Essential Cult Cinema Mirroring the Impact of Buntat na robite: Cul...

Dir: Harley Knoles

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: Alexander Butler

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of The Night Riders 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: Maurice Elvey

A lady marries a horse trainer but withholds herself until her crippled brother is cured.

Dir: Vassil Gendov

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

The university student and a girl are in love. They make dates, visit a party shop. The girl's aunt opposes their love. She has decided to marry her off to a rich suitor from whose uncle she receives a telegram that his nephew will be arriving from Gabrovo. While Aunt Kera is asleep in the winter garden the young people meet. The girl informs her lover about the forthcoming visit. The student decides to cunningly discredit the suitor of her choice before the aunt. He changes clothes with his friend and poses as the expected wooer. In the conversation with Aunt Kera he feigns nervous tics. Scared she turns him out of the house. After a second change of clothes the two young man carry on the farce. The friend playing the part of the of the mentally deranged suitor raves round the garden, screaming and threatening. The student who happens to pass by chases him away. Having passed himself off for a hero in the aunt's eyes, he finally gets her blessing. The young couple fall into each other's arms.

Dir: William Parke

Bruce Wendell, the son of West Virginia coal mine owner James Wendell, graduates from West Point and prepares to lead a fighting unit to the front during World War I. As his father lies dying, however, he convinces Bruce to remain at home and guard the mine. Bruce's fiancée Ann Blair assumes that he is a coward and breaks off their engagement, but her brother Bobbie remains Bruce's loyal friend. Meyer, a German agent, persuades railroad president Parrish to refuse to transport Wendell's coal, but when Bruce adamantly refuses to close the mine, the spy's men decide to blow it up. While Ann is being abducted by Meyer, Bobbie is buried in an explosion at the mine. Bruce rescues Bobbie and then sends a plea to Lieutenant Parrish to rescue Ann. Meyer and his gang are captured and Ann renews her vow of love to Bruce.

Dir: Edward LeSaint

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of Lyubovta e ludost perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

When famous opera singer Elinore Duane undergoes an operation on her throat, she has a series of ether-induced visions. In one, she is transported to ancient Rome where she appears as a much-admired woman in love with Paul, a young heretic, and at odds with Lutor, the high priest. To save her love, she poisons Lutor with her ring. After several other visions which involve variations on this love triangle, Elinore awakens to discover that Lutor is actually her doctor, Sascha Jaccard, and that Paul is the son of a friend who has come to visit the recovering prima donna.

Dir: Harry Southwell

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

Dir: Victor Heerman

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

In the gold fields of the Canadian Northwest, a man is falsely accused of a crime and determines that a lookalike is responsible.

Dir: Vassil Gendov

The elegant and fun-loving Bulgarian meets a young lady in the street and begins to flirt with her.She decides to teach the stranger a lesson and suggests that he should accompany her round the market-place where she goes on a spending spree. To her surprise she discovers that she has no money with her and asks her escort to lend her some. He agrees. The lady takes Bulgarian to the posh restaurant where she order expensive drinks and refreshments at his expense. Then she loads her escort down with the parcels and leads the way home. On the way she meets her husband and proposes that he should hire a cab so that they can relieve "the porter". The couple leave Bulgarian in a state of shock. He is tipped a small coin for the services rendered.

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.