The Definitive Watchlist For Devotees of Judith of the Cumberlands: Cult Guide

Dir: J.P. McGowan

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

Dir: J.P. McGowan

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

On the American frontier in the last decades of the 19th century, Billie is a female cowboy who fights a series of bad men in this film serial.

Dir: J.P. McGowan

Hawke, Jr., son of a famous New York detective, is challenged by his father to capture "The Blackbirds," a gang of smugglers, finds himself stranded in Algiers. Aware of Hawke's presence, Bechel, the Blackbirds' leader, instructs his accomplice, Leonie Sobatsky, to become friendly with the Crockers, a nouveau riche couple, and later in America, exchange a fake Oriental rug for a $10,000 genuine one which they recently purchased from one of Bechel's contacts. On the steamer returning to the United States, Leonie meets Nevil Trask, an English jewel thief posing as a nobleman. After Hawke secures a position in the Crocker home in New York as a guard for their jewels, Leonie, who now loves Trask without knowing that he is a thief, decides not to switch the rugs, but Hawke, eager to capture Bechel, tricks Leonie into taking the antique. When she sees Trask stealing the Crockers' jewels, they both confess their crimes and plan to reform. Hawke overhears, and follows them to Bechel's headquarters, where he captures the leader. After Trask and Leonie promise to marry, Hawke sets them free.

Dir: J.P. McGowan

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

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

Dir: J.P. McGowan

U. S. Secret Service agent Burke is assigned to capture a gang of thieves attempting to smuggle valuable jewels from Cuba into the United States. Helen Morgan, a member of the gang, secretly loves Burke but ignores his entreaties to abandon her life of crime. Sylvia Ellis, whom Burke had befriended in Cuba, receives a box of candy from Helen, unaware that it contains the stolen jewels. On a steamship to Florida, Helen convinces Sylvia that Burke is a thief after the agent searches her cabin. Burke falls overboard during a fight with Helen's gang, and the ship lands with the jewels still in Sylvia's possession. After Helen invites Sylvia to her home and recovers the loot, Burke reappears to inform her of Helen's deception. Another battle with the gang ensues, and Helen is killed while trying to save Burke's life. Once the case is solved, Burke and Sylvia marry.

Dir: J.P. McGowan

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

Whispering Smith is a virile, fearless type of the true American whose theory of life is to give every man a chance to show what is in him. There is nothing of the bully or braggart about him. He is just a man who knows instinctively what is right and never falters in his steps to see that justice is given where it is deserved and crime punished on the same basis. Whispering Smith loved Marion, a carefree, beautiful Western girl. His love was that of the strong, clean-living man, who knows no physical danger, but is reticent and bashful in his love affairs. Lacking as a suitor the characteristics that made him esteemed and feared among his fellow-men, he was beaten out for her hand by Sinclair, a dashing devil-may-care sort of fellow among the women, but an unscrupulous and vindictive man at heart. Marion's life with Sinclair was not all joy and happiness. Slowly he was killing her love for him, but in the manner of his kind he believed that harshness was the way to rule women. When the story opens, Sinclair, who is foreman of a wrecking crew on a mountain section of a transcontinental railroad, is living in one of the company's cabins in the small division terminal, "Medicine Bend," a typical Western railroad and mining town. This town was located at the foot of a steep declivity, noted for the frequency of the wrecks occurring there, particularly among freight trains. The officials of the road were worried at the great number of the wrecks, but were more concerned with the robberies that took place after each collision. No trace of the thieves could be found. The railroad detectives had about given up in despair when Whispering Smith was sent to "Medicine Bend" to put an end to the robberies. Sinclair was never suspected. Smith, however, discovers soon after his arrival that Sinclair is the brains of the gang engaged in looting the freight cars. Smith, to save Marion the disgrace of having her husband branded as a thief, does not expose him, but causes the division superintendent, McCloud, to discharge him. Life for Marion soon becomes unbearable and she leaves him. This arouses to frenzy the desperate man, who plans to get revenge on the railroad by burning the "Smoky Creek" trestle. Assisted by several of the band who had been engaged in looting the cars, Sinclair sets fire to the trestle, causing a disastrous wreck. Smith, determined to capture the men responsible, discovers that Sinclair is at the bottom of the plot. Again his love for Marion induces him not to expose her husband until he talks with her. He effects a reconciliation between Sinclair and Marion and upon the former's promise to lead a better life and to leave "Medicine Bend," Whispering Smith lets him go with his wife, and the girl he still loves.

Dir: J.P. McGowan

Ruth Gaylord gives up her home in New York to marry John Gaylord but grows discontented with the loneliness and desolation of life in the West and leaves her husband. After returning home, she hears that he has struck one of the richest gold veins in California. A letter surrendering her interests in the mine falls into the hand of Kirk Harding, an eastern capitalist; and John, tricked into surrendering his rights and discovering the truth, struggles with Harding. Ruth awakens, discovering it was all a dream, and decides not to leave her dedicated husband after all.

Dir: J.P. McGowan

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of One Million in Jewels perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

Tiring of hunting big game in the jungle, Jack Lodge, son of a wealthy man, seeks adventure in the underworld district of a big city. With his companion, Sanford, he visits a saloon, where Jack soundly beats the bouncer. As a reward, Mary Dover, the owner, hires him; and all goes well until The Baboon, a jealous intruder, orders Jack to leave the establishment within an hour. After consulting with Old Whitey, Mary bids him leave, but Jack discovers that Old Whitey and The Baboon are not only one and the same but also Mary's half-brother. Jack wins the girl and takes her to his home.

Dir: J.P. McGowan

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

Dir: J.P. McGowan

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.