Top-Tier Alternatives Exploring the Legacy of Nothing Like It: Cult...

Dir: Al Christie

Edith and Neal have just been divorced and the judge ordered Neal to pay $300 a week alimony. Neal tried to slip out of the country on the first alimony day, but was caught in an airplane chase. Then next alimony day he got what he thought was a brilliant idea. He left his clothes on the beach and pretended to have killed himself. So Edith took possession of the house and the judge started courting her. Then Neal was informed by his lawyer that he was legally dead and his wife automatically inherited everything and in order to get his money back he would have to marry her again. So Neal disguised himself with whiskers and had a couple of thugs accost Edith so he could play the hero with her. But in the sham fight one of the thugs apologized to Edith for hitting her husband so hard and spilled the beans generally. So Edith took him in the house and nursed him back to health and he proposed. After telling him how like her poor, dear, dead husband he was, she consented, and he had to wear a suit of her supposed dead husband's to get married in. The "guests" were all detectives, the minister himself being a detective. Just as Edith was about to say "I do," she said "I don't " instead and disclosed Neal's identity. The lawyer arrived just then and said in reading over the old will he found a clause saying that quarrels in the family would have to be patched up or the money would go to charity. So they were married all over again - by the judge of the divorce court. Motion Picture News, November 1, 1919

Dir: Al Christie

On the strength of father's promise of a $10,000 check to the happy bride and groom, a truckload of furniture arrives with which newlywed Mary desired to furnish a city flat.

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

Dir: Al Christie

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

Dir: Al Christie

After Eddie Plum discovers oil on the family ranch, he and his widowed mother move to the city where they meet Lord Burlington, a British fortune hunter. Burlington introduces the Plums to two socialites, Mrs. Van Zant and Betty, her daughter, and while Burlington woos Mrs. Plum, Eddie falls in love with Betty. A double wedding is arranged, but on the day of the ceremony, Mrs. Plum announces that the deed to her land has been stolen and without it she has no claim. Devastated by the news, Burlington requests a postponement and leaves. In spite of the apparent disaster, Eddie and Betty elope while Mrs. Plum, hurt by the Lord's sudden departure, plans to return to the country. Realizing that his affections for the widow are genuine, Burlington asks for her forgiveness and insists on the marriage. Her faith restored, Mrs. Plum reveals that the stolen documents were fakes, and that her oil millions are safe.

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

Dir: Al Christie

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

Dir: Al Christie

The mayor of a town out in Texas receives word that his niece from the East is about to pay him a visit. The young woman is shown on the train, then landing in the town. Here she finds that the place is literally going to the dogs. The sheriff cannot keep order, and a bandit is in the habit of riding into town and robbing it whenever he takes the notion. Her uncle is about to lose his office, and matters are in a bad way for him. Determined to help him out of his troubles, the girl has the mayor appoint her sheriff. With the help of a female police force, she starts a reform administration which amounts to a moral whirlwind. The bandit is captured after a terrific fight, and the girl herself, finding that the ex-sheriff is in league with the robber, goes gunning for him. She wakes up in the middle of a lively shooting match, to find herself still on the train. Apprehension of what the town may be like has caused her bad dream. Met at the station by her uncle, she discovers that the place is as quiet and well-behaved as a New England village.

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of Mrs. Plum's Pudding perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

Dir: Al Christie

Bobby had been instrumental in having Dorothy Invited to a weekend party that he might propose to her in ideal surroundings. There were other chaps in the competition, however, and Dorothy was a bit coy when Bobby tried to monopolize her society. In fact, she seemed more than willing to have the other fellows do the monopolizing. Sympathetic girl friends of Bobby told him that the slogan of the tanks, "Treat 'Em Rough," was the proper rule in love making - and so Bobby tried it. He kidnapped Dorothy in a motor, drove her to the mountains and forced her by wielding the "cave man's club" to don tiger skins as dress and submit to his commands. That Dorothy liked the idea was evident when the entire weekend delegation followed them forthwith to the mountain cave, bringing along a minister to tie the knot.

Dir: Al Christie

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

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

Dir: Al Christie

A young widow accidentally leaves her baby on the back seat of Billy's car, causing trouble between Billy and his jealous fiancée.

Dir: Al Christie

A company of barnstormers goes on strike in the middle of a performance and a number of local amateurs are prevailed upon to furnish the show, which they do in more ways than one.