Top-Tier Alternatives In the Shadow of Paris Lights: Cult Guide

Dir: Gilbert Pratt

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

Dir: Lloyd Ingraham

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

While walking along the street one day, Arthur P. Hampton, an impoverished young doctor, and his chums, Stub Masters and Johnny Stokes, are persuaded to part with their last remaining funds by tag day solicitor Mary Jane Smith, with whom the doctor promptly falls in love. Doc's friends then hit upon a get-rich-quick scheme. Knowing that his Uncle George has promised a large sum of money upon his nephew's marriage, they persuade Doc to send out fake wedding invitations naming Mary Jane as the blushing bride. Uncle George, elated at the good news, writes to Mary Jane's aunt, Angelica Burns, an old sweetheart, to invite Mary Jane and Angelica to be his guests on an ocean voyage. Meanwhile, Mary Jane pays a visit to the doctor's office and, upon seeing the wedding invitations, becomes so flustered that she trips and sprains her ankle. Doc comes to her rescue and then begs her to pose as his wife. She agrees, but at ship-side, Stub and Johnnie confess all to Uncle George, who flies into a rage until Doc announces that he and Mary Jane have chosen a wedding at sea.

Dir: Unknown Director

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

Dir: Richard Smith

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

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.

Dir: Edgar Jones

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

Dir: Maurice Campbell

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

Carver Endicott, a young sophisticate, is rejected by his fiancée for being too foppish and dull. When she feigns an interest in his father, Carver attempts to disgrace his family name by working as a farmhand and later as a busboy in a hotel. However, the newspapers only praise him for his self-sacrificing principles; and finding that he cannot bring shame to the family through menial labor, he takes up with a notorious actress. But when this maneuver also fails, he returns to his former fiancée, who has no further complaint about his being an inexperienced dullard.

Dir: Gilbert Pratt

At a powder mill, the formula for an all-destroying explosive is sought by enemies of the mill owners, and the chase for this provides a riot of fun.

Dir: Gilbert Pratt

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

Harold must have $5,000 to win the girl and manages to get it out of her father in a novel way.

Dir: Gilbert Pratt

Two playful young ladies make the acquaintance of two idle sons, who follow them, persistently forcing their way into a dancing academy, much against the dancing master's will. One of them gets a bright idea, and with the help of two pieces of mirror and a long pipe making a periscope, watch the dancing lessons. They are much interested in the dance of the seven veils, when the dancing master spies the periscope. He comes down, scares Monte away, and takes his place beside the unsuspecting Joe. Joe finally evades him, the two again resume their persistently in forcing their way into the place, assuming two suits of armor, being brought to the academy. Queer things follow rapidly on top of one another, winding up with the two running, as the picture fades.

Dir: Charley Chase

A young married couple volunteer to take charge of several orphans after the asylum has burned down. Of course they find their hands full with their troublesome charges.