Must-Watch List Comparable to the Style of Melting Millions: Cult Guide

Dir: Otis Turner

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

Dir: Otis Turner

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

With his only asset being his title, then when Lord Arthur Waring seriously injures Helene Von Gerold in a riding accident, he borrows money from his dishonorable rich younger brother Mark in order to pay for her medical treatment. Mark drives a hard bargain, however, and makes Arthur agree to commit suicide in six months, thus allowing Mark to inherit the title, if he cannot pay back the loan. Toward the end of the allotted time, Arthur still has not been able to raise the money. Then, just as Arthur is about to kill himself, Helen's father overturns a lamp and sets fire to his house, and Arthur, hearing the alarm, rushes to the scene. Mark also hurries to the Von Gerold's house, but he dies en route when he is thrown from his horse. Arthur rescues Helen, and then, having inherited Mark's fortune, he confidently begins a romance with her.

Dir: Otis Turner

While working his way through college, Paul Potter acquires a flock of wealthy friends who encourage him to give up his hometown fiancée, Sylvia Castle, for Muriel Evers, a flirtatious married woman. After Sylvia releases Paul, and Muriel's husband divorces her for infidelity, Paul and Muriel marry. Meanwhile, when Sylvia's father dies after being ruined in the stock market, she goes from one job to another in the city until she tries acting in a stock company. There she befriends Henry Leamington, an alcoholic leading man, who, as he tutors her, falls in love and stops drinking because of her. When Paul discovers Muriel's unfaithfulness, he renews his acquaintance with Sylvia, who still loves him. After Muriel dies in an automobile crash, Paul's appearance in Sylvia's dressing room before an opening night causes Henry to drink, but after Sylvia refuses Paul's request to be his mistress, Henry braces himself to give a commanding performance, after which they marry.

Dir: Otis Turner

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

Newly wealthy Isidore Lechat lives in a castle in the south of France. He believes that business is the most important thing in life, but manages to stay attached to his children, although he believes that his wife's slovenly appearance detracts from his social position, so he doesn't let her go out in public. He begins an affair with Celeste, an acquaintance of his wastrel son Xavier. He believes that this may be the beginning of a new cycle of personal and business triumphs for him, but soon matters begin to take unexpected turns.

Dir: Otis Turner

Tired of the life of a gunfighter, Lish Henley settles down in the quiet California town of Peaceful Hill. The town, however, doesn't live up to its name, and it's not long before Lish finds himself the unofficial "mediator" of the town, which is being terrorized by various outlaw gangs. Lish has his own style of "mediating", however--he keeps killing members of rival gangs until they agree to holster their guns and leave the town alone. However, one day Big Bill, an old enemy of Lish's, shows up in town with his gang, looking for payback.

Dir: Otis Turner

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

Young and wild, George Bell lives with his rancher father, Thomas Bell, in Paradise Valley, California. When George sells his father's favorite horse, Mr. Bell turns him out, and George becomes a grain salesman in St. Louis. Meanwhile, Polly Martin lives with her father Bill, an ex-businessman who has sunk to day-labor because of his addiction to alcohol. Bill frequently abuses Polly, and when he falls to his death from a high girder, Polly becomes a nurse in the Salvation Army in St. Louis. George falls in love with Polly after he saves her from the advances of a drunk, but she will not marry him because of his wild past. Instead, she applies for a job in Paradise Valley as a nurse, where she renders aid to Thomas Bell, who has broken his leg. She nurses him back to health at his ranch, and he grows fond of her. Eventually, George learns that Polly is in Paradise Valley and follows her to the ranch. When Thomas discovers that his son loves Polly, he sacrifices his love for George's happiness, and all live together as a family.

