The Essential Watchlist that Capture the Essence of Neck and Neck: ...

Dir: Richard Thorpe

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

Dir: Richard Thorpe

Buddy West (Buddy Roosevelt) inherits a ranch but a clause in the will provides the ranch shall go to the foreman, Pete Hall (William Lowery), if Buddy is found incompetent, which leads to foul play by Hall. Buddy escapes from an asylum where he has been sent and returns to vindicate himself and free his uncle's daughter, Dorothy Parker (Violet La Plante), who is being held prisoner by Hall and his henchmen. Buddy wins out and also wins the hand of Dorothy.

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

Dir: Richard Thorpe

A cowboy named Quicker'n Lightnin' searches for his sweetheart, Helen Harlow, after she is abducted by Mowii, a notorious renegade. Morella, a Native American girl, informs Lightnin' and his friend, Al McNutt, that Mowii has taken Helen to his hideout in a deserted Pueblo village. Along the way, they learn that Morella's father has been murdered. Mowii and his gang capture the group, but Lightnin' escapes and instructs Morella's lover, Truxillo, to send the sheriff with a posse. Following a heated battle, most of the gang members are captured. Lightnin' comes to the rescue as Mowii's mother, known as the Squaw, is about to sacrifice Helen to the sun god. He grabs the arrow and impales Mowii's arm, then ties him up until the sheriff arrives. Afterward, Lightnin' takes Helen home.

Dir: Richard Thorpe

John Lawson stakes out a gold mining claim, but is driven off by a gang lead by "Red Star" Dorgan. Buffalo Bill, Jr. happens to be riding by and hears the commotion and drives the claim jumpers away from Lawson who is barricaded in his cabin.

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of Quicker'n Lightnin' perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

Dir: Richard Thorpe

After Bill Davis rescues a Native American woman from outlaw Jim Slade, he is lost in the desert, where his horse dies from thirst. Nita Randall, whose father operates a nearby mine, finds Bill in time to prevent him from suffering a similar fate. When Slade plots to take over the mine, Dad Randall kills one of outlaw's men, then dies of an injury. Bill accepts the blame and Nita turns against him. She later forgives and falls in love with Bill after he defeats Slade.

Dir: Richard Thorpe

Dad Burns, an aging rancher, writes to his nephew, Wally Blake, whom he has never seen, requesting that he take over the management of his large cattle ranch. On the way there, Wally is framed for a crime and sent to jail; Matt Harris, using Burns's letter to Wally as proof of his identity, takes Wally's place and, accompanied by his sister, Sally, goes to the Burns ranch, passing himself off as Burns's nephew. Wally eventually arrives at the ranch and catches Harris robbing the safe; Harris manages to pin the blame on Wally. Dad Burns is jumped by Jim, and the wily old-timer kills the tramp. Wally is also blamed for this crime. Wally and Harris fight it out on the edge of a precipice, and Wally sends the impostor to his doom. Wally establishes his true identity and wins the affection of both his uncle and Harris' sister.

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

Dir: Richard Thorpe

Regan and Burns intend to foreclose a mortgage on Lowery's ranch. Lowery's foreman, Bill Demming, and his assistant get into a scrap. Bill runs away and is charged with murder. He impersonates Lowery in order to get money from the latter's grandfather to pay off the mortgage, succeeds, but is compelled to marry the old man's niece, Alice. Bill is cleared of the murder charge, Lowery's ranch is saved. Bill and Alice face a happy future together.

Dir: Richard Thorpe

A photograph of Pa Hinkle, taken in his bachelor days with a bathing girl siren, is rather compromising, and the action centers around his efforts to regain this photo. Jimmie, as the suitor of his daughter Mary, gains possession of the photo, and holds it over the father's head.

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

Dir: Richard Thorpe

Wally returns from prison having been framed by outlaw Bowers and Banker Brown. When Wally and Bowers fight, Wally is jailed. Getting the Sheriff and posse out of town, Bowers robs Brown's bank to get the note implicating him in Wally's crime. Helen seeing the robbery frees Wally who starts out single handed after the gang.

Dir: Richard Thorpe

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.