Editor's Top Picks Following the Footsteps of Conditioning: Cult Guide

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.

Dir: Ralph Ince

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

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

Dir: Jack Eaton

The opening of the picture shows the artist (James Montgomery Flagg) equipped with his pencil paraphernalia commencing his work of sketching in various moods a young woman seated in front of him to whom he relates the story of the character for which she is to pose. Then follows the film version of the story in which the screen fan in the shape of a pretty young woman sits in the front row at the theater, her countenance reflecting colorfully the tragedy of the screen. In due time aspirations become reality, and we find our heroine in close proximity with the Cooper Hewitts. But while she awaits the call of the director she falls asleep and dreams a wonderful dream in which she becomes the leading woman of the play, living in ease and affluence, and treated with a heavenly respect such as none of her kind in wildest dreams has ever imagined. Finally the dream has a rude awakening in which the director summons her to enter a lion's cage to "make meat for the lion," assuring her that he "will be right outside and everything." The finish of the picture shows Miss Screen Fan making a hasty flight to "Mommer!"

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.

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

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.

Dir: Jack Eaton

Peggy is a fascinating female who, after bidding her soldier lover a fond farewell, turns again quickly to the beloved pursuit of man eating. Invited to be one of a gay picnic party, she not only is successful in winning the admiration of the unmarried and much engaged young men of the party, but fastens her talons on the only married member. A conspiracy worked up by the women while the men go swimming, in which they hire a farm-hand to be caught by the young woman in a game of blind man's bluff, only goes to prove how little faith can be placed in the best laid plans of mice and women. The young woman in a fit of fright rushes frantically to the stream where the men are swimming, and is soon the center of masculine attraction again.

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of His Royal Slyness perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

Dir: William F. Adler

A travelogue/documentary including explorations of the fauna and people of Siam, New Guinea, and Java, with interpolations of an apparently fictitious encounter between the filmmakers and cannibalistic natives of Frederick Henry Island in the South Pacific.

Dir: Vernon Stallings

Krazy Kat is held in jail and Ignatz finally bails him out after encountering "guilt".

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

Dir: Malcolm St. Clair

A dancing instructor gets involved with a newly rich family.

Dir: Eduardo Notari

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