Rare Cinematic Gems Exploring the Legacy of The Greater Law: Cult G...

Dir: Lynn Reynolds

With his invalid mother, Chet Wells rents a piece of property from Deacon Todd for the purpose of demonstrating Chet's ideas of "scientific farming." Major Burke and his daughter Emily are near neighbors. Emily is engaged to marry a wealthy young neighbor man. Her neighborly kindness to poorly Mrs. Wells brings her into frequent association with Chet, and the young people become fond of each other without openly expressing their mutual regard. Chet is unable to make the farm pay, and when Deacon Todd demands his rent, the young man cannot pay. During the argument Mrs. Wells arises from her bed and the excited conversation between Todd, the sheriff, and Chet gives her such a shock that she falls to the floor, fatally stricken. Chet swears vengeance upon Deacon Todd whom he blames for hastening his mother's death. Finally compelled to vacate, Chet sells his chattel and goes away to seek his fortune. Deacon Todd moves into the house Chet has vacated and an enmity develops between Major Burke and the miserly old deacon, climaxing when the major sends a charge of shot in Todd's direction because he discovers the deacon letting his cows into the major's corn. Todd disappears the night that Chet returns. Suspicion is directed toward Chet because threats he had made to "get even" with the deacon. Major Burke is conscience-stricken when he sees a flock of buzzards hovering over a nearby swamp and fancies that the dead body of his "victim" is the attraction for the vultures. Taking assiduously to drinking for the purpose of quieting his conscience the major is overcome by the stuff and sleeps. Chet enters the major's house to call upon Emily and hears the major talking in his maudlin slumber, revealing the facts in the shooting of Todd. By the same method of transmission, Emily has learned from her own father's lips that truth of "the deacon's demise." When officers come to Burke's house and accuse Chet of the crime the young man admits that he is guilty and tells the officers to search the swamp for Todd's remains. Chet's heroism in submitting himself as a victim to her own father's action greatly stirs Emily's latent admiration, and forgetful of her obligation to marry another, the girl easily surrenders her heart to Chet and proceeds to help him out of his dilemma. Chet is locked in the rickety neighborhood jail and Emily releases him, giving him opportunity to decamp and begging him to take her along to be married. Thus matters arrive at the conclusion of the film, but the exact manner in which the story ends is not revealed. Suffice it to say that the "surprise finish" changes the whole nature of the story from tense melodrama to boisterous farce, ending in the "biggest laugh" ever produced by a moving picture.

Dir: Lynn Reynolds

At a French Canadian logging camp, stranger Louis Graintaire canoes through impassable rapids to the delight of Little Jean, a crippled boy who hopes that Louis will thrash his tormentor, camp bully Baptiste Navet. That evening Louis arouses Navet's enmity by dancing with Annette Bosseut, the daughter of the camp superintendent. Navet challenges Louis to a fight, but when the day comes, Louis and the boy cannot be found. When Louis returns, Annette and her father accuse him of kidnapping. After three bullies of neighboring camps die while trying to kill Louis, and Navet, repulsed by Annette, sets fire to the forest, Louis knocks Navet unconscious and saves Annette by canoeing through the dangerous rapids. He explains that he is the owner of all the camps and is making the rounds breaking bullies who terrorize the weak. Jean, sent to be cured, returns prancing about with a priest who marries Louis and Annette.

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

Dir: Lynn Reynolds

Lawrence Percival Van Huyler, a society fop, protests against the necessity of living up to his snobbish family's blue-blooded traditions. His fiancée, Alicia Vanderveldt, abandons him for Richard Barnaby, who ridicules the pampered Lawrence and brags of his own daring exploits in foreign countries. While the Van Huyler estate is undergoing renovation, Lawrence uncovers a box containing a confession written by the family's founder, Peter Van Huyler. In it, the patriarch admits that he was actually an Irishman of humble birth who made his fortune engaging in piracy on the high seas. Delighted, Lawrence takes a construction job and adopts a fighting attitude, challenging those who had previously made fun of him. After learning that Richard's tales of derring-do were borrowed from a book, Lawrence exposes him and regains Alicia's love.

Dir: Lynn Reynolds

Daws Anthony, a boy of 16, is cared for by three old men: Judge Morgan, Roger Appleby, and Caleb Talbot. One day, Northerner Ray Preston comes to their Southern town and proceeds to buy some of the judge's property. He also succeeds in breaking up the romance of village belle Carolyn Dillon and Wallace Turner. When traces of oil are discovered on the purchased property, Preston, at the suggestion of Major Dillon, consents to sell a half-interest in the land to the townsfolk for a large sum of money. Daws is suspicious, however, and undertakes an investigation, only to discover that Preston has oiled the land to swindle the town. Threatened with tarring and feathering, Preston returns the money and leaves town, thus removing all obstacles in the path of Carolyn and Turner's romance.

