Top-Tier Alternatives In the Shadow of The Black Ace: Cult Guide

Dir: Edgar Jones

Mary Lane and her cousin Claiborne want to sell some land left to them by their family. Real-estate agent Roland Manning falls in love with her, and prepares a deal that will make money for both of them. However, shady land speculator Wade Dempster plots to get Claiborne drunk and swindle him out of the land. In order to get the honest Roland out of the way, he has him framed for a murder that Wade himself committed. Things look hopeless for Roland.

Dir: Edgar Jones

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of The Half Million Bribe perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

When the body of Col. S.F. Hargraves was found in a room in the rear of Cradelbaughs, a gambling house, with a bullet in his heart, the police found "Big Jim" Pemmican, the manager of the place, coolly pacing the floor when they arrived. Jim demanded that the district attorney be informed. When District Attorney Murgatroyd arrived Pemmican led the way to a lounging room where stretched full length upon a couch was J. Lawrence Challoner, a young clubman, in a drunken stupor. "He is the man who murdered the Colonel," Pemmican told the district attorney, who aroused the clubman and began questioning him. While Murgatroyd was telephoning his office for an assistant, and Pemmican was directing the arrangement of overturned furniture in the main gambling room, Challoner manager to make his escape. A city-wide search for Challoner was ordered by the district attorney, but no trace was found of him. Challoner had intended to go home to his wife, but as he walked through the side streets realized that he would be walking into a trap, so he turned and made for the East Side, finally bringing up in a cheap lodging house off the Bowery The next day he telephoned his wife and asked her to bring his funds and said he intended leaving for Europe on a freight carrying steamship out of Philadelphia. She advised him against this and pleaded with him to give himself up. With her fortune of half a million dollars she could hire the best legal talent in the city for him, she pointed out. Murgatroyd was greatly surprised when he arrived at his office and found both Challoner and his wife waiting for him. She asked to speak with him alone, after Challoner had been turned over to an officer. In his private office Mrs. Challoner made a deal with Murgatroyd to the effect that he would clear her husband's name. For this he was to receive securities that she held valued at half a million dollars. At the trial both Challoner and his wife were amazed when Murgatroyd prosecuted the case in a vigorous manner. And while the trial was in progress he even spent one night with Challoner, giving him the "third degree," and finally obtaining a confession from him. This confession was introduced at the trial the following day, and together with Pemmican's testimony and the testimony of a maid, who had heard Challoner and Hargraves quarreling in Letty Love's apartment, made a case that convinced the jury of Challoner's guilt. Challoner followed Murgatroyd into his office and threatened to expose him tor accepting a bribe. "I promised to save your husband," Murgatroyd said, "but 1 did not say when or how I would save him." A few weeks later Pemmican got into a row with some gamblers in a rival house. One of the men shot Pemmican got into a row with some gamblers in a rival house. One of the men shot Pemmican, and when the physician reached his side, they told him there was no hope for his recovery. Pemmican sent for Murgatroyd, who was told that it was he who had killed the Colonel, who with Challoner was fighting to gain Letty Love his ( Pemmican's) wife. Then the gambler died in the arms of his wife. Murgatroyd went to the prison where he saw Challoner and told him he had obtained a false confession. The district attorney arranged for Challoner's release and advised him to drop out of sight. In a modest little apartment on the East Side Challoner and his wife set up housekeeping. Everything was progressing nicely, until Challoner became discouraged and again took to drinking. One evening when he returned to the apartment after drinking heavily, his insistent demands for money roused his long-suffering wife to action. Instead of handing him the money, as Challoner expected, she drew a revolver from the folds of her gown and threatened to shoot him if he advanced a step toward her. It was a revelation of his wife's character and Challoner fell to his knee and began to cry like a child. It proved the turning point in their lives. Challoner never drank again, after this his wife confided a secret to him. A baby is soon to be born to them. Challoner became melancholy and said: "I cannot bear the thoughts of having a little one come into the world, the child of a murderer." When they arrived home from their little walk they found Shirley Bloodgood, one of the few society girl friends of Mrs. Challoner, who had remained steadfast during her trouble, They insisted on Shirley remaining to dinner, and that night the trio discussed many matters of the past. For Shirley was engaged to marry Murgatroyd, and she had tried to use her good offices on Challoner's behalf on several occasions. What became of Mrs. Challoner's fortune had always been a mystery to her friends, and during the course of the evening Shirley inquired of Mrs. Challoner where it had gone. Against the wishes of Challoner, his wife told Shirley that the money went to obtain her husband's freedom. "Mr. Challoner, I think you have made a mistake," Shirley said at last, "You know that any man who would take the last penny a woman has is capable of doing anything. How do you know that the confession Mr. Murgatroyd obtained was not real? I would never stop until I found out." The very next day Challoner set about on a quite investigation. Within a week he did find out that the confession was genuine, and that Murgatroyd lied to him. It required but little time for Mrs. Challoner, Shirley and Mr. Challoner to arrange a joint call upon the district attorney. Murgatroyd merely smiled when the trio swooped down upon him with their charges. After hearing a recital of their feelings he went to a large safe in the corner, opened it and took out the securities that Mrs. Challoner had given him. He had never touched them from the day he had received them. "There is every penny you gave me, Mrs. Challoner," he said. "I think you will all thank me when I explain. And I'm going to be very frank. It was Mrs. Challoner's money that made a fool and idler of her husband. He needed to be set right, and drastic treatment was necessary. There was plenty of manhood in him, but he had to be put through the fire. I realized that the only way to save Challoner was to reduce him to poverty. There have been times when my heart ached for him, and I wanted to tell you all the truth. I could tell you, but what's the use? I think we all understand now." That night at Sherry's there were covers laid for four, and it was a merry party.

