Patsy and gives her an authentic ancestral name and coat-of-arms.

Dir: David Smith

Peggy (Bessie Love) and her sister Frances (Myrtle Reeves) live with their father, but because of his idleness, they must all move to humbler quarters. Peggy adapts quickly to their new surrounding, while Frances misses the social life she once enjoyed. Their neighbors are well off, and Peggy begins a romance with their son, whom she thinks is the chauffeur. Meanwhile, Frances has become involved with a roguish character and plans to elope with him. Peggy saves her sister from imminent disgrace, but comes close to compromising herself instead. Peggy's sweetheart comes to her rescue and now his true identity is revealed to the very grateful girl.

Dir: Wilfred Lucas

Brian O'Farrell (Snowy Baker), is an English 'new chum' who takes a job at an Australian cattle station. He is teased by station hands because of his appearance (including spats and a monocle) but he soon impresses them with his skills at riding and boxing. The station manager, John MacDonald (Wilfred Lucas), takes O'Farrell to Sydney to meet his daughter Edith (Kathleen Key) who is working in the slums. Edith is kidnapped by criminals after witnessing a crime but O'Farrell rescues her. It is later revealed he is the owner of the station.