Hidden Genre Gems for Fans of Held to Answer: Cult Guide

Dir: Harold M. Shaw

A blacksmith's adopted son is accused of killing his cardsharping brother.

Dir: Charles Horan

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

While working as a flower girl in Devlin Maddox's nightclub, Nellie Vaughan meets wealthy young Pelton Van Teel and falls in love. Maddox, desirous of using Nellie to blackmail Van Teel, spreads a rumor that she is his mistress. This makes Nellie uncomfortable, and she demands that Van Teel marry her immediately, to which he agrees. Meanwhile, Van Teel has been losing money gambling to Maddox, who threatens to break up the marriage by producing a worthless check that the young husband has written. Venturing to Maddox's apartment for a showdown, Nellie pulls a gun and demands the check, accidentally shooting Maddox when he throws a lamp at her. Maddox plans to charge Nellie with assault, but when the police arrive, his butler, actually a detective employed by the elder Van Teel, exposes Maddox, who is then arrested, clearing the path for the couple's happiness.

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: Harold M. Shaw

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

A rich heir poses as a bookseller's lodger to save his cousins from a lustful tradesman.

Dir: Harold M. Shaw

This feature film from 1916 tells the story of South Africa's Boer pioneers in their epic trek across southern Africa in search of new land. It concentrates on the struggle against Zulu inhabitants, which the Boers eventually won at the Battle of Blood River in 1938.

Dir: Harold M. Shaw

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

An old merchant tries to save his firm by attempting to kill his ward.

Dir: Harold M. Shaw

A private wins a sweepstakes and a VC, lets his girl wed his friend, and saves him from the cardsharp who killed his father.

Dir: Alexander Butler

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

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

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.

Dir: Bruno Ziener

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.