Hand-Picked Alternatives for Fans of The Son of His Father: Cult Guide

Dir: Victor Schertzinger

Everett Nelson was born on a farm and is an only son. He does all the hard work on the place for his father, who keeps the country bank. Unable to stand the bondage any longer, Everett leaves for New York in quest of work. While job hunting he sees a sign on the door requesting the services of a janitor. On entering to apply for the position he finds himself on the stage of a theater, where a rehearsal for a musical comedy is in progress. The astounded manager gazes at this apparition, and then an idea strikes him. He hires the "Clodhopper" for a rural number in his show. How the "Rube" makes the hit of his life as well as showing he is not to be laughed at as a prodigal son is shown in the events that follow.

Dir: Victor Schertzinger

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

Wealthy young Billy Bates's greatest fear is that he has inherited his family curse: drink. But when he falls for a beautiful showgirl from the Ziegfeld Follies, she shows him he has nothing to fear.

Dir: Victor Schertzinger

Millionaire Larry Prentiss inherits a ranch. He decides to visit his new property incognito and gets a job as a ranch-hand. He falls in love with the ranch foreman's daughter and complications ensue.

Dir: Victor Schertzinger

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

A young woman works in the scullery of a grand hotel, and dreams of a life among its fashionable patrons.

Dir: Victor Schertzinger

Farmer Toby Watkinsm whose fanciful poetry does not impress his exasperated uncle, leaves the farm to become a subscription solicitor for the "Sawbert Weekly Clarion." In Sawbert, Toby meets Mayor Lot Morris' daughter Jean, and the shy young people fall in love. Crooked stock promoter Kendall Reeves arrives in town and unveils his plan to open a string-bean cannery. While the venture receives the mayor's support, "Clarion" editor Zachary Bartrum, Morris' political enemy, suspects Reeves and decides to block the scheme. On the night Reeves presents his plan to the citizens, Bartrum falls ill and asks Toby to deliver his opposing speech, but seeing Jean in the audience, he loses his courage and dashes from the hall. The next day, Toby overhears Joe Farley, Reeves' former partner, demanding a share of the profits. Farley learns of this and warns Reeves, who goes to the mayor's home and, gun in hand, demands $5,000. Toby arrives and defeats the crook in a fight, after which the grateful mayor becomes reconciled to Bartrum and bestows his blessing on his daughter's romance with Toby.

Dir: Victor Schertzinger

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

Sheriff's son Royal Beaudry is thought a coward, even by the young woman he has his heart set on. But he disproves cowardice when he rescues his father's friend from kidnappers.

Dir: Victor Schertzinger

James Ashe sends his son James Jr. off to manage a family-owned logging mill. While attending to his duties, James Jr. falls in love with a beautiful girl.

Dir: Victor Schertzinger

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

Ezra Hollins, though a hired man, is ambitious because he loves Ruth Endicott, his employer's daughter. Ruth, not knowing of his love, helps him with his studies, though secretly, because she knows her father would not approve. Ezra passes his entrance examination, but at the last moment gives his tuition money to save the brother of the girl he loves from the results of his speculations from the bank. His failure to go to college is misunderstood, but in the end his name is cleared and Caleb is proud of his chosen son-in-law.

Dir: Victor Schertzinger

The mind of theology student Webster Smith becomes unbalanced from strain. Traveling across the desert as God's savior, he arrives weakened at Red Butte, a small mining town. Faro Fan, who runs a saloon and gambling joint cleanly, and who cares for the town's homeless children, helps Smith, but when he learns her business, he curses her. While Smith builds a church, Faro nurses renegade Spanish Ed, who spreads a fever to her wards. After Smith prays for fire to purge the town, excepting his church, saloon keeper Delicate Hanson, trying to disinfect his bar by burning whiskey on it, starts a fire which quickly spreads to the church, while leaving Faro's house unscathed. Furious, Smith attacks Faro. When she hits his head with a club, his sanity returns, and he helps her nurse the children. After Smith leaves to get supplies, Spanish Ed, crazed with thirst, tries to attract Faro. When Smith returns, Faro shoots him, thinking he is Spanish Ed. As she nurses him to health, they fall in love.

Dir: Victor Schertzinger

Cynthia Brock, accustomed to expensive clothes and fashionable society, finds herself destitute when her father dies. After Fenwick Flint, who recently acquired great wealth, learns that Cynthia owes her dressmaker over $6,000, he attempts to use her to seduce James Gordon, the husband of the woman Flint desires. Although Cynthia refuses at first, when Flint offers her $10,000 she agrees, but at a mountain lodge, after becoming Gordon's friend, Cynthia feels remorseful and tries to get out of the deal. Hearing her sobs, Gordon enters her room and is caught by the conspirators with his arms around her. Gordon agrees to a divorce and offers to marry Cynthia to protect her reputation, but she confesses the scheme. After returning Flint's money, she finds work as a stenographer and pays her debt. Flint marries Gordon's ex-wife, but they later separate, while Gordon, formerly embittered, meets Cynthia again, and they marry.