The Definitive Watchlist For Devotees of Dynamite: Cult Guide

Dir: Gilbert Pratt

Al is a lazy school-boy with an ape, Napoleon, for his room mate and companion. Their home is outfitted with rather novel labor-savings devices. When Al goes to school, he cuts up with the usual school boy stunts with Napoleon to help.

Dir: Gilbert Pratt

Percie and Ferdie answer an ad for barbers, and to be sure of the job they get there in the middle of the night, sleeping on the steps of the shop. They get the jobs, and the balance of the reel is a burlesque of the daily happenings in a barber shop. It's all good stuff, with a succession of new bits of business. The second reel find the boys preparing to attend Miss Millionbucks' ball. They go attired in stolen uniforms, passing as two friends of the young lady's father. Of course the rightful two arrive and show the boys up. At the moment they are about to be shot for impersonating officers, they wake up - still in front of the barber shop, and the jobs taken.

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

Dir: Gilbert Pratt

Harold and Snub, traveling on a tandem bicycle, encounter wading women in distress, bank robbers, and police who believe them to be the robbers.

Dir: Gilbert Pratt

Two playful young ladies make the acquaintance of two idle sons, who follow them, persistently forcing their way into a dancing academy, much against the dancing master's will. One of them gets a bright idea, and with the help of two pieces of mirror and a long pipe making a periscope, watch the dancing lessons. They are much interested in the dance of the seven veils, when the dancing master spies the periscope. He comes down, scares Monte away, and takes his place beside the unsuspecting Joe. Joe finally evades him, the two again resume their persistently in forcing their way into the place, assuming two suits of armor, being brought to the academy. Queer things follow rapidly on top of one another, winding up with the two running, as the picture fades.

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of Going! Going! Gone! perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

Dir: Gilbert Pratt

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

Dir: Gilbert Pratt

Rhubarb enters a bullfighting contest and becomes a local and then a national hero in the Madrid arena. Conflict arises when his lover finds out that he is flirting with alluring Filet de Sole before facing the toughest bull of Spain.

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of Damsels and Dandies perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

Dir: Gilbert Pratt

A gang of youngsters proceed to tear up the neighborhood with their mischief.

Dir: Gilbert Pratt

Harold must have $5,000 to win the girl and manages to get it out of her father in a novel way.

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of Caves and Coquettes perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

Dir: Gilbert Pratt

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

Dir: Gilbert Pratt

The story follows the arrival of an immigrant girl, her kidnapping by a band of crooks and her ultimate rescue by her sweetheart, who is forced to deface the station building in order to obtain service from the local police force.