The Definitive Watchlist For Devotees of Steamboat Round the Bend: ...

Dir: John Ford

A ranch foreman battles a rich stockbroker for the affections of a beautiful young woman.

Dir: John Ford

The owner of a gambling hall is entrusted with the care of a pretty young girl. He falls in love with her, but he must decide whether to let her go to his best friend, with whom he believes her to be in love, or to try to win her for himself.

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of The Outcasts of Poker Flat perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

Dir: John Ford

Convict Cheyenne Harry escapes from prison in a garbage truck and boards a train, where he eludes capture with the help of passenger Henry Beaufort.

Dir: John Ford

Cowboy Lin McLean's restlessness takes him to Denver, where he becomes enamored of a waitress named Katie.

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

Dir: John Ford

A mother is convinced her son is a ranch owner when in fact he is an outlaw, and she just saves him from hanging.

Dir: John Ford

"Cheyenne Harry", owner of the biggest cattle ranch in his corner of the West, is having trouble with John Merritt, a land-grabbing Chicago meat-packer. By some artifice of shrewd legal aid, Merritt manages to seize Harry's ranch under a bogus writ of foreclosure. Failing to get justice by his many letters to Merritt, "Cheyenne Harry" goes East and calls at the millionaire's mansion. At first, Merritt refuses to see him. Then, to cause amusement for his daughter Helen and her guests, he invites the "uncouth" Westerner into his dining hall. He is sure that he will make some grave error in table deportment and afford them all a laugh. To the amazement of Merrit and the guests Harry's table manners are faultless. Then, to trick him into an embarrassing position, Merritt eats with his knife. Harry, realizing that it is proper for the guest to follow the example of the host, does likewise. He leaves the house chagrined but more determined than ever to get justice from Merritt.

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

Dir: John Ford

An Arizona cattleman defeats the rustlers and the sheriff who is in league with them.

Dir: John Ford

A grizzled hero is revisiting the town of his youthful exploits.

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

Dir: John Ford

This is the same plot as Three Godfathers. Three outlaws rescue a baby in the desert and with barely any water left try to return to the town in which they just robbed a bank.

Dir: John Ford

A cowboy must save his girlfriend from captivity and then cross the desert on foot with a single waterhole on the way.