Dir: Otis Turner

After a prologue which shows several aerial views of the Acropolis, the story begins. The friendship of Damon, the senator, and Pythias, the soldier, is famous in Ancient Syracuse. Because the general Dionysius is infatuated with Calanthe, Pythias' sweetheart, he sends the soldier to fight the Carthaginians at the Battle of Agrigentum. Pythias returns in triumph, and then angers Dionysius even further when he defeats Aristle, the general's favorite, in a chariot race. During the wedding ceremony for Pythias and Calanthe, Dionysius has himself proclaimed sovereign while Damon is absent from the Senate. Shocked, Damon attempts to assassinate Dionysius, but he fails and is sentenced to death. In order for Damon to say goodbye to his wife and son, Pythias leaves Calanthe and takes his friend's place in prison, offering to die in Damon's place if he does not return. Despite several tests of the strength of their friendship, they remain loyal to each other and so impress Dionysius that he allows them both Free.

Dir: Otis Turner

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

Ruth and Lem Heck are orphans. Ruth is a nurse in a small town populated by a religious sect called "The Seekers." Their object is to seek those that are needy and administer to their needs. Ruth and Lem live with Rev. Hood. Lem is apprentice in a machine shop. Two crooks in the machine shop rob the village bank with Lem's tools, which they stole. Lem is accused and sentenced to jail for 15 years. After three years, Ruth laments the absence of her brother, whose health is failing. Rev. Timothy Hood heeds the call of another little village of the same sect to send them a nurse and sends Ruth. She arrives at the little village of Canaan Mountain and is met by Sheriff John Mount, the son of Rev. Israel Mount, with whom she is to live. One Sabbath a drunken brute is abusing his wife at the church door. John, trying to aid the wife, is about to be shot by the husband, when he is saved by Ruth. John and Ruth help the wife and gain her friendship. Later, the sheriff and Ruth become engaged. Lem, her brother, is shipped out of jail by an old convict who places him in a huge packing box which he is filling. Lem makes his escape from the baggage train and meets Ruth in the woods. A gossip sees them in each other's arms and spreads the news that Ruth is untrue to John, her betrothed. He refuses to believe the tales. Ruth hides Lem in the barn and continues to visit him at night. John starts to get suspicious. It happens that Ruth is compelled to borrow $50 from Rev. Mount and signs a note for it, promising to work off the debt. She goes to the barn and John follows her and sees her give Lem the money. He confronts them, and Ruth tells the truth. They plead for liberty, but John's sense of duty is greater, and he starts to take Lem back. The men fight, and, as John is about to overpower Lem, Ruth strikes him over the head with an iron chain, knocking him unconscious. Ruth helps her brother to escape, and when she returns to the barn she finds it in flames. She rescues John, who tells the crowd of villagers who have gathered that he knocked the lamp over by accident. Several months pass. Ruth works off the debt, and the lovers are estranged. The customary time arrives to send a young couple to another part of the mountains to populate a new settlement. The couple are chosen by lottery. John is the young man chosen and Rev. Mount realizes that Ruth and John are torn with anxiety as to who will be the chosen wife. When the day comes, the maidens cast their names in the box, and the Rev. Mount so fixes the lottery that Ruth's slip is picked. In a big city Lem is at work in a printing shop. At every sound he starts guiltily, thinking that someone will arrest him. A man rushes in with a slip of paper and tells Lem to rush it out in type for the next edition. Lem reads the paper, and it is an account of his acquittal and the full confession of the two crooks who robbed the bank. The State has pardoned his escape and only want news of his whereabouts. Lem is happy that he is finally free. Ruth and John continue on their way over the mountains in the old buggy.

Dir: Otis Turner

Miriam Lee is a young woman in New York who works hard for a living. Her life changes when she meets Joe Valdez, a handsome and ruthless gambler. After the couple is married Valdez opens an elegant gambling house and uses Miriam, who is nicknamed "the queen of the night", as bait to attract rich and gambling customers.

Dir: Otis Turner

With the help of futuristic technical inventions, a private detective investigates a bizarre murder case involving mysterious messages delivered in a small black box by the killer.