Deep Archive Finds Movies That Echo the Spirit of East Side Sadie: Cult Guide

Dir: Sidney M. Goldin

The famous Italian detective, Guila Ferrati, is sent by his government to trail members of the Mafia who have landed in the U.S. As they resume their criminal activities in New York City, a bootblack named Tony overhears a conversation between Guila and the chief inspector of police. Tony informs the Mafia of Guila's arrival, resulting in the detective's murder. Meanwhile, Aramatti Lattori, a wealthy Italian merchant, receives letters from a Black Hand society threatening the kidnapping of his child unless he gives them a large sum of money. When the merchant refuses, the two Mafiosi proceed with the kidnapping, leading to a series of incidents, including a bombing, which sets the city in an uproar. Through clever ruses and daring exploits, Italian-American detective Lieutenant Cavanaugh rescues the child and extradites the Mafiosi to their homeland.

Dir: Maurice Elvey

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

A lady marries a horse trainer but withholds herself until her crippled brother is cured.

Dir: Sidney M. Goldin

The story of Lt. Joseph Petrosino, an Italian-American New York City police detective, who was assigned to investigate the Sicilian Mafia, which was beginning to become a major problem in New York. He did such a good job that the city sent him to Sicily to gather information on the Sicily/New York Mafia connections. He was murdered in Palermo by Mafia gunmen. The 1960 film Pay or Die! (1960) starring Ernest Borgnine was also based on his life.

Dir: Harry Southwell

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of The Adventures of Lieutenant Petrosino perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

Dir: Eduardo Notari

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

Dir: Bruno Ziener

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

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

Dir: Robert N. Bradbury

A simple country girl, brutally mistreated by her stepfather, awakens first the sympathy, then the love, of The Boy. The Spider, who lusts after The Girl, makes a bargain with the stepfather and takes her to the city where, kept prisoner, she is soon broken in health and spirit. Cast out and near death, she is taken in by The Boy. Following the demise of The Spider, The Boy takes her to church, where he prays, and after many hours she is restored to health.

Dir: Sidney M. Goldin

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of 'A mala nova perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

By night, Mr. Browning (Walter Miller), a man of wealth, masquerades as Red Harrigan, a common frequenter of saloons. He soon becomes the notorious leader of an underworld gang in Detroit. After Browning experiences a series of escapes from the police and a famous detective, involving car chases and a dive into the Detroit River, the detective learns that "Harrigan" is really his own brother, and that the reason he began living a double life was to find and reclaim his sibling.

Dir: Frank Beal

During a raging Montana snowstorm, Doctor Jim Barnes collapses at Esther Anderson's cabin door. Esther offers Jim refuge, but when he discovers that their food supplies are running dangerously low, he braves the journey into town in order to replenish them. On the way, he is overcome with exhaustion and fails to return. Esther, unaware of Jim's condition and abused by her stepfather, joins a theatrical troop and leaves home. Time passes and Jim finally finds Esther, but a vindictive member of her troupe accuses her of having an affair with the manager and Jim believes the accusation. He leaves and Esther goes to New York City where she becomes engaged to a jealous artist, although she still loves Jim. Sam Tuttle, a long time friend, is aware of Esther's continuing love, and so brings Jim to New York City in time to save Esther from an unhappy marriage.

Dir: Alexander Butler

In Alberta, Canada, a Cornish emigrant unmasks a rustler posing as the girl's "blind" father.