The Essential Watchlist Similar Cinematic Experiences to Little Wil...

Dir: David Smith

Allen Spargo, a mining engineer betrothed to Theresa Kane, goes West to make his fortune and is seriously injured in an accident. Kate Leonard falls in love with him while nursing him to recovery. She jealously intercepts his fiancée's letters and writes Theresa that Allen is dead. Paralyzed by grief for a time, Theresa finally agrees to marry her former suitor, Lemuel Antree, but soon after the ceremony, Allen returns. Assuming that she no longer loves him, Allen leaves for the West, but Theresa follows him. Lemuel pursues the couple intending to kill them, but learns that Allen had once saved his life. Since Lemuel believes that his life, in effect, belongs to Allen, he drowns himself to allow the couple to marry.

Dir: David Smith

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

Peggy (Bessie Love) and her sister Frances (Myrtle Reeves) live with their father, but because of his idleness, they must all move to humbler quarters. Peggy adapts quickly to their new surrounding, while Frances misses the social life she once enjoyed. Their neighbors are well off, and Peggy begins a romance with their son, whom she thinks is the chauffeur. Meanwhile, Frances has become involved with a roguish character and plans to elope with him. Peggy saves her sister from imminent disgrace, but comes close to compromising herself instead. Peggy's sweetheart comes to her rescue and now his true identity is revealed to the very grateful girl.

Dir: Harley Knoles

Jim McDonald, the foreman of a shipbuilding plant and head of the labor union, strives to combat the anarchistic propaganda being put forth by Klimoff, the leader of a Bolshevik gang whose goal is to disrupt the country with strikes and anarchy. Despite McDonald's efforts, a strike is called, resulting in chaos. McDonald's child is knocked down by runaway horses abandoned by their striking driver, and dies. Mob scenes take place in America, as well as in Russia. Eventually, the unrest is quelled with an armistice called between Capital and Labor for a year, during which time wages are to be increased to reflect the cost of living, and leaders are to work out a common plan for their mutual advantage. The strikers now realize that they have been pawns of the Bolsheviks and call off the strike, agreeing to the plan.

Dir: Alexander Butler

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

In Alberta, Canada, a Cornish emigrant unmasks a rustler posing as the girl's "blind" father.

Dir: David Smith

Jim Carvel, whose father Henry, a newspaper owner, has been killed by the local political boss for exposing a theft ring, shoots his father's murderer and escapes to the Canadian Northwest where he befriends Nepeese, daughter of a local trapper named Pierre. Brutal trading post owner "Bush" McTaggart attacks Nepeese while she is alone in her cabin. Pierre arrives home and tries to defend his daughter, but McTaggart kills him. To clear himself, McTaggart blames Jim for the murder, and while a group of Indians track Jim down, kidnaps Nepeese. Jim is rescued by his half-breed friend De Bar while Baree, Nepeese's dog, hunts down and overcomes McTaggart. Freed from McTaggart's clutches, Nepeese marries Jim.

Dir: David Smith

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

Timid village schoolteacher Geraldine Farleigh supports her family and must pay off her late father's debt to Bruce Cartwright.

Dir: David Smith

Willie Robbins loses his heart to Myra Allison, the prettiest and liveliest girl in San Augustine, but she laughs at him and taunts him. Soon after the Spanish-American War starts, Willie volunteers and plunges madly into danger, and wins a captaincy by capturing a Spanish general. Myra marries Joe Cranberry, but when Willie hears of this, he seems indifferent. After the war Willie returns to San Augustine and is met by the Mayor, a brass band, and schoolgirls. He is the hero of the occasion. After the welcome, Willie makes for the little white cottage of Joe Cranberry. Myra is on the porch, untidy and unattractive. Willie waltzes up to her and the joke is on Myra.

Dir: David Smith

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of Baree, Son of Kazan perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

"King" McAllister's word is law, judge, and jury in the cattle country where he lives with his daughter Panchita. His foreman, Price Purcell, believed he had a chance of winning Panchita's hand until the arrival of Buck Lumsden, who settled all doubts concerning the likely winner. Buck did not make a hit at first because he was "down and out" but he lingers and is made foreman of the year's round-up which was not altogether to Purcell's liking. Purcell plans to ruin Buck in the estimation of the boss as well as Panchita. After the round-up, all adjourn to the dance hall and gambling resort to celebrate, and Purcell lures Buck into a roulette game. Buck loses not only his own money but a large amount belonging to McAllister. Purcell returns to McAllister with the news of Buck's disloyalty. Buck has married Panchita. He is obliged to flee the country and sets out to raise enough money to repay McAllister for the amount he had lost to Purcell.

Dir: David Smith

Forced to wear quaint short dresses and pigtails so that she will inspire her grandfather's sentimental poetry, nineteen-year-old Joy Havenith longs for companions of her own age. One day Johnny Hewitt, seeing her confide her troubles to her Aunt Lucilla's portrait, tells her that if she wishes hard enough, her dreams will come true. Not knowing his name, she thereafter thinks of him as her "wishing ring man." Soon Joy meets a married couple who invite her to the city. Because her grandparents will not let her leave until she is engaged, she lies that she is the fiancée of a man of whom her friends have spoken, Dr. John Hewitt, not realizing that he is her "wishing ring man." John agrees to play along for a month, to the dismay of his fiancée, Gale Maddox. After the wedding presents and bridesmaids have arrived, Joy, thinking that John loves Gale, leaves the rehearsal and returns home. John then finds her confiding to the portrait and declares his real love for her.

Dir: David Smith

Peggy Winston, the boss of a lumber camp left to her by her father, is loved by all the "jacks" of the camp. When Clayton Hargis, the son of a millionaire ship builder visits to contract for the camp's entire output, Peggy, deeply affected by him, rescues him when he falls into dangerous waters, but Clayton remains ignorant of her affection. Peggy accepts the invitation of Clayton's sister to join them in the city, and after trading her corduroys and spiked shoes for silks, blossoms into a beautiful woman. Heartbroken when she sees Clayton's fiancée embrace him, Peggy leaves and lives a week in the city after pawning her clothes. In Peggy's absence, the title to the camp is taken over by a friend of Clayton's. The friend and Clayton, who now realizes that he loves Peggy, search for her at the camp. After the hostile lumberjacks lock them in a cabin and plant dynamite underneath it, Peggy arrives, quells the riot, and saves them. Clayton straightens out the title of the camp, and confesses his love for Peggy.