Hidden Genre Gems for Fans of Dangerous Corner: Cult Guide

Dir: Thomas R. Mills

Returning from the war front, Captain Phoebe Plunkett accepts an assignment to apprehend jewel smugglers in pursuit of the Sultana diamond. On his mission, he meets Patricia Melton, who introduces herself as a French Secret Service agent also in search of the diamond. Plunkett is in love with Olga Karakoff, daughter of a wealthy jeweler, and he soon comes to suspect that Olga's father is in league with the smugglers. However, Patricia is the true impostor, and after she discovers that the jewel is encased in a locket worn around Olga's neck, she captures Olga and the diamond. Plunkett comes to the rescue and wins both Olga and a large reward for recovering the jewel.

Dir: Tom Collins

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

Tex clears an innocent man who has been found guilty of murdering a man who was molesting his sweetheart. One of the 'Tex' detective series.

Dir: Maurice Tourneur

A thief known as The Hawk has stolen the treasured Garter from the British Museum. One of the men pursuing the thief is mistakenly thought to be The Hawk himself, and so must seek his quarry while himself being hunted.

Dir: David Wall

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of My Lady's Garter perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

John Bromley Jr., an inveterate gambler, becomes so overwhelmed with debt that he is forced to steal from his wealthy father's safe. The night of the robbery he breaks into his father's house with Harvey Knowles, the gambler to whom he is indebted. The next morning, Bromley Sr. is found murdered and Tex, a noted criminologist, is brought in to solve the crime. At first, John Jr. is accused, then the guilt shifts to Bromley's other son Bruce, who had just been fired by his father. Also under suspicion is Frances Belmore, a woman of ill repute who had attempted to ensnare Bromley. Finally, all three are cleared when Tex discovers that the butler did it while attempting to abscond with the contents of the safe.

Dir: Phil Rosen

Mary Bird and Myron Sharpe are newlyweds and live happily in a small New England town until the birth of their children. Myron becomes dissatisfied as Mary's time becomes more devoted to her children than to making herself attractive for her husband. When Mary's old friend Pauline Dallas comes to visit, Myron finds himself attracted to her chic appearance. The two are on the threshold of a love affair when Mary becomes lost in a storm while boating. Believing that his wife has drowned, Myron realizes how deeply he loves her, and when Mary is rescued, the couple are reconciled.

Dir: Karl Mueller-Hagens

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

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

Dir: Marcel Perez

Ralph Barr refuses to lend more money to Trent, who has been rejected by Judith Reynard and is now engaged to Barr. When Trent insults Judith, Barr threatens to kill him. Then Trent calls on Barr, threatening to kill himself and make it appear that Barr killed him if Barr will not lend him the money. Later it seems that Trent has committed suicide and Barr is suspected of the murder, but disappears. A series of complications follows which make it appear that Barr did kill Trent, but it turns out that he was killed from a shot behind the portieres. Another murder takes place and more mystery develops. Finally it is determined that Barr is not guilty, and Judith's loyalty saves him.

Dir: William C. Dowlan

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

At a party thrown at the Metcalf estate, the Marquise D'Irancy's Sultana diamond disappears when the lights go out during a power failure. Suspected of the crime is William Kirkland, the wastrel son of the wealthy Kirkland family, but William's sister Diana comes to his defense. Aiding her in the investigation is Clamp, a wandering peddler. After several misadventures, Clamp reveals that he is a secret service agent on the trail of the international criminals, the de Vallignacs, who are summering at the resort. After proving that the de Vallignacs have stolen the diamond, Clamp arrests his prey, clears William and marries Diana.

Dir: Charles Raymond

A magician helps outwit a Chinaman's gang.

Dir: Tom Collins

Tex, a famous detective, recounts the story of how he went into the crime business: While visiting his old friend, Jack Nelson, a dispute breaks out between Nelson and his butler. Later that night, Nelson is murdered, and the next morning the murder weapon, a knife, is discovered next to the body. Edna, the victim's wife, seizes the knife, and Tex, fearing that she is about to kill herself, throws the weapon out the window. Interpreting Tex's actions as incriminating, the police arrest him, and he is sentenced to prison. Two years later, a fire breaks out at the penitentiary, and Tex's bravery in saving the warden's wife and child wins him a pardon. Determining to solve Nelson's murder, Tex searches for the butler but discovers him to be innocent. Summoned to Edna's deathbed, Tex hears her confess to the crime, thus causing him to devote his life to solving crimes and saving innocents from being convicted on circumstantial evidence.