Hand-Picked Alternatives Movies That Echo the Spirit of The Blue Bandanna: Cult Guide

Dir: Joseph Franz

A young ranch man is captured by criminals because he possesses the secret of the location of a gold mine in the Arizona desert. After being thrown into San Francisco Bay, he is picked up by a tramp steamer and forced to work his way to China, where he again meets the gang. With the aid of some American sailors, Mix and the daughter of the scientist who discovered the mine fight their way out of a Chinese den and start back to the States, where they succeed in getting the treasure.

Dir: Joseph Franz

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

Society girl Constance Bailey becomes a schoolteacher in New York's Lower East Side, telling her fiancé, Bruce Van Griff, that she is sailing to Europe. Seeing that he has been tricked, Van Griff joins the police force, getting a post on the corner where the school is located. Van Griff rescues Constance from one difficulty after another and convinces her that she needs a husband and protector.

Dir: Joseph Franz

Betty Jordan falls in love with Easterner Burke Randolph after seeing his performance in the Broadway hit A Western Knight . When Betty returns home to Montana, Sheriff Sims, her admirer, discovers her photographs of Burke and becomes jealous. Soon after, Burke's touring theater company comes to perform in a neighboring town. When Sims discovers Burke's proximity, he orders his arrest. Burke escapes but is recaptured by a posse. Just as they are about to lynch Burke, Betty rides in and rescues him by cutting the rope, reenacting a scene from the Broadway show. Burke then captures a band of bank robbers, and the sheriff, faced with his own duplicity, releases Burke, who becomes the town's hero and marries Betty.

Dir: Joseph Franz

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

Larry Lang has carried the memory of his father's killing by Claude Dutton since his youth and is determined to avenge the crime. The townspeople of the small western border town believe Larry is "plumb locoed" because he employs a rowdy gang of cow punchers for only a few head of cattle. Dutton is ensconced in Bottle Canyon, the neck of which is constantly guarded by his men. When Dutton's henchman Two-Gun Dan fails to capture Larry, Dutton attempts the job himself. Meanwhile, Larry's cousin Dora Lawrence arrives to make her home with Larry who is to be her guardian. Larry's men are absent, and while Mexican bandit Pedro holds Dora, Dutton searches for a large sum of money hidden in Larry's bed. Larry returns and kills Dutton, then a romance develops between Larry and Dora.

Dir: Joseph Franz

The uncle of "Bare-Fisted Gallagher" dies and leaves the Eagle Mine in the San Rafael Valley. When he arrives to take possession of it, he meets and falls for pretty Jem Mason, a woman who dresses like a cowboy and, to show she's a good shot, shoots off his hat. Gallagher doesn't know that Aliso Pete, the owner of the general store, is also interested in Jem. He also doesn't know that Aliso Pete has another secret, one that could cost Gallagher his life.

Dir: Joseph Franz

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

Bing Howard a former stockbroker, is called the "Night Wind" because he is a fugitive from justice, persistently being trailed by Clifford Rushton, a private detective who has framed Howard on a bond robbery. Rushton's failure to catch Howard forces the chief to turn the case over to Detective Katherine Maxwell, alias "Lady Kate," whose brother was sent to prison for bond robbery on the same evidence Rushton has brought against Howard. Lady Kate provides a temporary hideout for Howard, then proves that Rushton is guilty of both crimes.

Dir: Joseph Franz

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

Dir: Joseph Franz

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of Bare-Fisted Gallagher perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

Returning to his father's cattle ranch after the excitement of serving in combat overseas, Bud McGraw becomes restless, and his father decides to send him to an old friend who commands the Border Police in Texas. On the way he meets Peggy Hughes, accompanying her Uncle Graham, a customs inspector, and he retrieves her hat from the rails of a train. At the headquarters, numerous scrapes and fights win him the admiration of, and friendship with, the men. Lazaro, a Secret Service agent, invites Mrs. Graham and Peggy, who are staying at the border station, for an automobile ride, and they are captured by bandits and held for ransom. Bud and his pals deliver the ransom and discover that Lazaro is the bandit chief. Lazaro refuses to release Peggy, but a jealous rival, Nita de Garma, causes his downfall and shoots him as the Border Police arrive to rescue the party.

Dir: Joseph Franz

The police find Queenie Ross murdered. Tip O'Neil, a newspaper reporter, is detailed to solve the mystery. He finds a cuff link on the body and recollects returning a similar one to Count Verdaux, a gang leader. Dressed as a tango dancer he gives an exhibition with Mazie, the Count's sweetheart. The gang is wise to Tip and goes for him. The lights go out and Tip escapes. He learns his sweetheart turned off the lights. Nell is brought to Ah Foo's rooms by a trick. Tip learns of her captivity goes to get her and a fight follows. The police arrive and the murderer confesses. Tip gets another scoop for his paper.

Dir: Joseph Franz

Jim Wesley, son of a ranch owner, and Marguerite Grayson, daughter of the neighboring ranch-owner, return home from being back east in college, and the two fathers are encouraging them to get married, which will serve to solve the problem of a disputed boundary line between the ranches. But there are others who don't wish to see the dispute settled and scheme to keep the marriage from happening. Jim has to saddle up his horse, Lightning, and ride out and put an end to the land-grabbing scheme.