Editor's Top Picks Following the Footsteps of Strife: Cult Guide

Dir: Lambert Hillyer

John Oxford owns a gambling hall in an Alaskan mining town, but it known far and wide as an honest man. However, one day he finds that in order to save the life of Doris Henry, who has come to Alaska to marry Wallace Towers, he has to cheat. It turns out that Wallace has incurred huge gambling losses and is being threatened by those to whom he owes the money, and they in turn are threatening Doris--who mistakenly blames John for the predicament that she and Wallace are in.

Dir: Lambert Hillyer

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of Mile-a-Minute Romeo perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

Three men, Lucky Bill (Tom Mix), Landry (J. Gordon Russell), and Morgan (Jim Mason) are in love with the same girl, pretty Molly (Betty Jewel). Lucky Bill finally wins her with his skillful horsemanship and dogged determination.

Dir: Lambert Hillyer

An outlaw named Duane (Tom Mix), captured by the Texas Rangers, is promised a pardon if he rounds up a gang of cattle thieves. The man he suspects as the leader is revealed to be the father of Duane's sweetheart, Helen (Billie Dove). Duane captures the gang, gets a pardon for Helen's father, and marries Helen.

Dir: Lambert Hillyer

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of The Lone Star Ranger perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

After losing his money and horse in the trail town of Chloride, Arizona, in a crooked faro game run by Wes Prentice, the owner of of the local land company, cowboy Careless Carmody becomes sheriff of Chloride. Unknown to Carmody, Prentice is selling land that has no titles to naive settlers, then reselling the land to other buyers. After saving pretty young Ruth Fellows from the unwanted attentions of a local ruffian, Carmody finds himself more and more attracted to her. However, things take a turn for the worse when Prentice has Carmody serve Ruth with papers throwing her off the land he has just sold her. Complications ensue.

Dir: Lambert Hillyer

Sergeant O'Malley, a member of the Northwest Mounted Police, is assigned to bring in the murderer of a saloon keeper named La Grange. Disguised as a cowboy, O'Malley attends a rodeo, where he believes a group of outlaws, including the alleged killer, are performing. He follows them to their stronghold in the mountains, then robs a bank in order to ingratiate himself into the gang. After making off with $5000, he is chased by a posse, but he manages to elude them, and then is admitted into the gang. O'Malley falls for Rose Lanier, who cooks for the gang. Rose's brother, Bud, is the alleged killer. When the leader of the gang, Red Jaeger, makes unwanted advances towards Rose, O'Malley thrashes him. Jaeger decides to betray the gang, and secretly rides to the sheriff's office. There, he learns that the stolen bank money has been returned, and that O'Malley is working undercover. Jaeger shows the evidence to the gang, and they tie O'Malley to a tree. He is placed under guard, and is set to be hanged at daybreak. Rose secretly gives O'Malley a knife, enabling him to escape, along with her and her brother. While the three are on the run, O'Malley learns that Bud killed La Grange because the saloon keeper had wronged Rose. Later, O'Malley leaves a note telling Rose and Lanier who he really is. He also informs then he is headed back to his post to resign, but will return for Rose if she is willing to wait for him.

Dir: Lambert Hillyer

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

Gambler Oak Miller seeks revenge on the man who misused his sister Rose, who is ill and under the care of the woman Oak loves, Barbara. The man Oak seeks, Granger, is planning to rob a wagon train with the collusion of the Indians under Chief Long Knife. When Barbara's brother is accused of killing her lascivious stepfather, Oak takes the blame and is arrested just before he is needed to save the threatened wagon train.

Dir: Lambert Hillyer

Crook Bud Doyle returns from the war intending to go straight but finds it difficult because of his crook-like features. His wife, her new companion Joe Culver, and Boss McQuarg conspire to frame Bud, and he goes to jail. He escapes, has an accident, and is taken to a hospital for plastic surgery. His features transformed, he discovers the plot against him, helps District Attorney Carlson bring the conspirators to justice, and marries his nurse.

Dir: Lambert Hillyer

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of O'Malley of the Mounted perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

Bruce Thornton, a forest ranger, arrests Ruth Melier, who is accused of murdering her stepfather. However, Ruth reveals that her brutal husband, Horgan, is the murderer. Bruce and a fellow ranger capture Horgan and his gang of timber thieves, establishing Ruth's innocence.

Dir: Lambert Hillyer

A gang of blackmailers sends a cripple to San Francisco to expose a banker they have been blackmailing. However, the cripple meets and falls in love with the banker's daughter.

Dir: Lambert Hillyer

Claire Curtis, Jimmie Strong and Mary have spent their childhood together in the country. Upon reaching adulthood, Claire goes to New York and becomes a success on stage. Jimmie, who has always dreamed of becoming an inventor, goes to New York to sell the machine he invented, and there he renews his acquaintance with Claire. Soon their old friendship ripens into love. Meanwhile, back in the country, Ralph and David Harding, who are making Jimmie's machine, plan to steal the right to it. Back in New York, Mary appears and informs Claire that she loves Jimmie, and the actress resolves to give her a chance to win him. When it appears that the Hardings' scheme to steal Jimmie's machine will succeed, however, Mary's ardor turns cold. Claire and Jimmie then rush back to the country in time to avert the takeover and save his firm from bankruptcy.