Cinematic Discoveries Resonating with the Themes of The Road Throug...

Dir: Edmund Mortimer

Jimmy Valentine, a prisoner in Sing Sing for safe-cracking, although guilty, maintains his innocence. When he obtains a pardon, he goes straight, influenced by a beautiful girl named Rose.

Dir: Edmund Mortimer

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

The four grown children of prominent Judge Appleton each spend one hour of meditation at his funeral to honor his last request, which allows them to see their lives unfold before them. None of them achieved his high moral standards in their lives prior to his death, and their meditation allows them realize the importance of following their father's high moral tenets.

Dir: Edmund Mortimer

A young woman finds herself trapped by a bandit gang. Rather than be raped by the gang, she commits suicide. When her brother finds out what happened, he turns to a life of banditry, hoping to find the gang responsible for his sister's death.

Dir: Edmund Mortimer

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

John Wayne and Sam Barr, two New York City financiers, plan to merge their holdings by arranging the marriage of John's daughter, Sylvia, to Sam's son, Richard. Although Sylvia refuses, Sam is wise in the ways of women and decides that the best way to change her mind is to oppose Richard as a suitor. Sylvia immediately runs away to Arizona, where she arranges to meet Richard. To pass the time, Sylvia and her maid offer manicures sat the barbershop. When Tom Long, a local rancher, discovers that all his men are getting manicured, he rides into town to put a stop to the practice. At the barbershop, Tom falls in love with Sylvia after defending her from the advances of a local tough. Richard arrives from the East, closely followed by a telegram from John, which offers a reward for the prevention of the marriage. Believing that Sylvia is truly in love with Richard, Tom helps them elude the sheriff. However, when he accidentally learns that Sylvia is marrying Richard only to spite her father, Tom pursues the train carrying the eloping couple, jumps aboard from his galloping horse, and declares his love for Sylvia. She realizes that she truly loves Tom and agrees to marry him.

Dir: Edmund Mortimer

Dan Prentiss, the special undercover agent of a mining company, is assigned to investigate a series of robberies involving gold shipments. He earns the friendship of Ann Donald by saving her life when her horse is frightened by his dog, Pal. Dan also meets both Ann's uncle, Sam, and his partner, Colton, who is one of Ann's suitors. Dan finally decides to trap the unknown robbers by driving the truck carrying the gold shipment himself. After he sets out on this perilous journey, Ann discovers that her uncle and Colton are the bandits and sets out to warn Dan. The sheriff's posse captures all of Sam's gang except Sam and Colton, who head for the hills. Dan tails them and captures Colton; wounded by the posse, Sam kills himself to avoid capture. Ann promises to wait for Buck, who plans to return for her as soon as his work permits.

Dir: Edmund Mortimer

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

Renee wanders Africa. Explorer Jean mistakes her for Queen of Sheba, taking her to Paris to make his ex jealous. Renee goes back to Africa, Jean follows. She reveals herself as Menelek's Prince, reuniting them after bowing to Jean.

Dir: Edmund Mortimer

After manicurist Katie Malloy rehabilitates Peter Crandall from his life of drinking and gambling, Peter falls in love with her and they marry. When he is dispatched home to New York after he suffers a gunshot wound at the hands of one of Katie's disappointed suitors, Peter's wealthy family hopes to annul the marriage. Katie follows her husband East where her sincerity wins the sympathy of her brother-in-law, Henry Gilsey, who arranges for Katie's social education while Peter is attending to business in the South. Meanwhile, when Katie discovers that Henry's wife Edith is carrying on an affair with another man, she sacrifices her own reputation and happiness to save Edith from the wrath of her husband. However, Peter sees through the deception, and his family, finally recognizing Katie's noble character, welcomes her as a new member.

Dir: Edmund Mortimer

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

"In the days of the California Gold Rush of '49, Sandy is at odds with his partner, Falloner, over the latter's heavy drinking. Falloner is killed by Lasham, who many years before ran off with Falloner's wife. Sandy brings Falloner's children, Cissy and Jimmy, and their Aunt Betsey to Sacramento from Missouri. He then sets out to find the mother and to avenge his partner's death. Lasham induces Betsey to take the night boat for Sandy Bar with him, under the pretense of finding the children's mother. Sandy rides after them and swims to the steamer, arriving in time to save a frightened Betsey from Lasham. In a fight, Lasham is knocked overboard and drowns. The mother, who under the name Madame Le Blanc has been living with Lasham, helping him with his gambling and other nefarious schemes, becomes a novice in a convent. Sandy and Betsey are wed"--AFI catalog, 1921-1930.

Dir: Edmund Mortimer

Syliva Joy, a talented cabaret dancer, must choose between a wealthy Producer and a promising young actor.

Dir: Edmund Mortimer

Chick Newton's friend, Bill Warner, is arrested for murdering his uncle. However, Bill has been framed by a blackmailer who has plotted with the uncle to have him disappear in order to avoid creditors and collect insurance. Newton unmasks Tom Curtis as the culprit and rescues Warner from a hanging.