Recommendations
Senior Film Conservator

If the poignant storytelling of Rowland V. Lee's work in Havoc left an impression, the juxtaposition of poignant storytelling and narrative makes it a Drama outlier. Experience the United States influence in these recommendations that echo Havoc.
By merging poignant storytelling with Drama tropes, it to elevate Drama to the level of high art.
A war drama produced only 7 years after the end of World War I. Based on the play by Henry Wallace it chronicles two Englishmen, Dick Chappell (George O'Brien) and Roddy Dunton (Walter McGrail) at the dawn of The Great War. Both men are in love with the same woman, Violet Deering (Margaret Livingston). Chappell, whose proposal has been accepted by Violet, enlists for the war in Europe hoping to distinguish himself and make his fiancé proud of him. After he leaves Violet suddenly finds herself drawn to Dunton instead who has also enlisted. She convinces him to let Chappell know that she has had a change of heart and that their engagement is off. However Dunton never confesses this and encourages his brazen and zealous friend to face the Germans in a fierce trench war battle in high spirits. Chappell is almost killed, but able to survive, though he is blinded during the attack. The guilt over what he has done ultimately has the remorseful Dunton commit suicide. Back home in London, Dunton's sister Tessie (Madge Bellamy) nurses Chappell back to health. His sight eventually returns and he realizes Violet's schemes and drops her in favor of Tessie.
Based on the unique poignant storytelling of Havoc, our vault has identified these titles as the most compelling follow-up experiences for fans of Drama cinema:
Dir: Wilfred Lucas
Brian O'Farrell (Snowy Baker), is an English 'new chum' who takes a job at an Australian cattle station. He is teased by station hands because of his appearance (including spats and a monocle) but he soon impresses them with his skills at riding and boxing. The station manager, John MacDonald (Wilfred Lucas), takes O'Farrell to Sydney to meet his daughter Edith (Kathleen Key) who is working in the slums. Edith is kidnapped by criminals after witnessing a crime but O'Farrell rescues her. It is later revealed he is the owner of the station.
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Dir: Victor Heerman
In the gold fields of the Canadian Northwest, a man is falsely accused of a crime and determines that a lookalike is responsible.
Dir: Harry Southwell
A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.
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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: Tod Browning
Achmet Bey, a Turkish chieftain, catches one of his many wives in adultery and murders her lover. Throwing aside the cuckolding wife, he abducts his harem an innocent girl. However, a brave American who loves her comes to her rescue.
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Dir: William Parke
Bruce Wendell, the son of West Virginia coal mine owner James Wendell, graduates from West Point and prepares to lead a fighting unit to the front during World War I. As his father lies dying, however, he convinces Bruce to remain at home and guard the mine. Bruce's fiancée Ann Blair assumes that he is a coward and breaks off their engagement, but her brother Bobbie remains Bruce's loyal friend. Meyer, a German agent, persuades railroad president Parrish to refuse to transport Wendell's coal, but when Bruce adamantly refuses to close the mine, the spy's men decide to blow it up. While Ann is being abducted by Meyer, Bobbie is buried in an explosion at the mine. Bruce rescues Bobbie and then sends a plea to Lieutenant Parrish to rescue Ann. Meyer and his gang are captured and Ann renews her vow of love to Bruce.
Dir: Eduardo Notari
A crime drama in the Gennariello-series. The police detective in Naples that is confronted with modern gangsters and crime events.
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Dir: Colin Campbell
Dr. John Brandon, who cares for charity patients in the slums, is thrown together with writer Norma Ashley when her car strikes a boy whom Brandon treats. Under Norma's influence, and against the wishes of his friend Father Farrell, Brandon leaves the slums and becomes the partner of Dr. Thurston, who, unknown to Brandon, is Norma's fiance. Now prosperous, Brandon flies into a rage when he hears Thurston and Norma ridiculing him, and proceeds to beat Thurston and choke Norma to within an inch of her life. Taking to alcohol and drugs in his grief, Brandon becomes a derelict and goes out West to a mission town, where his loud proclamations of atheism provoke the wrath of a saloon crowd, from which his old friend Farrell rescues him. Farrell, now working in the Western parish, gradually restores the faith of Brandon, who falls in love with Mary Harrison, a blind girl who prays continually for her sight. Brandon performs an operation on Mary's eyes and her sight returns. Norma, who has found Brandon in the parish town, cannot persuade him to return to the city or to leave Mary, who accepts Brandon's love.
Dir: Bruno Ziener
A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.
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Dir: Dallas M. Fitzgerald
Confidence artist Flossie Golden attempts to fleece foolish but wealthy James Venable with a breach-of-promise suit. Venable's shrewd attorney, Richard Harding, outwits Flossie by proposing that she marry Venable and live on an allowance of $3,000 per year. Flossie is determined to get even with Harding for ruining her plans. In an attempt to con him, she poses as Innocence Page, but falls in love and marries him instead. Larry, Flossie's former accomplice, endeavors to blackmail her with her errant past, but Harding is already cognizant of the facts and Larry fails.
View DetailsAnalysis relative to Havoc
| Film Title | Atmosphere | Complexity | Similarity |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Jackeroo of Coolabong | Ethereal | High | 85% Match |
| The River's End | Gothic | Linear | 91% Match |
| The Kelly Gang | Tense | Linear | 95% Match |
| Into the Light | Gothic | Abstract | 89% Match |
| The Virgin of Stamboul | Gothic | Layered | 97% Match |
This guide was algorithmically generated using the cinematic metadata of Rowland V. Lee's archive. Last updated: 6/24/2026.
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