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

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 Headin' West perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

Bill Perkins, a war veteran bumming his way across the country with an airplane pilot, is forced to disembark via parachute when he arrives at a familiar spot. He lands in the midst of a cattlemen's dispute, gets a job as a dishwasher, and learns of a conspiracy to steal the ranch from its absent heir. The crooked foreman, to get even with Polly, who has high ideals, persuades Bill to impersonate the missing heir. At an opportune moment Bill proves that the ranch gang are cattle rustlers; when he is denounced as an impostor, he proves that he is the rightful heir to the property and wins the love of Polly.

Dir: William James Craft

Walter Sandry, holder of a mortgage on timber lands in the Pacific Northwest, arrives to claim his property. He comes into conflict with a rival company and with lumberjacks influenced by their foreman, Hampden, whom he later beats in a fight. After putting out a big forest fire, Sandry wins the hand of a local girl, Sally O'Hara.

Dir: William James Craft

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

Frank Dowling, cheated of his entire savings by Tom Calvert, shoots the crooked gambler, leaving him for dead. Pursued by Bob, the sheriff, who is in love with Frank's sister, Ethel, Frank makes his way home, where he is concealed by his sister. Bob, learning that Calvert is still alive and has confessed to cheating the fugitive, rescues Frank, disperses the mob and wins the love of Ethel by his bravery.

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 Between Fires perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

Dir: William James Craft

A consignment of gold is guarded by the sheriff. He is over-powered and the thieves disappear but through the help of the telephone operator he overtakes them.

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.

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.

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

"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.