The Definitive Watchlist Seeking the Same Brilliance as Eastward Ho!: Cult Guide

Dir: Emmett J. Flynn

Rancher Joe Cumberland finds "Whistling Dan" in the desert and gives the boy a home, rearing him with his daughter Kate. Dan, grown to manhood, remains untamed, possessing a hot temper which ignites his eyes into a yellow glow when he is angered. Dan's eyes glow and he vows revenge when outlaw Jim Silent tries to kill him in a saloon brawl. Kate goes to the outlaw camp to prevent Dan from killing Silent, but is taken prisoner. The confrontation between the two men escalates when Dan captures Lee Haines, one of Silent's men, and Silent retaliates by imprisoning Kate's father. After a trade of prisoners, Dan trails the outlaws and exterminates the entire gang except for Silent. The two adversaries then slug it out, with Dan strangling his tormentor. His revenge accomplished, Dan is somewhat tamed and settles down with Kate.

Dir: Emmett J. Flynn

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

Mrs. Bernice Bristol Flint threatens to destroy the reputation of an innocent woman unless her wealthy husband John grants her a divorce, and although John has not betrayed his wife, he agrees to give her a large sum in alimony in order to maintain her silence. Bernice hopes to marry millionaire Howard Turner, with whom she has been carrying on a flirtation, and when he confesses that he does not love her, she angrily resolves to ruin him. Howard falls in love with the refreshingly innocent Marjorie Lansing, who agrees to become his wife. Because of Bernice's interference, however, their marriage is a stormy one, and finally Bernice and her unscrupulous lawyer, Elijah Stone, suggest that Marjorie sue for divorce. She refuses, and later, Howard's attorney, William Jackson, discovers Bernice's schemes and succeeds in reuniting Howard and Marjorie. Defeated, Bernice shoots herself.

Dir: Emmett J. Flynn

In 1921, a young man, having read Mark Twain's classic novel of the same title, dreams that he himself travels to King Arthur's court, where he has similar adventures and outwits his foes by means of very modern inventions including motorcycles and nitroglycerine.

Dir: Emmett J. Flynn

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

Similar in plot to "The Blue Angel, " this silent film tells the tale of a respectable businessman who leaves his wife and daughter for the clutches of a cold, heartbreaking female.

Dir: Emmett J. Flynn

A railway conductor throws cowboys Tod Musgrave and Dell Hawkins off the train because they are without tickets. Settling down in a station, Tod dreams: Dell robs the train and escapes, planting some of the money on him. After an episode of adventure and romance in which Tod is sent to prison, escapes, and finally tracks down the culprit, Tod awakens to find that Dell is still his jolly companion.

Dir: Emmett J. Flynn

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of A Fool There Was perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

Badly mistreated by her father, Nellie Horton is taken in charge by Thomas Lipton. She grows up in poverty not knowing her true identity as the heiress to her mother's millions. Upon the death of her benefactor, she becomes a model in a fashionable shop. There she falls into the hands of her mother's unscrupulous nephew, who contrives to do away with her in order to obtain her fortune. His final plan to destroy her is foiled when her lover, Jack Carroll, rescues her from the tracks of a speeding train. Finally, Nellie is reunited with her mother and finds happiness.

Dir: Emmett J. Flynn

When Mary O'Rourke leaves Ireland to visit her cousin Norah in New York, she finds that Norah and her baby have been deserted by her husband, John Stuyvesant. Mary goes to the Stuyvesants' aristocratic home, where Mrs. Stuyvesant, an invalid, mistakes her for her son's wife. Warned that the woman could die from shock, Mary reluctantly assumes the role of daughter-in-law and nurses her back to health. Meanwhile, John and his cousin Fred return from a trip, and Genevieve Harbison, John's fiancée, demands that they get married the following day to prove that he is not married already. At the church, Mary produces Norah's marriage certificate, which John notices is for "John Frederick," Fred's real name. Fred then explains that his inheritance requires that he not be married until the next day. Genevieve angrily leaves after John agrees to play Fred's role, but when Fred sees Norah, he acknowledges the marriage. Mary then confuses Fred's trustee with Irish blarney and wins the legacy for Fred. She then accepts John's proposal.

Dir: Emmett J. Flynn

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

While living in Shanghai with his young son David, William Fielding is close friends with his secretary, Li Clung, after the death of his wife. Foo Chang, a trader, loves the young woman who cares for young David and kills Fielding when he assumes that she is the boy's mother. Li Clung takes the child to his grandfather in San Francisco, where he grows up and inherits the Fielding estate. Following David's marriage, Foo Chang tries to bribe David to help him bring a cargo of opium into the city, informing him that he is a half-caste. Without waiting to learn the truth from Li Clung, David takes his infant son and goes to Alaska. He is followed by his wife and his faithful servant Li Clung, who kills Foo Chang and explains that David's mother was not Chinese. Brought to his senses, David returns with them to San Francisco.

Dir: Emmett J. Flynn

King Philip of Spain is jealous of his more popular brother, Don John, and sends him into battle against the Moors, hoping he will not return. Don John is in love with Dolores, daughter of General Mendoza, but the general discourages her, as Don John is betrothed to the Queen of England's sister. Don John returns victorious, and following a dispute over a secret letter, the king stabs his brother and leaves him for dead. When Mendoza accepts the blame, Dolores, who knows the truth, tells the court she had been dishonored by Don John, causing her father's reaction. Dolores then threatens the king that she will reveal his guilt unless her father is pardoned. The king pardons Mendoza, Don John recovers, and he and Dolores marry.

Dir: Emmett J. Flynn

An abused wife is cast out into the street by her uncaring husband. Rescued by a gang of down-and-out patrons of the "End of the Trail" mission, Dawn soon falls for a dapper mission benefactor who is also a high-end burglar.