Editor's Top Picks Following the Footsteps of Live Wires: Cult Guide

Dir: J.A. Howe

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

Dir: J.A. Howe

Old man Hardscratch, the village nickel-nurser, a hard-hearted mortgage taxer, gives notice to the heroine and her people that unless they pay, he will put them into the street. The girl appeals to Jim for help, Strongarm, the blacksmith, brings Jim to his shop as his apprentice, Strongarm receives a present from his partner Gideon, with a letter, - the trained monkey, Minnie, Minnie gives Strongarm and Jim a chase about - while she sits on the roof of the shop and watches them, Strongarm leaves the shop in Jim's care - and during his absence Jim "shoes" a horse and receives two dollars from the owner for his work. With this money he buys milk for the hungry baby, the old man Hardscratch having refused to give it to the girl. The mean old man Hardscratch, while taking something from his pocket, accidentally drops a roll of bills, which Minnie finds and brings to Jim. There is much comedy business between Minnie and Jim. In the end, Jim has won the gratitude of the girl and her people by using this money to pay Hardscratch and chase him from the house.

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

Dir: J.A. Howe

A farce in which newlyweds create most of the fun.

Dir: Richard Smith

Two female candidates for Chief of Police live across the hall from each other, and their political rivalry follows them home, leading to plenty of hi-jinks.

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

Dir: J.A. Howe

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

Dir: Reggie Morris

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

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

Dir: J.A. Howe

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

Dir: J.A. Howe

A swift moving, hilarious comedy of love, politics and war, showing how two assistants to an inventor save his formula for destroying the enemy by feeding them with explosive peanuts, from foreign emissaries.

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

Dir: J.A. Howe

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

Dir: J.A. Howe

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.