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Recommendations
Senior Film Conservator
Exploring the stylistic flair in Broken China is a journey into United States cinema, the thematic layers of this 1926 classic invite a wider exploration of the genre. If William Blaisdell, Bobby Vernon, Frances Lee impressed you, these next recommendations will too.
With Harold Beaudine at the helm, Broken China became to reinvent the tropes of Comedy cinema for a global audience.
Bobby asks permission to marry Betty, but her father, who is Chief of Police, refuses, telling Bobby that she can only marry a policeman and that he has promised her hand to Artie, the new Lieutenant. Just then Artie comes in and tells Bobby he is to announce their engagement that night at the Policeman's Ball. Bobby leaves telling Betty he will see her that night. Bobby, masquerading in a policeman's outfit, arrives at the ball, but is thrown out. As he is walking along, a patrol wagon comes by, filled with police on their way to raid Chinatown. They see Bobby and thinking him an officer, pull him into the wagon. When the patrol reaches Chinatown, the Lieutenant order. Bobby to patrol the street and tells him to stay there. They depart, leaving Bobby all alone and a bit scared. As he sits on a garbage can a little Chinese boy places a big firecracker in it and when it explodes, Bobby lands in an underground Chinese den. Won Lung, a notorious smuggler, is seated in Buddha fashion when Bobby arrives. In his endeavor to see him better, Bobby ignites Won's beard with a candle and when Won discovers it, he starts after Bobby. In the meantime, the Chief of Police, Betty and Artie arrive with the other police. In the den, Won and Bobby are having a fight and the Chinaman is just about to kill Bobby when he knocks him out. Hiding behind Won, he directs the Chinamen to get out of the den. The ground opens and one by one they land in the patrol wagon. Finally, Bobby arrives with Won Lung and the police recognize him as the smuggler. The Chief of Police congratulates Bobby and gives him his daughter and his blessing. As they embrace the street opens and they disappear down below.
Based on the unique stylistic flair of Broken China, our vault has identified these titles as the most compelling follow-up experiences for fans of Comedy cinema:
Dir: Maurice Campbell
Carver Endicott, a young sophisticate, is rejected by his fiancée for being too foppish and dull. When she feigns an interest in his father, Carver attempts to disgrace his family name by working as a farmhand and later as a busboy in a hotel. However, the newspapers only praise him for his self-sacrificing principles; and finding that he cannot bring shame to the family through menial labor, he takes up with a notorious actress. But when this maneuver also fails, he returns to his former fiancée, who has no further complaint about his being an inexperienced dullard.
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Dir: Mason N. Litson
Edgar and his chum try to amass a fortune in one day by cornering the fan market on a hot afternoon when the circus comes to the small town where they are spending their vacation.
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.
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Dir: Malcolm St. Clair
A dancing instructor gets involved with a newly rich family.
Dir: Lloyd Ingraham
While walking along the street one day, Arthur P. Hampton, an impoverished young doctor, and his chums, Stub Masters and Johnny Stokes, are persuaded to part with their last remaining funds by tag day solicitor Mary Jane Smith, with whom the doctor promptly falls in love. Doc's friends then hit upon a get-rich-quick scheme. Knowing that his Uncle George has promised a large sum of money upon his nephew's marriage, they persuade Doc to send out fake wedding invitations naming Mary Jane as the blushing bride. Uncle George, elated at the good news, writes to Mary Jane's aunt, Angelica Burns, an old sweetheart, to invite Mary Jane and Angelica to be his guests on an ocean voyage. Meanwhile, Mary Jane pays a visit to the doctor's office and, upon seeing the wedding invitations, becomes so flustered that she trips and sprains her ankle. Doc comes to her rescue and then begs her to pose as his wife. She agrees, but at ship-side, Stub and Johnnie confess all to Uncle George, who flies into a rage until Doc announces that he and Mary Jane have chosen a wedding at sea.
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Dir: Ralph Ince
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: Hal Roach
An American book salesman (Lloyd) is persuaded to go to the kingdom of Thermosa to impersonate the Prince. He is greeted by a peasants' revolt before the real prince shows up to claim his throne and princess. The revolution succeeds, and the American is elected president of the new republic.
Dir: Robert Thornby
Mary Willard takes over her father's railroad after his death. Her major competitor is a ruthless crook named Harvey Judson. She arranges for Judson to be kidnapped and taken to an isolated spot deep in the forest and turned loose to fend for himself. She accompanies the kidnappers to the wild and Judson, not knowing who she is, begins to fall in love with her. Complications ensue.
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Dir: Edgar Jones
A mail-order bride arrives at a Maine lumber camp but doesn't like her prospective husband.
View DetailsAnalysis relative to Broken China
| Film Title | Atmosphere | Complexity | Similarity |
|---|---|---|---|
| An Amateur Devil | Tense | Linear | 98% Match |
| Get-Rich-Quick Edgar | Tense | Abstract | 95% Match |
| Kids Is Kids | Tense | Layered | 94% Match |
| Don't Weaken! | Tense | Dense | 89% Match |
| Mary's Ankle | Surreal | High | 86% Match |
This guide was algorithmically generated using the cinematic metadata of Harold Beaudine's archive. Last updated: 6/28/2026.
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