Rare Cinematic Gems Exploring the Legacy of Hitchin' Posts: Cult Guide

Dir: John Ford

Fellow convicts Cheyenne Harry and Buck Masters become even more bitter enemies when Buck agrees to tamper with the prison's books for the warden's greedy son.

Dir: John Ford

A man declined admission to fight in the American Civil War joins a gang of marauders and winds up as a fugitive.

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

Dir: John Ford

Cheyenne Harry and his pals, bent on helping their friend Rawhide Jack, attend a rodeo with the intent to win the prize and to hand the winnings over to Jack. Harry is the successful winner and after the rodeo the boys get drunk and fall asleep.

Dir: John Ford

Cheyenne Harry tries to help his outlaw friend Padden evade arrest after Padden has drunkenly shot another man. In the end, the two mismatched friends fight it out, leaving Padden dead.

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

Dir: John Ford

Convict Cheyenne Harry escapes from prison in a garbage truck and boards a train, where he eludes capture with the help of passenger Henry Beaufort.

Dir: John Ford

A mother is convinced her son is a ranch owner when in fact he is an outlaw, and she just saves him from hanging.

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

Dir: John Ford

Jode McWilliams, the foreman of Circle O, is in love with Peg, the daughter of Pa Owens, the owner of the ranch. The trouble is that daddy won't allow! Which does not stop Jode from wanting to marry Peg. He asks Stumpy, the cook, to help him write a love letter to the lady of his heart. The other cowhands find it and, with a view to making fun of Jode, nail it to the door. Two Horns, an Indian, steals it and ... delivers it to Peg. When Jode and his posse, pursuing the facetious redskin, arrive at the Owenses' house, Jode's boss has already found out. A showdown ensues and the young man, who has lost the fight, is made prisoner and held in a room. But he is rescued by his pal Chub and a helpful parson marry the two lovebirds. Away they ride from the reluctant father towards happiness.

Dir: John Ford

"Cheyenne Harry", owner of the biggest cattle ranch in his corner of the West, is having trouble with John Merritt, a land-grabbing Chicago meat-packer. By some artifice of shrewd legal aid, Merritt manages to seize Harry's ranch under a bogus writ of foreclosure. Failing to get justice by his many letters to Merritt, "Cheyenne Harry" goes East and calls at the millionaire's mansion. At first, Merritt refuses to see him. Then, to cause amusement for his daughter Helen and her guests, he invites the "uncouth" Westerner into his dining hall. He is sure that he will make some grave error in table deportment and afford them all a laugh. To the amazement of Merrit and the guests Harry's table manners are faultless. Then, to trick him into an embarrassing position, Merritt eats with his knife. Harry, realizing that it is proper for the guest to follow the example of the host, does likewise. He leaves the house chagrined but more determined than ever to get justice from Merritt.

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

Dir: John Ford

A grizzled hero is revisiting the town of his youthful exploits.

Dir: John Ford

Cowboy Lin McLean's restlessness takes him to Denver, where he becomes enamored of a waitress named Katie.