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

Dir: Lynn Reynolds

While on vacation in New York, millionaire cattle rancher John Keyes falls in love with musical comedy star Fritzi Carlyle. Recognizing the opportunity for a great story, Fritzi's press agent encourages her to accept the Westerner's proposal of marriage, only to deny it the next day in a wave of newspaper publicity. Disheartened, Keyes returns to Arizona and Fritzi continues performing until she suffers a nervous breakdown. Reading of Fritzi's misfortune, Keyes returns East, kidnaps Fritzi and takes her to Arizona. There, the change of climate performs wonders and she recovers quickly. Meanwhile, her stage manager sends detectives after her, and when they arrive in Arizona ready to arrest Keyes for kidnapping, Fritzi explains that the whole adventure was an elaborate publicity stunt and announces that she and her Arizona cowboy are going to be married.

Dir: Lynn Reynolds

Rancher John Stafford hires daredevil cowboy Ned Ferguson to hunt down cattle rustlers. En route to the ranch Ned is bitten by a rattlesnake and nursed by Mary Radford, who is writing a Western novel. Ranch foreman Dave Leviatt is jealous of Mary's interest in Ned and convinces Stafford that Mary's brother Ben is the head of the rustlers. Leviatt shoots Ben in the back, and Ben is convinced that Ned is responsible. Mary will have nothing to do with Ned, even after he rescues her from a cattle stampede. Finally, Leviatt is captured and confesses the truth, and Mary accepts Ned as her real, rather than fictional, hero.

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

Dir: Lynn Reynolds

In New Mexico, one of the large tungsten mines is owned and operated by William Morton, affectionately known by his associates and employees as Uncle Billy Morton. At the outbreak of the war, he increases his activities as this metal is of great value to the Government for war purposes. Uncle Billy lives near the shaft of the mine with his niece Suzanne. When things at the mine are humming, a man giving his name as Gage arrives in the town. He is in reality an agent of the German government, come with the purpose of instigating a strike among the miners. His accomplice turns out to be the superintendent of the mine. About the same time, Jim Logan comes to town. He shortly wins Suzanne's gratitude and admiration by shooting a Gila monster as it is about to strike at her and then rescuing her from a perilous position on the side of a cliff, where in her nervous fright she fell. Gage is successful in persuading the miners to call a strike, but Logan succeeds in frustrating his plot for the present by breaking up the meeting. To discredit him with Suzanne, Gage circulates stories about his relations in a public place with chorus girl Dolly Dugan. Uncle Billy is beset by four of the plotters and is rescued by Logan. But Gage again plays against him. On a trumped up charge Logan is arrested by the sheriff. Dolly aids in his escape. Gage kidnaps Suzanne and lays plans to blow up the mine. But Logan at last gains the upper hand. He routs the strikers with the assistance of some mule skinners and their animals and captures Gage and Suzanne after a long pursuit. Only then does he disclose the fact that he and Dolly are Secret Service operatives and so, of course, all ends happily. Motion Picture News, September 28, 1918

Dir: Lynn Reynolds

When McAndrews was a boy his father took him to Lost Lake for a vacation, and a childish friendship was established between Vaughan and Jude Clark. He now goes to Lost Lake for recreation. Because the hotel accommodations are insufficient, Abner Clark takes Vaughan to his home, where in daily association with Jude the childhood friendship is renewed, and it gradually intensifies. Judge West, sensing the trend of events, charges Vaughan with "trifling" and reminds him that Jude is engaged to marry Dave Bean, a man of her own style. Harrison has induced Jude to pose for him, promising payment of $50 for the service, but the completed picture shows Jude in a pose she had never assumed. When Vaughan sees the picture, the opinion he has formed of the mountain girl suddenly changes. Several of the gossips get a view of the canvas and Harrison says he understood that Jude posed exactly as she was painted. Jude spurned the artist's $50 when she discovered the trick he played upon her, but when her father falls ill and needed hospital attention,, she pockets her pride and calls to get the cash. While she's at Harrison's camp Dave Bean, guided by the village gossips, enters and accuses her of lax morality, punishes the artists, and declares that the mountain girl shall never become Mrs. Bean. When Abner Clark dies, Jude is left without a protector or means of support, but Judge West intercepts her as she is about to leave Lost Lake and installs her at his own camp as full partner with him in his gold prospecting. Vaughan had left Lost Lake heartbroken because he believed ill of Jude. Months later, he writes to Jude that he has reconsidered and asks her to invite him to return. Jude's eager answer is unhappily stowed in Judge West's pocket for an indefinite time, and it is not until they strike gold that the missive is accidentally revealed. Discovery of the letter leads to a speedy understanding.

