Cinematic Discoveries Resonating with the Themes of The Reckoning Day: Cult Guide

Dir: Roy Clements

Corinne Grant, a wealthy society girl, is forced, upon the physical and financial break-down of her father, to choose her future path in life. Her Chinese cook, Wong, offers to read her future in the sands, and the rest of each episode shows what would happen if she decided upon the different careers open to her, coming back at the finish to the girl and the Oriental pouring over the box of shifting sand.

Dir: Roy Clements

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

Happy Hanes, a ranch hand, comes between a crooked foreman and the new ranch owner Frances Powell. The foreman and his "half-breed" accomplice Cholo kidnap Frances.

Dir: Roy Clements

"King Spruce" is personified in John Barrett, lumber magnate of the North woods. His domineering character is shown when his daughter Elva falls in love with a school teacher, Dwight Wade. Barrett conspires with his foreman, McLeod, to entice Wade away to the lumber camps, and finally decides to accompany the gang of men himself. He starts in to eject and burn out all "skeeters" who have settled on the land without domiciliary rights. Wade has shown his fighting blood by thrashing McLeod for an act of cruelty, and he now vainly opposes Barrett from motives of humanity. From the first shack burned emerges a wild girl, Kate Arden, who sets the forest afire in revenge. There is another vengeance awaiting Barrett. Kate is his own daughter by the wife of a woodsman who has waited years to get even. It is he who ties Barrett to a tree, where he must be burned in the fire now raging, but he is rescued by Wade. Barrett now acknowledges Kate to be his daughter. When his daughter Elva comes to take care of him the resemblance between the two girls confirms his confession. Barrett attempts a half-hearted redemption by bribing his foreman to marry the wild girl, but he is brought to his senses by Wade and Elva. Wade has become a power through his feats of strength and kindly humanity, and he finally wins the high regard of the spruce magnate himself. He is given a partnership in a newly organized business by Barrett, and Elva, to use her own terms, is thrown in for good measure. Moving Picture World, March 27, 1920

Dir: Roy Clements

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

A novice learns to drive on a rental Ford to impress a girl.

Dir: Roy Clements

Jack Hardy, Sr., sends his son West to make a man of him. Jack falls in love with Miss Benson, ranch secretary. Taunted by the girl, he breaks an intractable horse to prove his courage. When Tex Fuller and his gang try to get Jack, Deerfoot, his half-breed brother, takes the missiles intended for his brother. Jack fights the gang and brings them to justice. But Miss Benson is not yet won. She thinks of the girl back East to whom Jack was engaged. Jack's father arrives and announces that he is engaged to the Eastern girl. Miss Benson surrenders.

Dir: Roy Clements

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

The boys live in a boarding house and are rivals for the affections of the same girl. They agree that the one who loses the girl shall have complete ownership of their phonograph. Eddie gets the girl, and Lee gets the phonograph.

Dir: Roy Clements

Velvet Joe, a sinister influence in the town of Moneymint, attempts to frighten mine owners and thus take over their claims; Jack Logan and his partner seek the sheriff's aid, but he refuses to give it, making Jack a marshal and leaving him to fight his own battle. A nearby claim mined by Mollie Benton is also threatened, and when she finds Logan in a compromising situation, she believes him to be her persecutor. Unaware of his design, Mollie solicits the aid of Joe in the town, but Jack rides into the saloon and speeds away with her to the mine, where they are followed by Joe and his henchman. Jack convinces her of Joe's perfidy; and with her aid, he wins a battle against the men.

Dir: Roy Clements

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of The Desert's Crucible perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

Silas Warner, Jr., playboy son of a wealthy New York broker, is disinherited and sent from home by his father when he assumes the blame for a near-theft committed by his brother, Archie. In a western mining community, he is inducted into the "Ornery and Worthless Men of the World," a fraternity of fortune seekers, and a compromising situation forces him to marry Sally Bleeker. Sally is sent away to finishing school when her father dies; there she meets Louise, Silas' sister; and the girls become pals. While visiting the Warner home, Sally recognizes Silas, Jr.'s, picture, and when her miner-guardians come to New York to bring her home, there is a final meeting of the order and a happy reconciliation of Silas with his family.

Dir: Roy Clements

This one starts with Will coming out presumably before a Follies audience and telling them that he has brought back from Hollywood some "big moments" from well known films for their enjoyment. Accordingly, a screen is dropped and scenes from "Blood and Sand," "Robin Hood" and finally the old "Keystone Cops" are shown with Rogers, of course, in the leading roles. Of course, the action is all burlesqued and many laughs afforded.

Dir: Roy Clements

A morals reformer returns from Hollywood to his small town, and shows his fellow citizens the results of his investigation.