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Deep Archive Finds Movies That Echo the Spirit of That's Pictures: ...

Author

Senior Film Conservator

28 June 2026

4 min read

The cinematic DNA of That's Pictures (1936) is truly one of a kind, finding other movies that capture that same lightning in a bottle is a top priority. We have meticulously scanned our vault to find hidden gems that resonate with this work.

The That's Pictures Phenomenon

As a pivotal work in United States cinema, That's Pictures to challenge the status quo through its avant-garde structure.

A jocular explanation of film-making techniques by J.C. Flippen with a few examples is good for some laughs. As master of ceremonies he interweaves a few song and chorus numbers and introduces a few aspirants.

Critical Consensus

7.5/10

Critics widely regard That's Pictures as a cult-favorite piece of Short cinema. Its unique vision is frequently cited as its strongest asset, solidifying its place in United States's film legacy.

New Ralgia scene — Scene from New Ralgia

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

Deep Archive Finds Movies That Echo the Spirit of That's Pictures

Based on the unique unique vision of That's Pictures, our vault has identified these titles as the most compelling follow-up experiences for fans of Short cinema:

New Ralgia

1. New Ralgia 1920

Dir: Unknown Director

The village youths are rivals for the hand of the local belle. Their battles lead them to the village store, where chaos soon reigns, terminating in the place being blown up, leaving Bobby a happy victor.

Get-Rich-Quick Edgar

2. Get-Rich-Quick Edgar 1920

Dir: Mason N. Litson

Get-Rich-Quick Edgar scene — Scene from Get-Rich-Quick Edgar

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of Get-Rich-Quick Edgar perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

Edgar and his chum try to amass a fortune in one day by cornering the fan market on a hot afternoon when the circus comes to the small town where they are spending their vacation.

An Amateur Devil

3. An Amateur Devil 1920

Dir: Maurice Campbell

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.

Trail of the Rails

4. Trail of the Rails 1920

Dir: Unknown Director

An Amateur Devil scene — Scene from An Amateur Devil

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of An Amateur Devil perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

Down the Mississippi

5. Down the Mississippi 1920

Dir: Frank Moser

The simple story is about two siblings, little brother Bud and big sister Susie. After they've been reading "Huckleberry Finn" they dream of adventures on the Mississippi River.

Homer Comes Home

6. Homer Comes Home 1920

Dir: Jerome Storm

Trail of the Rails scene — Scene from Trail of the Rails

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

Ne'er-do-well Homer Cavender ventures to the city from Mainsville in an effort to find fame and fortune. Both elude him, and after clerking for two years, Homer returns home for a vacation. Impressed by his flashy clothes, the townspeople assume that Homer has achieved success. Attempting to win Rachel Prouty from his rival, Arthur Machim, Homer continues the deception by announcing that his employer, Kort and Bailly, has dispatched him to enroll stockholders for a proposed new plant to be built in Mainsville. Machim discovers the sham and denounces Homer as a crook. Meanwhile, Homer returns to New York, convinces his employers of the merits of his plan and comes home triumphant, with a proposal for both the new plant and for Rachel's hand in marriage.

'A mala nova

7. 'A mala nova 1920

Dir: Eduardo Notari

A crime drama in the Gennariello-series. The police detective in Naples that is confronted with modern gangsters and crime events.

In the River

8. In the River 1920

Dir: Edgar Jones

Down the Mississippi scene — Scene from Down the Mississippi

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of Down the Mississippi 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.

Don't Weaken!

9. Don't Weaken! 1920

Dir: Malcolm St. Clair

A dancing instructor gets involved with a newly rich family.

On Strike

10. On Strike 1920

Dir: Bud Fisher

Mutt and Jeff go on strike and make their own film.

Cinematic Comparison Matrix

Analysis relative to That's Pictures

Film Title	Atmosphere	Complexity	Similarity
New Ralgia	Ethereal	High	85% Match
Get-Rich-Quick Edgar	Tense	Abstract	95% Match
An Amateur Devil	Tense	Linear	98% Match
Trail of the Rails	Tense	Layered	96% Match
Down the Mississippi	Gritty	Linear	92% Match

* This matrix is generated based on structural DNA and genre proximity to the 1936 classic That's Pictures.

This guide was algorithmically generated using the cinematic metadata of Roy Mack's archive. Last updated: 6/28/2026.

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