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

Dir: Lynn Reynolds

Larry Crane, junior partner in the firm of Crane and Son, wholesale fish dealers, will not take his work seriously and arrives at work nearer noon than morning. In his spare time Larry finds much pleasure in the company of Mabel Wyland. The two are only waiting until Larry becomes settled before they marry. Mabel's father has risen from the bottom and is now the proud possessor of a shoe factory. Mrs. Wyland carries the family affairs with a high hand, and her husband is a henpecked individual. Mother has definitely decided that Mabel shall be married to Percy Weatherfield, a fortune-hunter with an attractive title. Mabel, being typically American, prefers the careless, happy-go-lucky young fish merchant. Father, being henpecked, is afraid to voice his own opinions. Larry and his father quarrel and the old man proceeds to give him some advice, the substance of which is that he must display more interest in the business. The Wylands are giving a weekend party in their mountain home to celebrate the Fourth of July, and Mother Wyland has it all arranged so that Lord Percy and Mabel shall have a clear field. Larry, however, securing an invitation to the house party, succeeds in sidetracking Lord Percy. Larry enlists the assistance of young Bobby Wyland, who is persuaded to throw a bunch of small firecrackers beneath the bench on which Lord Percy is sitting, but in addition to the small ones given him by Larry, he puts in several of his own large crackers. The explosion is a great one, and Lord Percy is rendered unfit for duty for some time. Bobby is reprimanded, and laying the blame for his punishment to Larry and Mabel, he determines upon revenge. This opportunity comes while he is scouting about with a camera and is enabled to catch Larry and his sister in a lover-like embrace. This picture is developed and reaches the hands of Mother Wyland. She immediately has a fit, and nothing but an ocean voyage will help her. Clarence Velie is the head clerk in the Cranes' establishment, and unknown to the firm, has been secretly taking money from them. Mabel notifies Larry of their departure and he implores his father for a vacation to accompany them. His father refuses to allow him to leave. There is a sad parting between the two sweethearts, but on the pleasant journey Lord Percy is given every assistance. He and Mother Wyland come to an agreement by which they agree to pay him a dowry of $50,000 in return for marrying the girl. A big consignment of money is received for Crane and Son and Larry is sent to the office to get it. Clarence hears the arrangement and his cupidity is aroused by the large sum. Larry secures the money but reaches the bank too late to deposit it. He is forced to bring the money to the office and put it in their safe. Larry receives a telegram from Mabel telling him that her parents insist that she marry Lord Percy on the third of July, and she begs him to meet her in Honolulu so that she may marry him instead. When Larry brings the money to his father he tells him of this latest development and again pleads to get off. Father refuses again and tells him he can take $5,000 of the money he has as his share in the business and go. Larry thinks the matter over and decides to take his father's offer. He takes $5,000 of the money, leaves a note to his father and places the balance of the money in the safe. He then hurries to catch a boat for Honolulu. The boat doesn't sail until morning and Larry spends the night there in order to be sure to get off. Clarence sees Larry place the money in the safe for the night. He erases the word five and makes it $15,000, taking the additional $10,000 himself. The shortage is discovered next morning and father, believing Larry to blame, decides to give him a lesson. A detective is put on the track, who catches the same boat on which Larry sails. The detective's orders are to make a quiet arrest and bring the prisoner home without publicity, and he decides to wait until they reach Honolulu before acting. Upon their arrival at Honolulu, Larry is arrested. The detective finds the $5,000, but no sign of the additional $10,000. Larry asserts his innocence and claims there is a mistake. He eludes the detective and joins Mabel at their hotel. Father is told of their scheme and agrees to witness the ceremony, and they set out for the church. Detective Boggs pursues, but doesn't succeed in locating them until after the ceremony. He takes Larry in charge. Larry is thrown into the native prison and Mabel and her father, returning to the hotel, break the news to mother. Larry wires his father that there has evidently been a mistake, that he only took the $5,000. Jim Crane orders an investigation. Velie's dishonesty is discovered and the forged check is traced to him. Meanwhile Larry languishes in a Hawaiian prison. The Fourth of July approaches and Larry is taken out with the other prisoners. He refuses to work and fights with the guards. It would not be a holiday without appropriate celebration and Larry decides to have his own: He lights the fuse that is connected with a big store of dynamite and yells for the prisoners to run for their lives. Mabel and her mother have returned to the prison and meet the fleeing prisoners. Just as Larry is about to be taken back, Detective Boggs receives a cable from Larry's father stating that there has been a mistake and Larry, realizing that he is forgiven, makes plans for a happy honeymoon with Mabel.

Dir: Lynn Reynolds

When Allan Corey, a writer who is out of ideas, encounters Mike beating up a man who abused his horse, he asks Mike to accompany him West for inspiration. Mike, who was recently released from prison, goes along with the idea, but looks for a chance to return to crime as soon as possible. The two stop at the ranch of Esther Hollister where Mike is able to plan a series of robberies. Because he cleverly drags four horses along with him, Mike's crimes are wrongfully attributed to the gang of "Texas" Jack, who are hiding in the vicinity. Esther is disgusted with Allan when he does nothing to stop a bank robbery that they witness, so to prove his mettle, he finds and captures Texas Jack's gang single-handedly, and even finds the loot that Mike hid nearby. The adventure gives Allen great ideas for a new novel and gives Esther ideas to marry her daring hero. Mike, not wanting to see the wrong bandits convicted, releases them from prison one night, but instead of returning to his life of crime, he returns to his partner at the ranch instead.