The Essential Watchlist Similar Cinematic Experiences to The Iron H...

Dir: George Fitzmaurice

Marsh, a draughtsman in the gun factory of John Durant, is swindled by Edward Pinkney, Durant's general manager, out of the huge royalty to be paid should a gun of Marsh's invention prove a success. Pinkney loves Maisie, but is far outrivaled by Lieut. Somers, U.S.N. Somers also has invented a gun which he gives to be cast by the Durant Iron Works, and which, if successful, will do Pinkney out of his expected graft on the Marsh invention. Pinkney takes good care that the Somers gun is "killed" in the making. He then misrepresents Somers to Maisie and her father, and though Maisie loves the Lieutenant, she feels she must give him up. Accompanied by her mother and Pinkney, she goes in the Durant yacht for a cruise in Turkish waters, formally engaging herself to Pinkney. The Durant yacht hits a mine, and in the rush to leave her, Maisie is trapped in the wireless room. With the water surging up about her shoulders, and every means of escape barred she sends out the S.O.S. signal taught her by Lieut. Somers. The lieutenant, aboard a U.S. cruiser, protecting American interests in Turkey, gets the signal, and arrives at the side of the doomed ship just in time to make a sensational rescue. Here follow a mass of complications as the plot gradually resolves itself to its end.

Dir: George Fitzmaurice

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

Rozika is a Hungarian girl who can sing quite nice. She goes to the place known as the United States with her brother whose name happens to be Young Carl. Rozika marries a chap named Trevor and a predicament ensued after the Great War comes knocking at the door.

Dir: George Fitzmaurice

Steaming across the Atlantic, loaded with passengers of every description, came one of those mammoth ocean liners headed for New York. On board was supposed to be the Hawk, a notorious international thief. Diana Curran, secretary for a wealthy society woman, received a proposal of marriage from Desselway, an unknown on board. She loved him, but the memory of the past interfered. Diana's father labored unsuccessfully to sell his engravings. His work was not in demand, until one day to him came a stranger who, posing as a member of the Treasury Department, gave him a commission to make duplicate plates of government notes. While her father was working on the plates, Wrenshaw, the supposed treasury man, made love to Diana, and they were married, but on the morning of the marriage the secret service raided the rooms of Pinna's father, and in the ensuing fight her father was killed and she believed that she had killed a man herself. Arriving at the country estate, she found that Wrenshaw, whom she had left the day after her marriage, was employed as secretary to her mistress' husband. Also Desselway was invited for the house party. Then things began to happen around a necklace. Wrenshaw's gang were among the servants. Desselway secured the necklace by force. An escaped counterfeiter, one whom Wrenshaw double crossed years back, in the neighborhood. In the chase Wrenshaw was killed by a shot through the window, Desselway's real character was revealed, and Diana saw the man whom she thought she had killed.

