The Essential Watchlist Similar Cinematic Experiences to The Border...

Dir: T. Hayes Hunter

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

Dir: T. Hayes Hunter

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

A mechanic with the French Air Force, Vanesse sabotages the plane of Capt. Charles Nungesser, France's Flying Fiend, by placing Paul Willard's flying insignia in Nungesser's intake manifold. Paul is accused of the deed and sentenced to 20 years in a military prison. Six years later, the Willards, a wealthy American family, arrive in France, searching for Paul, who had run away to war. They interview Vanesse, who informs them that Paul died like a hero in the war. The Willards then meet Nungesser, who falls in love with Lucille, Paul's sister, and makes a silent resolution to arrange for Paul's pardon. This he does, and then goes to the United States to find Vanesse and to discover the truth about Paul's case. Nungesser discovers that Vanesse is planning to rob the air mail; with Paul's help, he captures Vanesse and recovers the loot. Vanesse dies from the effects of a plane crash; Paul is cleared of all guilt and marries his former sweetheart, Marie, with Nungesser and Lucille are swept to the heights on the wings of happiness.

Dir: T. Hayes Hunter

Dr. Montrose's attempts to develop a chemical which would make a person super-intelligent fail, and the subjects of his experiments metamorphose into hideous monsters who band together and prey on humans. With the police stymied, a young detective attempts to track down the leader of the group of killers, known only to have a small crimson stain in one eye.

Dir: T. Hayes Hunter

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

When Barton Baynes's mother and father die, his Aunt Deel and Uncle Peabody provide a home for him. He grows up with Amos Grimshaw, son of a miserly moneylender who holds the farmers of the area in his power, and falls in love with Sally Dunkelberg. Bart becomes friendly with Joe Wright, who arranges for his education in town. There he meets Roving Kate, the Silent Woman, who sees death and the gallows in the palm of Amos and for Bart a future of fame and success. When Kate's fatherless son returns home to see his mother, he is killed by Amos Grimshaw; and Amos' father, Ben, who fights to save him, proves to have been the father of Kate's son.

Dir: T. Hayes Hunter

Kitty Cobb had longings for the big city which she had never seen. One day Kitty met a young civil engineer, Bob Caldecott, on his way to the fort near her home with secret plans. He took her riding in his auto and entertained her with stories of the great metropolis. Bob finally left her at her gate and drove away. But Kitty was restless afterwards, and started to wander over the fields towards the fort. Suddenly she stopped. Before her were three suspicious-looking characters with cameras. They seemed to be taking photographs of the fortifications. Creeping closer, she overheard their conversation. They were spies. Kitty started to run home, but the spies discovered her and gave chase. She outdistanced them, however, and had just time to telephone the fort when the men entered her home, jerked her away from the 'phone and bound her father, mother and herself to chairs. Then they fled. Bob and the Colonel came to the rescue. Young Caldecott devoted himself to comforting Kitty. The yearning to live in the city grew upon her as a result of Bob's visit, and she importuned her parents to permit her to go and find work. After long urging they at last reluctantly consented. Her early experiences were not encouraging. She could not get anything to do, and in a short time was down to her last cent. After barely escaping being turned out on the streets of New York for not paying her board, through the efforts of a fellow boarder, a kind-hearted woman, she secured a position as usher in the Globe theater. One night at the theater a young top presumed to force his attentions upon her. A lovely old lady, richly gowned, overheard his remarks and interfered. As she was talking to Kitty, who should come up and address her as mother but Bob. Kitty and Bob recognized each other at once, and the result was that Mrs. Caldecott made Kitty her secretary. One day Count Pulaski, Bob's sister's fiancé, was introduced to Kitty. He was none other than the infamous villain whom she had discovered taking pictures of the fortifications. Quick as a flash Kitty saw through the count's stratagem. He was there not because he loved Bob's sister, but to steal the secret plans. Kitty hastened to the room which Bob had converted into a workshop. She barely concealed the precious drawings when the count also entered the room. Seizing her he wrapped a heavy curtain about her head and lowered her out of a window to his waiting accomplices outside. It was at this time that Ed Randall, Kitty's country swain, came to New York. As he was passing through a side street on his way to see Kitty he saw an auto stop in front of a squalid tenement. Two men sprang from it, and carried a struggling figure tied in a curtain into the house. When Ed reached the Caldecott mansion he found the entire household in dismay over the mysterious fate of Kitty. He related what he had seen. Without a moment's wait he and Bob started for the suspected house. They gained admittance, but were informed that the girl was not there. As they were about to leave in despair, Bob found Kitty's handkerchief. Hearing a muffled cry, Bob and his companion dashed upstairs and entered a room. Here Kitty was being held by the count and his confederates. There was a terrific exchange of blows. The count and his forces went down. So did Ed Randall. Bob seized Kitty and started down the stairs. He was attacked by another of the gang. In the struggle both fell over the balustrade and were rendered unconscious. A woman confederate recaptured Kitty, just as the count and one of his thugs reappeared on the scene. The girl was bound again. Bob was dragged to a small room, where his captors tossed him. still unconscious, on a bed, turned on the gas, and left him to perish. Ed, overcome in the battle upstairs, soon regained his senses and started down the fire escape. He heard Kitty trying to beat down a boarded window on the floor below. He battered it in and rescued her. But Kitty would not go without her Bob. The two returned to the house. After a short search Ed found Bob and carried him into the air. But before they could make their escape the count and his followers returned to the attack. Kitty battled her way to the street and obtained the aid of the police. That was the end of Count Pulaski. There was a great reunion at the Caldecott mansion that evening to celebrate the return of Kitty. And as for Bob, well, Miss Cobb became Mrs. Bob.

