The Essential Watchlist that Capture the Essence of Shot in the Dumbwaiter: Cult Guide

Dir: Eddie Lyons

Nifty Ned is a heavyweight champion that meets all comers. He is successful through the fact that he manages to back his opponents against the scenery at the back of the stage ring. From a vantage point behind the scenes, Happy Harry whacks the opponent on the head with a club, invariably causing the "knockout." The end comes when the "heavyweight" is pushed against the scenery by one of his opponents, and Happy Harry knocks out the wrong man.

Dir: Eddie Lyons

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

Rushville is excited over the football game to be played that day between its rival teams, the Bearcats and the Carnations. Word reaches the latter team that Spike Hennessey, a famous quarterback, is to be a ringer on the "Bearcats" team.

Dir: Eddie Lyons

Eddie is about to be married, and while he is facing the altar with his prospective bride, Charlotte, Lee, the rejected suitor, bursts into a fit of weeping. He is ejected, but returns and time and time again attempts to break up the ceremony so that he can make the girl his wife. After being tossed out for attempting in different ways to put an end to the wedding, Eddie, Lee, Charlotte and the preacher are escorted to jail. Lee has to look on while the matrimonial knot is tied.

Dir: Eddie Lyons

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of Stop That Wedding perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

Eddie appears as a grocer boy and Lee as butcher boy. Both love the same girl, but after numerous amusing advances a third youth marries her.

Dir: Eddie Lyons

The newlyweds buy a rooster and expect it to lay eggs. Food conservation also comes in for some quiet, humorous effects.

Dir: Eddie Lyons

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of Hearts and Let Us perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

Dir: Eddie Lyons

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

Dir: Eddie Lyons

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

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

Dir: Eddie Lyons

John Smith learns in order to inherit two million dollars from his wealthy aunt, he divorce his wife Lucille, a former vaudeville performer. In order to qualify for his inheritance, John devises the idea of divorcing his wife and then remarrying her. To establish grounds for the divorce, John registers at a hotel with Fannie, the janitor's wife. Their neighbors in the adjoining room are Britton Hughes and his bride Peggy, who are being pursued by the bride's father. The arrival of Fannie's husband precipitates a panic in the two apartments, during which time, John and Peggy are thrown together. At that moment, Lucille arrives and believes that John is guilty of a real affair. Several complications arise until John's aunt appears and tells her nephew that the will was all a test of his love for Lucille, and when the runaway bride and groom are forgiven, all ends happily.

Dir: Eddie Lyons

Bernie and Sidney are a buyer and a salesman who smash each other's hats before becoming acquainted. Their wives afterward mix in at a hat sale and later all meet at dinner, when the riot begins again.