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Cinematic Discoveries Resonating with the Themes of Not So Big: Cult Guide

Author

Archivist John

Senior Editor

13 May 2026

3 min read

The artistic legacy of Del Andrews was forever changed by Not So Big, the thematic layers of this 1927 classic invite a wider exploration of the genre. This list serves as a bridge to other Short experiences that are just as potent.

The Not So Big Phenomenon

The vintage appeal of Not So Big to reinvent the tropes of Short cinema for a global audience.

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Did you know?

Not So Big was a significant production in United States, showcasing the immense talent of Lorraine Eason, Thelma Hill, Danny O'Shea. It continues to be a top recommendation for anyone studying Short history.

New Ralgia scene — Scene from New Ralgia

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

Cinematic Discoveries Resonating with the Themes of Not So Big

Based on the unique cult status of Not So Big, our vault has identified these titles as the most compelling follow-up experiences for fans of Short cinema:

New Ralgia

1. New Ralgia 1920

Dir: Unknown Director

The village youths are rivals for the hand of the local belle. Their battles lead them to the village store, where chaos soon reigns, terminating in the place being blown up, leaving Bobby a happy victor.

On Strike

2. On Strike 1920

Dir: Bud Fisher

On Strike scene — Scene from On Strike

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

Mutt and Jeff go on strike and make their own film.

In the River

3. In the River 1920

Dir: Edgar Jones

A mail-order bride arrives at a Maine lumber camp but doesn't like her prospective husband.

Striking Models

4. Striking Models 1920

Dir: Reggie Morris

In the River scene — Scene from In the River

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

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

The Great Cheese Robbery

5. The Great Cheese Robbery 1920

Dir: Vernon Stallings

Krazy Kat is held in jail and Ignatz finally bails him out after encountering "guilt".

Trail of the Rails

6. Trail of the Rails 1920

Dir: Unknown Director

Striking Models scene — Scene from Striking Models

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

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

Get-Rich-Quick Edgar

7. Get-Rich-Quick Edgar 1920

Dir: Mason N. Litson

Edgar and his chum try to amass a fortune in one day by cornering the fan market on a hot afternoon when the circus comes to the small town where they are spending their vacation.

Homer Comes Home

8. Homer Comes Home 1920

Dir: Jerome Storm

The Great Cheese Robbery scene — Scene from The Great Cheese Robbery

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

Ne'er-do-well Homer Cavender ventures to the city from Mainsville in an effort to find fame and fortune. Both elude him, and after clerking for two years, Homer returns home for a vacation. Impressed by his flashy clothes, the townspeople assume that Homer has achieved success. Attempting to win Rachel Prouty from his rival, Arthur Machim, Homer continues the deception by announcing that his employer, Kort and Bailly, has dispatched him to enroll stockholders for a proposed new plant to be built in Mainsville. Machim discovers the sham and denounces Homer as a crook. Meanwhile, Homer returns to New York, convinces his employers of the merits of his plan and comes home triumphant, with a proposal for both the new plant and for Rachel's hand in marriage.

Lunatics in Politics

9. Lunatics in Politics 1920

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.

The Amazing Quest of Mr. Ernest Bliss

10. The Amazing Quest of Mr. Ernest Bliss 1920

Dir: Henry Edwards

A millionaire bets £25,000 that he can earn his own living for six months.

Cinematic Comparison Matrix

Analysis relative to Not So Big

Film Title	Atmosphere	Complexity	Similarity
New Ralgia	Ethereal	High	85% Match
On Strike	Gothic	Linear	92% Match
In the River	Gritty	High	92% Match
Striking Models	Tense	High	96% Match
The Great Cheese Robbery	Surreal	Linear	87% Match

* This matrix is generated based on structural DNA and genre proximity to the 1927 classic Not So Big.

This guide was algorithmically generated using the cinematic metadata of Del Andrews's archive. Last updated: 5/13/2026.

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