The Cult Collection Inspired by the Vision of The Argonauts of California - 1849: Cult Guide

Dir: Henry Kabierske

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of The Argonauts of California - 1849 perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

In 1849, the peace of a small California logging community called Hangtown is shattered when a lumberman discovers gold at his mill. News of the discovery travels quickly, and in a New England town, Amos Fenton prepares to leaves his sweetheart Mary Hampton, in the hope of striking it rich in California. Along with Mary's father, Amos unearths a rich store of gold and, with his newly acquired treasure, he establishes a law practice in San Francisco. The gold rush attracts so many criminals to the city, however, that Amos, disgusted with the prevailing lawlessness, decides to organize a vigilance committee. Mary sails to San Francisco to join her father and sweetheart, but upon her arrival she is kidnapped. Amos and his army of vigilantes ride to her rescue, and after a fierce battle with the outlaws, she is reunited with her future husband.

Dir: Henry Kabierske

In 1846 California, Lieutenant Nelson of the American army and Ysabel Hernandez, the daughter of a California don, fall in love. Warfare between the Americans and the Californians soon breaks out, however, and Ysabel puts on man's dress and joins Pico's Californian army, distinguishing herself by her horsemanship. After many shifts of fortune, the Americans are victorious in the final battle in Los Angeles, in which Nelson narrowly escapes killing Ysabel. Holliday, the treacherous Englishman whose deceptions helped to start the hostilities, kidnaps Ysabel and her brother's fiancée, but Nelson and several others come to the rescue and the lovers are united.