Dir: George Fitzmaurice

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

Mr. Carr is a kleptomaniac and his two daughters, Madge and Joan, are to be married to Mr. Cluney and Dr. Willoughby, respectively. Pretty Nell Jones, a light-fingered maid, is engaged that afternoon by Mrs. Carr after promising her sweetheart, Jack Doogan, a crook, that she will assist him to do one last job. Peculiar and mysterious things begin to happen in the Carr home with the arrival of the happy bridegrooms-to-be. A ruby suddenly disappears from the library table, into Nell's shoe, but the empty box is discovered by Cluney in his overcoat pocket a few minutes later. The family promptly suspects Nell, and Cluney telephones for a detective. While he is in the act of 'phoning, Nell slips the jewel back into the box where it is discovered by Mr. Carr just as Cluney lays down the 'phone. Cluney is stunned by the discovery and confides in Dr. Willoughby, who unsympathetically informs Cluney that he evidently suffers from unconscious kleptomania. The situation is further complicated by the arrival of Nell's sweetheart, Jack, whom she tells of the expected detective. This dignitary is met by Nell who, after deftly stripping him of star and watch, introduces him to Jack as Mr. Cluney. Jack sends him away on a mysterious mission and Nell then introduces Jack to the family as the detective from central headquarters. Cluney confides to him that he suspects himself of being a kleptomaniac and asks that Jack keep a close eye on him. Complications set in thick and fast. With two kleptomaniacs and two real crooks and a double wedding pending. Mrs. Carr has her hands full. Wedding presents disappear and reappear in the most astonishing way. A burly investor leaves $10,000 in steel stock as security for a loan and when he returns with cash to redeem his collateral, both stock and money disappear into Jack Doogan's pocket. This leads to the visit of a wagon-load of police but before the captain can read his search-warrant, even that vanishes through Doogan's nimble fingers into Mr. Carr's side pocket. Ever cocksure Dr. Willoughby shares the general hysteria and finds himself possessed of the stock securities but unable to replace them without openly branding himself a thief. The return of the detective adds a touch of drama to the evening. With an automobile liberally filled with movable valuables of all kinds ready for departure, Jack draws his gun and under its cover makes his escape, hurrying to the upper rooms of the building with faithful Nell at his heels. Believing him to have jumped through an open window, the police scatter out-of-doors and a second later Dr. Willoughby stops Jack and Nell in a hallway at the point of his revolver. This Jack deftly wrenches from the doctor's hand and again has the company at his mercy. But Nell longs for peace and the good-will of her erstwhile employers and so prevails upon Jack to throw away his gun. Then follow explanations and forgiveness. Jack shows his marriage license and the minister ends an exciting evening with a triple wedding.

Dir: George Fitzmaurice

Peter, a social lion, suffering from ennui, visits a mysterious antique shop conducted by Ratoor, an east Indian, who has. through hypnotism, enslaved Cynthia, a beautiful young girl. Peter notices something wrong in the shop keeper's conduct and decides to investigate. Broadhurst, a millionaire, is in love with Cynthia through whom Ratoor plots to get his millions. Peter makes a nocturnal visit to the shop and discovering Cynthia imprisoned, tries unsuccessfully to liberate her. Ratoor, dominating Cynthia, compels her to accept Broadhurst's proposal and a weeding day is set. After the ceremony, she warns him against Ratoor and begs him to leave for his own safety. Broadhurst refuses, and keeping Ratoor, who has discovered their abode, under surveillance, arrives too late to save Broadhurst. And he, himself, narrowly escapes from being thrown into the river by Ratoor's henchman. Cynthia, falling by a ruse, to outwit her former master, is again in his clutches. Peter, still dubious, visits the shop of Ratoor, who, suspecting that he is watched, decides to make an end of Cynthia, who has transferred her husband's property to him. Concealed, Peter sees Ratoor and his gang disappear with Cynthia in the direction of the cemetery. The scoundrels, frightened by uncanny noises, forsake the half-swooning Cynthia who is rescued by Peter following in the darkness.

Dir: George Fitzmaurice

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

In order to send her invalid mother to a sanitarium in the North, Anne Blair, a dressmaker's model, accepts money from the wealthy, lascivious Thomas Brockton. With the aid of the dressmaker, Brockton attempts to seduce Anne, but she resists him with force. During the struggle, Anne stabs Brockton and flees to the North to avoid arrest. Upon her arrival, Anne discovers that her mother has died. Overcome with grief, she wanders blindly into the icy wilderness, but Richard Steel, a portrait painter, rescues her and soon falls in love with her. Through a series of letters, Anne discovers that Brockton is her father, but remains silent to protect her mother's name. After learning of her liaisons with a certain actor, Steel terminates his engagement to Inez Brockton, Brockton's other daughter. When Brockton visits Steel to demand an explanation, he runs into Anne, who tells him that she is his daughter. Ashamed and repentant, Brockton bestows his blessings on the new couple.

