Recommendations
Senior Film Conservator

In the vast archive of War cinema, Children of Dust stands as a poignant storytelling beacon, it's essential to look at the contemporaries that shared this poignant storytelling. Our cinematic experts have identified several titles that reflect the spirit of 1923.
Few films from 1923 manage to capture to leave an indelible mark on the history of United States film.
Young Terwilliger, an orphan boy in New York City, "adopts" Old Archer, the caretaker of Gramercy Park, after the man is arrested for beating Terwiliger for picking a flower for his dead mother. As Terwilliger grows up, he falls in love with Helen Raymond, a pretty neighborhood girl, but finds a rival for her in Harvey Livermore. When World War I breaks out both boys enlist in the army and are sent to the front lines. Complications ensue.
Critics widely regard Children of Dust as a cult-favorite piece of War cinema. Its poignant storytelling is frequently cited as its strongest asset, solidifying its place in United States's film legacy.
Based on the unique poignant storytelling of Children of Dust, our vault has identified these titles as the most compelling follow-up experiences for fans of War cinema:
Dir: Frank Borzage
American sailor Allan Carroll, an American sailor, is shipwrecked of the coast of Japan in the 19th century. He makes it to shore and is rescued by kind Yori. The local ruler, Prince Iku, has ordered that all foreigners who are "trespassing" on Japanese soil should be killed. He hears about a foreign sailor who washed ashore and has been hidden by villagers, so he sends his sister Omi San to investigate. She finds Alan, and instead of turning him in to be executed, she falls in love with him. Prince Iku captures both Allan and Yori and intends to execute both of them. Complications ensue.
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Dir: Frank Borzage
Successful model, Phyllis Clyne, convinces a down-and-out nobleman, Billy, to pass her off in society as titled gentry. They fall in love and when it turns out that her late father actually was a lord, they decide they now can marry.
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Dir: Frank Borzage
A saloon owner loans her lover the money to buy a house, which he has led her to believe they will live in after they're married. Instead, he takes the money and buys a saloon in another town.
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Dir: Frank Borzage
Charmed by the bright smile of Taro San, a Japanese rickshaw boy, Grant Barton takes the young man to the United States as his valet. Grant marries Marion Craig, but when she departs for California to visit her sick mother, he becomes enamored of Tonia Marsh, a vamp. Marion discovers them together and leaves Grant, whereupon Taro resolves to help his kind employer out of his difficulties. Persuading Tonia that he is a member of the imperial family of Japan, Taro pays court to the adventuress, and when Grant finds them in each other's arms, he immediately fires Taro. Grant and Marion are reconciled, while Taro sadly returns to Japan.
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Dir: Frank Borzage
Ward Curtis, president of a development company, comes to the western town of Los Huesos with his daughter, Wynne, to investigate a report made by one of his field scouts that there is a gold stream on the land occupied by the Bar C outfit. The Bar C people have no legal title to the land, but they have terrorized the neighborhood, and intimidated the government officials. The land is used for grazing purposes, and the Bar C people know nothing about the gold stream. There has also come to Los Huesos a cowpuncher known only as "The Stranger," the only man who refuses to be intimidated by Bar C crowd. Curtis meets the Stranger, who consents to assist Curtis in his undertaking, hoping to win favor with Wynne. She is mildly interested in him, but is disappointed and bored by the town and its people, and after a week or so packs her bags and leaves for home, saying that the Stranger is the only picturesque thing she has seen in this land of lizards. Near the Bar C holdings is a small sheep ranch operated by Dave Moore and his daughter, Bobbie, as a blind to cover more important operations, by moonlight Moore secretly pans the gold stream on the Bar C ranch. Bobbie maintains a disguise as a boy for her own protection from the lawless cowpunchers, and to keep them from becoming interested in her father's affairs. The Stranger sets out to investigate the placer site, and stops at the Moore cabin to make inquiries about the Bar C crowd. He meets Bobbie without suspecting her disguise, and she manifests considerable interest in him. The Stranger locates the placer stream, but is