Must-Watch List in the Vein of Crimson Shoals: Cult Guide

Dir: Francis Ford

While waiting in a hotel lobby for instructions from his government, Ludwig Schumann, an agent of the Black Legion, is enchanted by Marion Washburn, the daughter of a Texas senator. As he is about to speak to the girl, Schumann is stunned to see a young American enter who could be his double. The American is James Walbert, whom Schumann's contact mistakes for the agent. The contact passes to Walbert a photograph of a woman spy, Wanda Bartell, whom the agent is to meet aboard a steamer. Walbert realizes the mistake and determines to protect his country. After overpowering Schumann, Walbert rushes to the steamer where he meets Wanda. Also aboard are Marion and her fiancé, Herbert Cornell, a Washington fop who is trying to prove his earnestness by transporting secret plans to New York. Arriving in New York, Wanda and Walbert report to the Black Legion headquarters where they are instructed to procure Cornell's plans. Wanda succeeds in drugging Cornell, but Walbert intervenes, seizes the plans and returns to headquarters, intent upon smashing the organization. He is greeted by Schumann, who has exposed the spy, and is hopelessly outnumbered until the police arrive, having been summoned by Marion.

Dir: Francis Ford

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

During the Civil War, a young man joins the Union army. His sweetheart's brother, on the other hand, joins the Confederate forces. During a battle the Confederate is captured and brought to the young Union officer, who recognizes him, and later allows him to escape. For that action he is tried for treason, convicted and sentenced to hang. All that remains now is for President Abraham Lincoln to sign his death warrant.

Dir: Francis Ford

While visiting Egypt, Mrs. Graham steals a famous jewel called "The Eye of the World" from a mummy's sarcophagus and returns to the United States, planning to use the gem as collateral for a loan. Kah, the priestess in charge of protecting the tombs of Egyptian nobility, is soon on her trail , determined to retrieve the gem. Mrs. Graham's lovely daughter, Betty, agrees to marry a suitor for money to prop up her father's failing business. When the bridegroom is murdered on the couple's wedding night, and the body disappears, Phil Kelly decides to lend a hand in solving the crimes.

Dir: Francis Ford

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

As a baby, John Ermine is stolen from a wagon train by the Crow Indians and is adopted by Chief Fire Bear. John grows to manhood, ignorant that he is a white man until his parentage is disclosed to him by Crooked Bear,.

Dir: Francis Ford

Episode 1: "The Leopard's Mark" "Peg o' the Rine" opens with a prologue depicting the arrival of a circus in a small town, the detraining, selection of the location, erection of the tent and the preparation of all of the paraphernalia for the exhibition of the show. As the hour of the performance approaches, we are introduced to Peg, known as Peg o' the Ring, an aerial performer; Flip, her guardian and supposed father; Pierre Durand, an athlete, her lover; Big Bill Barnen, who runs the show; and Polo, an athlete and tumbler, preparing for their work in the ring. As Peg and Durand go to their dressing rooms Big Bill Banen meets Flip and tells him that he would like to see him before the day is out. In his office in one of the circus wagons Barnen tells Polo, his henchman, that for certain reason he would like to have Flip out of the way. Polo is agreeable. When Flip comes in Barnen sends everyone else out of the office and brings the conversation around to Peg. He is the only one in the circus who suspects that she is not Flip's daughter. After telling Flip that he is getting too old for the circus stunts, he suggests that he might keep him if he will tell him who Peg really is. Flip refuses and comes very near being throttled by Barnen. Flip leaves the wagon after telling the manager that he holds his whole future in the palm of his hand. Barnen resolves to get Flip out of the way, and tells Polo to pull a horse whip when Flip is in the ring that night doing his big jump, Polo obeys his orders implicitly, and Flip is fatally injured in his jump. Realizing that his hours are numbered he calls Pierre to him and starts to tell him who Peg really is. All unknown to them Big Bill Barnen is listening to them. "Years ago," says Flip, "we were in winter quarters. La Belle, the wild animal queen, had been feeling depressed for some time. I was nothing to her but a friend, but she was all the world to me. I was the only one in the circus who knew that she was secretly married to Dr. Lund, owner, but for reasons of his own the doctor had decided that the marriage must be kept a secret. It was this fact which made La Belle so downhearted. I tried in every way to cheer her up, but I knew in my heart that there was another woman in the doctor's life. I loved her too well to tell her, but I never had the courage to tell her of my love. I had watched over her like a child, and I cautioned her frequently against taking such chances in the cage with her wild animals. And that very night, it was the opening performance of the season, the big cats jumped on her, and before the trainers could get into the cage she had been dangerously hurt. How dangerously, none of us knew at the time. They took her into my tent, and she lay in my arms weeping. The first episode ends at this point with the question, "Who is Peg?"

Dir: Francis Ford

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of John Ermine of Yellowstone perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

An Indian scholar seeks an American colleague who is working on a powerful explosive, trying to get to his formula by taking advantage of his drinking problem.

Dir: Francis Ford

Ralph Avery and Robert Young, who are partners in a munitions factory, are both in love with Molly Carson. When the government investigates their company for stealing secret wartime plans, Ralph hides the evidence in Robert's desk, which leads to his conviction for treason and a twenty-year prison sentence. While Robert is incarcerated, Ralph steals one of Robert's formulas and becomes wealthy. He also marries Molly, who gives birth to a daughter named Lucille. As a grown woman, Lucille learns what her father has done from her mother, whose dying wish is that Lucille make amends to Robert, who eventually is able to take the formula to Europe to aid in the war effort.

Dir: Francis Ford

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of The Adventures of Peg o' the Ring perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

Phil Kelly, a veteran of the Spanish-American War, serves as an American spy during World War I unknown to his mother, fiancée Rose Lockely and friends, who sadly question his loyalty when he fails to enlist. German agents Karl Shamme and John Harris invite Phil to a secret meeting, where he learns of German plans to sink several Allied transports. Phil saves the transports and then is sent to Germany posing as a German aviator. After flying over American lines to warn the Allies of an impending large-scale German offensive, Phil is discovered by Shamme and sentenced to death. Shortly before he is to be shot, Americans bombard the area where he is imprisoned. Although injured in the battle, he is rescued and nursed back to health by Rose.

Dir: Francis Ford

In the mythical kingdom of Lyria, two young Americans get mixed up in a plot to get rid of the rightful king, who at times loses his reason.

Dir: Francis Ford

Patsy, a chorus girl, falls in love with a doctor. A gangster turns his attentions to Patsy when his own girlfriend is burned in a fire, scarring her face, and manages to convince Patsy that the doctor is planning to abandon her, which is not true. Hurt, angry and disillusioned, Patsy retreats to the country, and when the doctor finds out the truth, he goes after her to win her back. Unfortunately, the gangster also goes after her, and he has his own plans for the doctor.