Visionary Picks Drawn from the Same DNA as The Lyons Mail: Cult Guide

Dir: Josef Stein

Bela Lugosi plays a lascivious Arab sheikh confronting European travelers in the desert in an adventure story set in the Sahara.

Dir: Maurice Elvey

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

A Royalist and his unknown son seek vengeance on his murdered wife's brothers.

Dir: George B. Seitz

The adventures of a gentlemanly crook of astonishing resourcefulness.

Dir: Robert N. Bradbury

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

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

Dir: George Beranger

Writer Frank Theydon goes undercover to research the criminal activity in New York City's Chinatown.

Dir: Charles Swickard

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

A young Egyptian goes to the rescue of his employers, a wealthy European family, when they are menaced by a local strongman and his gang.

Dir: Tom Collins

When milk magnate Jacob Strauss is found murdered in his library, the guilt points to Strauss' secretary, Harry Gray, who the previous day was fired when his employer discovered that he was secretly engaged to his daughter Sybil. Arrested for the crime, Gray asserts that he arrived in time to witness the attack on Strauss by a masked man who escaped through the window. When the secretary's story is ridiculed because the window is sixteen stories above ground, Sybil appeals to Tex to take the case. After a long search, Tex summons a number of suspects to his office and accuses Blake, whose apartments are above those of the murdered man. It transpires that Blake, who held a grudge against Strauss for losses he suffered in the milk pool on the exchange, killed him and made his escape by means of a rope. Thus exposed, Blake leaps out the window to his death, clearing Gray of guilt and freeing him to face a happy future with Sybil.

Dir: Charles Raymond

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of Number 17 perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

A magician helps outwit a Chinaman's gang.

Dir: Arthur Maude

Rhea Woodley's child dies at birth, and the doctor tells Martin Woodley that his wife must never be subjected to such an experience again. This forms the basis of separation between them. Rhea is a semi-invalid, and Martin's virile manhood seeks the physical companionship he is denied and finds it in the person of Maysie, a young cousin of Rhea's, who comes to visit in their home. The breach between the husband and wife continues to widen. A former rejected lover of Rhea's discovers the situation and takes a malicious pleasure in exposing it to Rhea. Rhea offers her husband his freedom, but he will not admit his love for the other woman, even to himself and refuses to be released. As a last resort, Rhea permits the attentions of Welsey, and goes with him to a roadhouse, leaving an anonymous note advising her husband of their destination. Martin and Maysie follow Rhea and her lover and discover them together. Rhea pretends a passion for Welsey until her husband is gone, when she turns upon him in scorn and denunciation. Martin obtains a divorce and Maysie, with a chaperon, takes charge of the household. Rhea goes to a sanitarium, where the doctor, to save her life, hits upon the inspiration of giving her a motherless baby to care for. Martin, going to his wife's room, drawn by the memory of happier days, finds in her diary the record of her sacrifice and overcome by his injustice, breaks with Maysie and returns to find Rhea with the baby, which will have its part in helping to fulfill his dream of home and happiness.

Dir: J.P. McGowan

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.