Dir: George Fitzmaurice

"Chick" Hewes, a street urchin of the East Side, and his pal, Benny, following their early teachings, become crook gangsters. The police pursue them during a bold robbery; Benny is caught and Chick takes refuge in Molly Carey's flat above the crooks' quarters. Finally trapped, "Chick" is "sent up" and Molly's promise to wait for him is the one ray of sunshine in his gloomy existence. Given freedom and a chance, Chick happily married to Molly, leads the straight and narrow path. Back to his old tricks, Benny, wounded in a necklace robbery, eludes the police with his loot and makes his way to his former pal's flat. Although realizing the danger to his home, Chick, for the sake of his boyhood pal, conceals Benny in the attic, but without a doctor's care the wound proves fatal. With the help of his old pals, the body is disposed of, but the police suspect and watch Chick's flat constantly. Later, to his surprise, Chick discovers that Molly's brother, a drug victim, had, unobserved, taken the stolen necklace from the wounded Benny. They decide to tell the authorities, but before they have an opportunity, Molly's brother is arrested. Trying to square things, Chick is double crossed by a detective, who tries to arrest him for the robbery, but is prevented by Molly's quick action. While on their way to make a clean breast of everything a police official, disguised as a chauffeur, ensnares and takes them to police headquarters. Faced with the seriousness of the penalty, Chick asks for leniency for Molly, about to become a mother. The chief, having the necklace and realizing what conviction means, is softened by the news that he himself is the father of a baby boy and for the sake of the young couple's happiness, he releases them.

Dir: George Fitzmaurice

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

During World War I, a group of German saboteurs plot to blow up an ammunition dump in New York City. A secret agent sets out to stop them.

Dir: George Fitzmaurice

Trying to win the Three C's railroad line for his home town of Topaz, Colorado, Nicholas "Nick" Tarvin journeys to India to secure the famed jewel known as the Naulahka, which he plans to present to Mrs. Mutrie, the railroad president's wife. Nick's fiancée, Kate Sheriff, having graduated from medical school, also goes to India, but her aim is to provide the Indians with modern medical care. The Naulahka is possessed by the Maharajah, whose second wife, a dancer named Sitahbai, hopes to have her son, rather than the real prince, named as the heir to the Maharajah's throne. Sitahbai plans to kill the young prince, the son of the Maharajah's first wife, but Nick repeatedly saves him. After Sitahbai's plot to kill Nick fails, Nick threatens to hold the dancer captive until daybreak unless she gives him the Naulahka. Sitahbai reluctantly consents, but Kate, knowing that the loss of the jewel will mean Sitahbai's death, convinces Nick to return it to her. Kate and Nick return to Colorado without the Naulahka to find that the railroad tracks have already been laid through Topaz.

Dir: George Fitzmaurice

Mrs. O'Brien, newly rich, vainly aspires to social prominence, an ambition in which her common, chess-loving husband does not sympathize. Pretty Mary Ellen, the daughter, and a Japanese butler constitute the household. One day Mrs. O'Brien sends out invitations to a party which the Van Dusens and Van Astorbilts refuse to attend. While she is mourning this loss, an automobile breaks down in front of the house, and a slender young man who introduces himself as Lord Algernon Ste. Clair seeks refuge, while his car awaits the repairman. Mrs. O'Brien, scenting a noble match, promptly invites him to stay for the party. Meanwhile a rough-looking character alights from an automobile, and after a careful inspection of the house, rejoins his friends and disappears. An hour later, immaculately groomed, he enters the club of which O'Brien is a member, and finding the solitary old Irishman playing a lonesome game of chess, offers himself for partner. In this way he obtains an invitation to attend Mary Ellen's party, in due time the guests arrive, consisting of the good-hearted but illiterate Flanagans, their two children and the stranger. There immediately commences a vigorous suit for the hand of pretty Mary Ellen on the part of Lord Algy and the stranger. Mary Ellen shows her preference for the stranger. That night weird things happen. The stranger who has been invited to spend the night, slips into the library in time to see O'Brien much excited over the appearance of a white hand that has deftly poked through the portieres in search of the electric switch. In another instant the stranger throws O'Brien to the floor, and Lord Algy in hand, stands over them. There is a scuffle and the stranger disappears, gun in hand, through the French window. An hour later Lord Algy, in his room, cautiously draws a string of pearls from his pocket, only to turn and face the gun of the stranger, who raises his head from back of Lord Algy's bed. There follows explanations and the stranger shows his badge as a government secret service agent, long in search of the crook known as Lord Algy. O'Brien rejoices and Mary Ellen slips her hand into that of the "stranger's," while Mrs. O'Brien, thoroughly disgusted, hurls a volume of "Who's Who in Society" into the waste basket.