Dir: T. Hayes Hunter

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

Because both his father and grandfather died of alcoholism, the inhabitants of Denny Bolton's small home town in upstate New York consider him, too, a hopeless drunkard. Swayed by the suggestion that he has inherited a craving for liquor, Denny fights to abstain from it, aided only by the woman who loves him, Dryad Anderson. One night, however, Denny is kicked by a horse, and when Dryad sees him unconscious on the floor, she believes the worst and abandons him. Angered, Denny moves to New York City and applies for a job as a fighter in Flash Hogarty's gymnasium. In the ring, Denny stands up to a good fighter named Sutton, which so impresses Flash that he trains Denny to face the lightweight champion, Jed the Red. An encouraging note from Dryad delivered to Denny during the big fight so inspires him that he defeats Jed and returns home triumphant.

Dir: T. Hayes Hunter

Modeled after a popular collection of stories known as "Brother Gardener's Lime Kiln Club," the plot features three suitors vying to win the hand of the local beauty.

Dir: T. Hayes Hunter

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

The tale is hung upon the rivalry of Mrs. Winkle and Slocum, each the owner of a pickle factory. Some of the most unusual and humorous situations arise. Andrew Slocum sends Andy, his son, to Winkle's factory to spy on the latter's secrets. Many who have been buying the Winkle pickles are taken ill. Mrs. Winkle suggests a partnership. Winkle answers her scornfully. She enters Slocum's office and finds out his secrets. One night she blows up his safe and escapes with the formulas. Meantime Andy has confessed his real name to Matilda. They elope. Mrs. Winkle finds Matilda's note. She decides to take back the secret papers. But John Heaps has already stolen them. She learns that Slocum has gone to Shreveport. While Slocum is being engaged with his bath a thief steals his clothes. Wrapped in the curtains he rushes downstairs. The constable is called. He protests that he is Andrew Slocum, "the pickle king." Andy denies knowing him. Andy and Matilda then hurry to the station. Mrs. Winkle arrives and identifies Slocum. Andy and Matilda meet Heaps. Mrs. Winkle and Slocum follow. They turn Heaps over to the constable and recover the formulas. Now they are making pickles under the name of "The Slocum Company, Inc."

Dir: T. Hayes Hunter

Claire Barrington, who owns the Duffy racing stables, hopes that her sister, Myrtl, will marry Ralph Woodhurst, whose father is violently opposed to horse racing; in order not to jeopardize the match, Claire lets no one know of her ownership of the establishment. John Duffy, who holds the mortgage on the stable, attempts to use it to force Claire to marry him, but she refuses, citing her love for Garrison, who has been gone for 5 years. Garrison returns just before the big race and, recalling that Duffy persecuted him in the Army, sets out to bankrupt the Duffy stables, not knowing that he is working against the woman he loves. Garrison buys Jackdaw, the only racehorse fast enough to beat Wildfire, the prize Duffy filly. Duffy then sets the Duffy stables on fire in order to discredit Garrison, who is blamed for the fire, and to ruin Claire by killing Wildfire; the horse is saved, however. Duffy hires a jockey named Chappie Raster to ride Wildfire, plotting with him to throw the race. Claire outwits Duffy, however, and Wildfire wins by a nose. Claire and Garrison clear things up between them, and Duffy is left out in the cold.

Dir: T. Hayes Hunter

Jim Rittenshaw is happily married to Daisy, or so he thinks. Richard Desborough, Jim's friend from his college days, becomes enamored of Daisy, who leads him on. Desborough lives by the creed "No God. No Sin. No future life." Desborough neglects his own wife and child. His wife Caroline goes to Rittenshaw and tells him what is going on. Rittenshaw then kills Desborough. However, before his spirit can be at rest, Desborough must make right the things he left wronged. He appears in visions to the various characters, even his dog, and one by one they are guided to perform acts that set conditions right. Eventually Flora confesses that she is the reason Desborough was murdered. When Desborough's wife recognizes him, she forgives him, and he is able to depart the earth.