Must-Watch List Comparable to the Style of Pampered Youth: Cult Guide

Dir: David Smith

Peggy (Bessie Love) and her sister Frances (Myrtle Reeves) live with their father, but because of his idleness, they must all move to humbler quarters. Peggy adapts quickly to their new surrounding, while Frances misses the social life she once enjoyed. Their neighbors are well off, and Peggy begins a romance with their son, whom she thinks is the chauffeur. Meanwhile, Frances has become involved with a roguish character and plans to elope with him. Peggy saves her sister from imminent disgrace, but comes close to compromising herself instead. Peggy's sweetheart comes to her rescue and now his true identity is revealed to the very grateful girl.

Dir: David Smith

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

Peggy Winston, the boss of a lumber camp left to her by her father, is loved by all the "jacks" of the camp. When Clayton Hargis, the son of a millionaire ship builder visits to contract for the camp's entire output, Peggy, deeply affected by him, rescues him when he falls into dangerous waters, but Clayton remains ignorant of her affection. Peggy accepts the invitation of Clayton's sister to join them in the city, and after trading her corduroys and spiked shoes for silks, blossoms into a beautiful woman. Heartbroken when she sees Clayton's fiancée embrace him, Peggy leaves and lives a week in the city after pawning her clothes. In Peggy's absence, the title to the camp is taken over by a friend of Clayton's. The friend and Clayton, who now realizes that he loves Peggy, search for her at the camp. After the hostile lumberjacks lock them in a cabin and plant dynamite underneath it, Peggy arrives, quells the riot, and saves them. Clayton straightens out the title of the camp, and confesses his love for Peggy.

Dir: David Smith

"King" McAllister's word is law, judge, and jury in the cattle country where he lives with his daughter Panchita. His foreman, Price Purcell, believed he had a chance of winning Panchita's hand until the arrival of Buck Lumsden, who settled all doubts concerning the likely winner. Buck did not make a hit at first because he was "down and out" but he lingers and is made foreman of the year's round-up which was not altogether to Purcell's liking. Purcell plans to ruin Buck in the estimation of the boss as well as Panchita. After the round-up, all adjourn to the dance hall and gambling resort to celebrate, and Purcell lures Buck into a roulette game. Buck loses not only his own money but a large amount belonging to McAllister. Purcell returns to McAllister with the news of Buck's disloyalty. Buck has married Panchita. He is obliged to flee the country and sets out to raise enough money to repay McAllister for the amount he had lost to Purcell.

Dir: David Smith

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

Jim Carvel, whose father Henry, a newspaper owner, has been killed by the local political boss for exposing a theft ring, shoots his father's murderer and escapes to the Canadian Northwest where he befriends Nepeese, daughter of a local trapper named Pierre. Brutal trading post owner "Bush" McTaggart attacks Nepeese while she is alone in her cabin. Pierre arrives home and tries to defend his daughter, but McTaggart kills him. To clear himself, McTaggart blames Jim for the murder, and while a group of Indians track Jim down, kidnaps Nepeese. Jim is rescued by his half-breed friend De Bar while Baree, Nepeese's dog, hunts down and overcomes McTaggart. Freed from McTaggart's clutches, Nepeese marries Jim.

Dir: Bruno Ziener

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

Dir: David Smith

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of Baree, Son of Kazan perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

Allen Spargo, a mining engineer betrothed to Theresa Kane, goes West to make his fortune and is seriously injured in an accident. Kate Leonard falls in love with him while nursing him to recovery. She jealously intercepts his fiancée's letters and writes Theresa that Allen is dead. Paralyzed by grief for a time, Theresa finally agrees to marry her former suitor, Lemuel Antree, but soon after the ceremony, Allen returns. Assuming that she no longer loves him, Allen leaves for the West, but Theresa follows him. Lemuel pursues the couple intending to kill them, but learns that Allen had once saved his life. Since Lemuel believes that his life, in effect, belongs to Allen, he drowns himself to allow the couple to marry.

Dir: Alexander Butler

In Alberta, Canada, a Cornish emigrant unmasks a rustler posing as the girl's "blind" father.

Dir: Edgar Jones

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of Eva, wo bist du? perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

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

Dir: Edward LeSaint

When famous opera singer Elinore Duane undergoes an operation on her throat, she has a series of ether-induced visions. In one, she is transported to ancient Rome where she appears as a much-admired woman in love with Paul, a young heretic, and at odds with Lutor, the high priest. To save her love, she poisons Lutor with her ring. After several other visions which involve variations on this love triangle, Elinore awakens to discover that Lutor is actually her doctor, Sascha Jaccard, and that Paul is the son of a friend who has come to visit the recovering prima donna.

Dir: Wilfred Lucas

Brian O'Farrell (Snowy Baker), is an English 'new chum' who takes a job at an Australian cattle station. He is teased by station hands because of his appearance (including spats and a monocle) but he soon impresses them with his skills at riding and boxing. The station manager, John MacDonald (Wilfred Lucas), takes O'Farrell to Sydney to meet his daughter Edith (Kathleen Key) who is working in the slums. Edith is kidnapped by criminals after witnessing a crime but O'Farrell rescues her. It is later revealed he is the owner of the station.