Dir: Edgar Jones

The "the girl" can't make up her mind which man she loves, the three men decide to play a trick on her.

Dir: Hal Roach

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of Three and a Girl perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

An American book salesman (Lloyd) is persuaded to go to the kingdom of Thermosa to impersonate the Prince. He is greeted by a peasants' revolt before the real prince shows up to claim his throne and princess. The revolution succeeds, and the American is elected president of the new republic.

Dir: Edgar Jones

Through negotiations with the neighboring monarch, the King of Zollenstein arranges for his son to marry the Princess of Saxonia, but later discovers that the prince already has wed Lady Maulfrey Le Fay in secret. The king angrily exiles his son to England but while on his deathbed, calls him back to Zollenstein where Lady Le Fay dies in childbirth. After the prince succeeds to the throne, Boris, his father's illegitimate brother, bribes Betta, Lady Le Fay's maid, to kill the baby boy as part of a plot to overthrow the prince. Instead of slaying the child, Betta hides him and raises him as her own, calling him John Mortimer. When the new king dies in an accident, Boris claims the crown, but the Grand Chancellor, his enemy, meets John by chance and, struck by his resemblance to the Royal Family, declares him the true heir. Boris attempts to discredit John, but Betta produces proof of his heritage. Crowned king, John then marries Princess Zenia, the daughter of his father's jilted betrothed.

Dir: Reggie Morris

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of His Royal Slyness perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

Dir: Edgar Jones

A young girl goes South to live with her aunt after the death of her miserly father, unaware that her father's treasure is hidden inside her doll.

Dir: Edgar Jones

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

Roscoe Tracy, the foreman of a large mining camp, is unjustly sentenced to life in prison for robbery and murder. In his absence, his little daughter Joan is raised by mine superintendent Robert Carter. Many years after her father's conviction, Joan receives an anonymous note advising her to examine the contents of a chest that is stored in a certain warehouse. Carter, alarmed by this development, tries to secure the trunk himself, but not before it is purchased at an auction by Jim Younger and his friends. Joan, who loves Jim, informs the young man of the chest's value, and when Carter and his men steal the box, Jim pursues them and retrieves it. The trunk contains a note revealing that Carter and his accomplice Joe Morgan, the mine's telegrapher, framed Tracy for the crimes that they had committed. Tracy is finally released from prison, and Joan weds Jim.

Dir: Unknown Director

The Judge needs a present for his wife's birthday, so Harry suggests a new corset. They go to the shop, but he's so embarrassed to ask the saleslady he hides in a phone booth.Harry goes in, but finds a GUY wearing one, and runs out.They both dress as women to get back in, but Mrs. Rummy gets there and chases him out.

Dir: Edgar Jones

A Mountie searching for known moonshiners falls in love with the sister of a man associated with them.