The Definitive Watchlist For Devotees of In the Days of Daniel Boon...

Dir: William James Craft

Smiling Joe Wiley, a young hobo, is thrown off a train in a Western town, where he wins the admiration of the local cowboys by pulling a fake holdup in a restaurant. A former cowboy himself, Joe finds romance when he rescues a young woman named Kate from a runaway horse; however, he makes an enemy of an unsavory character who later manages to frame him for a robbery and murder. Joe is sentenced to death, and Kate goes to the governor to beg for Joe's pardon, arguing the unfairness of using circumstantial evidence in a trial. When the governor resists Kate's entreaties, she tears her clothes and screams for help, convincing the governor's wife and the police that the governor attacked her. Kate confesses to the deception, and the governor, now persuaded of the inadequacy of circumstantial evidence, receives word that the real killer has confessed to the crime on his deathbed. Joe is saved from the gallows in the nick of time.

Dir: William James Craft

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

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

Dir: William James Craft

Tim, a rookie policeman, becomes engaged to Mary O'Neill, whose brother is mixed up with a gang of car thieves. One of the gang, Red Mike, makes himself obnoxious to Mary (who had once rejected his marriage proposal), and Tim beats him in a fight. To gain revenge, Mike frames Tim's father, Pat, for murder, and Tim takes the blame. Tim is released on bail and through Mary's brother learns that Mike was behind the frame-up. He brings the gang to justice, is reinstated on the force, and marries Mary.

Dir: William James Craft

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

Texas Ranger Tom Hardy is ordered to find Big Wolf, an important Native American leader who has been abducted by outlaw Duke Granby. Tom's assistant, Little Wolf, is wounded and taken to the Reeves ranch, where the ranger meets and falls in love with Marion Reeves. Later, Marion reveals her concern for her brother, Jack, who is involved with the Granby gang. When Tom discovers Jack in a saloon with the criminals, a fight ensues leaving one man dead, and the blame is falsely placed on Jack. He runs to Marion for help, with Tom in pursuit. Marion holds Tom at gunpoint, enabling her brother to escape. Jack takes refuge in Granby's den, unaware that Little Wolf has been following him. The boy takes Tom to the hideout, where the ranger battles Granby. One of the outlaws blows up a dam, causing a flood. After Tom pulls Granby from the water, the outlaw exonerates Jack with his dying breath. The ranger then saves Marion from the flood, permanently winning her love.

Dir: William James Craft

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

Dir: William James Craft

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

Young New Yorker Mason (Frank Merrill), who loves a good fight, runs for public office. As part of his election campaign he agrees to not get involved in any fights and refuses to respond with violence to even the most heavy provocation. All this disappoints his wealthy uncle, who erroneously believes Mason is a weak coward.

Dir: William James Craft

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

Dir: William James Craft

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of A Blue-Jacket's Honor perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

A lumber camp melodrama: a corrupt lumber mill owner is pitted against a dashing, heroic foreman (Larkin) and a stunning, helpless heroine.

Dir: William James Craft

"Moose" Rambo is killed by an unknown assailant during a barroom brawl, and Belleau is wrongfully accused of the crime. Sergeant McKenna of the Northwest Mounted Police is detailed to go after him, and Constable Fitzgerald, who saw Belleau on the night of the murder, is struck by the resemblance between Belleau and McKenna. Believing them to be the same man, Fitzgerald confides his suspicions to the chief and is detailed to pursue McKenna. McKenna tracks Belleau and learns that he is his own twin brother. Fitzgerald tracks McKenna, and McKenna, in order to protect his brother's wife and child, allows himself to be arrested as Belleau. Belleau's wife, who quickly sees through the deception, eventually tells the police that they are holding the wrong man. McKenna is freed and again tracks down his brother, bringing him back to stand trial. The real murderer, a half-breed, has confessed, however, and Belleau is freed. McKenna marries Marie Rambo.

Dir: William James Craft

Willie Steele, a wealthy young man from New York City, travels west to look after his father's ranch, which has been besieged by cattle rustlers. During his stay, the young man wears a monocle and pretends to be a weakling as a ploy to unmask the culprits. His ruse works and the outlaws are brought to justice.