observed by Moore, who hastens to the land office and files on the creek bed. By moonlight Moore builds on his claim, but is discovered by one of the Bar C outlaws and killed. The Stranger, who has set up his camp in a blind canyon known as the "Cow's Mouth" near the creek, hears the exchange of shots, gets into the scrap and drives away the outlaw, then brings Moore's body to Bobbie. The Bar C crowd, led by Moran, set out to "get" the Stranger. They come to Bobbie's cabin, but she directs them to town. They search the town, then decide that Bobbie has lied to them, and start again for her cabin. The Stranger discovers that Bobbie is a girl, and falls in love with her. He leaves the cabin and goes to the Cow's Mouth to "hide out" from the Bar C crowd. The Bar C boys come to Bobbie's cabin, and she is handled brutally by Moran to get her to tell what has become of the Stranger. Her hat falls off, and her secret is discovered. Moran claims her as his personal prize, and they set off to pursue the Stranger. They see him enter the narrow passage into the Cow's Mouth. Inside he starts a grass fire, then slips out with his horse through a secret passage which is unknown to the Bar C fellows. Leaving one of their number to guard Bobbie, the others go in after the Stranger, but are soon driven out by the fire. As they come single file through the passage the Stranger picks off the first two or three with his gun; the rest surrender. Moran is one of the men who was killed. Bobbie is taken to the Bar C ranch house by the outlaws. The Stranger rides into town and turns his captives over to the authorities, and enlists the men there to go to Bobbie's rescue. Later, as Bobbie and the Stranger are about to board a train for their honeymoon, Curtis rushes up to them and announces that, by the death of her father, Bobbie is now the owner of the gold stream claim.
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Dir: Frank Borzage
The matriarch of a poor Jewish family nurtures her talented son's dream of being a great violinist, but as an adult, global events call for him to postpone his dream.
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Dir: Alexander Butler
In Alberta, Canada, a Cornish emigrant unmasks a rustler posing as the girl's "blind" father.
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Dir: Frank Borzage
When Benny Boggs, a good-natured hobo, is rejected by the U.S. Army, he decides to overcome his aversion to work and offers assistance to a farmer known as Old Man Cushing. Cushing falls seriously ill and, believing he is about to die, asks Benny to deliver a package to his daughter Ruby, who left home to pursue an acting career. Benny soon learns that the package contains $50,000, but resolves to earn the old man's trust, despite his poverty. After arriving in the city, Benny rescues Beatrice Burnett from an attacker, and the two become friends. Later, Beatrice takes Benny to visit her ailing friend, who identifies herself as Cushing's long-lost daughter. Benny gives the money to Ruby and accompanies her back to the farm, where they receive a warm greeting from Cushing, who has recovered from his illness. The army finally accepts Benny, and Ruby promises to marry him when he returns from active duty.
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Dir: Frank Borzage
Immediate Lee, employed on the ranch owned by one Masters, is discharged by the manager through the influence of one of his men, who is in the brand blotting game with Masters. Beulah, a dance-hall girl, has attracted the attention of Hurley, a brand blotter, but prefers Lee. Hurley entraps Lee and cuts his mouth open with a wide gash, which leaves a permanent scar. Lee vows vengeance and follows the man all over the country. He at last meets him face to face, but Hurley is saved by the intercession of Beulah. He later is killed in a fierce encounter. The brand blotters are discovered and punished by the aid of Immediate Lee, and Beulah receives the reward of loyalty and devotion by becoming Lee's wife.
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Dir: Frank Borzage
Kirby kills a man in self-defense and becomes a fugitive from the police.
View DetailsAnalysis relative to Children of Dust
| Film Title | Atmosphere | Complexity | Similarity |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Curse of Iku | Surreal | High | 90% Match |
| Society for Sale | Ethereal | Linear | 88% Match |
| The Gun Woman | Ethereal | Dense | 91% Match |
| Who Is to Blame? | Ethereal | Layered | 97% Match |
| Land o' Lizards | Ethereal | Abstract | 95% Match |
This guide was algorithmically generated using the cinematic metadata of Frank Borzage's archive. Last updated: 6/8/2026.
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