Top-Tier Alternatives In the Shadow of Liberty Hall: Cult Guide

Dir: Harold M. Shaw

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

Dir: Harold M. Shaw

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

A slum orphan, injured by a lady's car, becomes a dancer and marries the lady's brother.

Dir: Harold M. Shaw

A maid plots to wed her mistress to a poor Irishman instead of a rich Lord.

Dir: Harold M. Shaw

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

Thrifty orphan Norah MacPherson meets wealthy young James Patterson, who gets her a job as a chorus girl. They fall in love. To put up a good front, she spends all her money on clothes. Patterson doubts her when he sees her wearing a string of fake pearls; he then finds that she hasn't been unfaithful, and they reconcile.

Dir: Harold M. Shaw

A hypnotist makes an artist's model sing, but cannot force her love.

Dir: Harold M. Shaw

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

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

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

Dir: Harold M. Shaw

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

One of the few surviving works of African silent cinema. Adventures and sentimental melodrama with an interesting framework of race relations and culture shock. Also starring local personalities such as Chief Kentani and Prince Yumi.

Dir: Harold M. Shaw

John Hampstead gives up his career as an actor and his actress sweetheart, Marian Dounay, to become a minister in a western town. Marian appears, and failing to win him back, she tries to ruin his reputation. Hampstead is accused of stealing some jewelry, thought he is actually protecting the scapegrace brother of his current sweetheart Bessie. He's about to give up his church at the request of his congregation when the brother comes forward to confess.

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.