Underground Favorites Mirroring the Impact of Love Is Love: Cult Guide

Dir: Scott R. Dunlap

Harris Levi (Fred Warren) brings up Meg (Shirley Mason), who was left in his father's pawnshop by her mother. Anxious that she have a good environment, Harris takes her to live with his friend Robert. When her mother returns to claim Meg, Robert is revealed to be both Meg's father and the man with whom Harris' wife eloped. Meg is happily reunited with her parents and her sweetheart, Chick Saxe.

Dir: Scott R. Dunlap

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

After discovering that his bride has married him only for his money, Philip Dorset journeys to Africa in hopes of putting the past behind him. In the jungle, he teams up with a party of American circus men on an elephant hunt. Their expeditions take them to a native village where they discover Joan, an orphaned white girl whose missionary father has recently died. The group, now enhanced by Dorset's addition as the elephant trainer, takes the waif back to America with them. Years pass and Joan becomes an accomplished bareback rider in the circus, while her affection for Dorset deepens into love. Recalling his earlier unhappy experience, Dorset tries to discourage the girl, and upon failing decides to leave the circus. Soon after his departure, he discovers that his wife has divorced him and rushes back to Joan. That night, a terrific storm strikes the circus tent and out of the cataclysm the lovers are reunited.

Dir: Scott R. Dunlap

Ben Lorimer and his daughter, Dot, are received with suspicion in a western town; when "Red" Kane rescues Dot, however, he wins her confidence and learns that Lorimer has adopted a new name and is wanted for a crime in Colorado for which he is not guilty. Trying to protect them from the sheriff and his posse, Red is wounded, but Dot nurses him. "Spunk" Lemm circulates rumors that Red is hiding behind a woman's skirts; Red engages in a fight with Spunk and, thinking he has killed him, returns to the hills; there he discovers the men who robbed the express office and gets a confession that clears Lorimer of the crime in Colorado. After resolving his difficulties, Red claims Dot as his future wife.

Dir: Scott R. Dunlap

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

Boston Blackie, just released from prison, threatens the warden, Benton, that he will have him removed from his job for using the water cross, a form of torture, on prisoners. Blackie's sweetheart, Mary Carter, helps him avoid this torture after his return to prison. The officers pursue Blackie, capture him, and bring him back to Benton, but Mary reports to the governor, and they arrive in time to save Blackie from further torments by bringing his pardon. Benton is fired.

Dir: Scott R. Dunlap

Impresario Thomas Sullivan arrives in Ossawatomie, Kansas, to debut a new musical show written by native talent Gene Harris. Sullivan hires singer Millicent Lloyd, who auditions with a song written by her boyfriend, local bookkeeper Brian McBride. The impresario takes Millicent to New York City, where she becomes a famous singer. Brian arrives in the city with a new opera but keeps his presence secret from Millicent until he has achieved notoriety. Unable to complete an opera of his own, Harris steals Brian's work and presents it to Sullivan, who casts Millicent in the lead role. With the help of music publisher Gus Hertz, Brian exposes Harris and reclaims his composition. He and Millicent are reunited, and the opera goes on to great success.

Dir: Scott R. Dunlap

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

Responding to the request of his uncle, Conroy Daly returns to the elder Daly's ranch to help in its management. When he arrives, Con is told by foreman John Hampton that his uncle has been killed and that he (Hampton) is in charge. Con conceals his identity but agrees with Hampton to "pose" as Conroy Daly while Della Moore, the sister of Daly's accused murderer, acts as Conroy's wife. Con eventually exposes Hampton, discovers that his uncle is alive, and asks Della to be a real Mrs. Daly.

Dir: Scott R. Dunlap

Gerald Faulkner, a young tin-can salesman, has fallen for sexy chorus girl Carlotta La Mere One day Gerald's wealthy uncle Dunley makes him an offer: if he gets married by the following Saturday, Dunley will give him $100,000. Gerald rushes to propose to Carlotta, who agrees. However, the day before the wedding she asks for a postponement. Complications ensue.

Dir: Scott R. Dunlap

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of Words and Music by - perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

Mrs. John Cleveland, victim of an overly-jealous husband, adopts a child but, fearing to bring it into her own household, furnishes another home for it, and places the little girl in charge of a nurse. Paul Horton, ex-convict and former sweetheart of Mrs. Cleveland, returns to the city and finds that his former nurse is the same woman who is caring for Mrs. Cleveland's child. Horton accuses her of leading a double life and demands money to keep the matter quiet. Her diamonds are given to him and he pawns them. The husband, finding the rings gone, places detectives on the trail. Finding that Horton has pawned them he shuns his wife. But Horton shows him a letter which proves that the child adopted by Mrs. Cleveland really belongs to her husband. Though the jealous husband had been unwilling to forgive, the loving wife grants forgiveness.

Dir: Scott R. Dunlap

Thomas Edinburgh, financial dictator of Marysville, is secretly in love with Carol, wife of the Reverend Luther McCall, and produces evidence that her husband was once an embezzler. Leaving for Cleveland, the minister meets his twin brother, Lefty, the real embezzler, who is evading the law. Luther is killed in a train wreck, and Lefty, assuming Luther's identity and carrying on the latter's ministerial work, brings about his own conversion and that of his former pal, Buster. He thwarts Edinburgh's plans by stealing the prison record, and after learning Lefty's story Carol comes to love him.

Dir: Scott R. Dunlap

Samuel Blevins, Jr.'s farm work suffers while he pursues a correspondence course on newspaper reporting. After he leaves the family farm and goes to the city, editors all turn him down until Ethel Williams, the author of the "Advice to the Lovelorn" column, who helps him with his style, recommends him to her managing editor. The Sunday Magazine editor, who loves Elinor, tries to ruin Sam's career by giving him the difficult task of writing a feature article. When Sam fails to think of a good story, Ethel, who now loves him, tells of the lost Princess Marie of Burvania, who is hiding in the United States. Sam's story causes the Archduke of Burvania to search for Marie, who is really Ethel, and after she is persuaded to return, Sam rescues her from a trap. He awakens to discovers that the story is a dream, writes another which is a success, and finds happiness with Ethel.