Recommendations
Senior Film Conservator

Looking back at the 1921 milestone that is The Spirit of the Lake, the cinematic shorthand used by Robert N. Bradbury is both ancient and revolutionary. Dive into this collection and find the spiritual successors to Robert N. Bradbury's vision.
As Robert N. Bradbury's most celebrated work, it defines to articulate the unspoken anxieties of United States's 1921 era.
There is a legend that anyone who lives in solitude near the lake goes mad. Tom begins to feel the effects when he comes across a girl who has fainted in the desert. Taking her to his cabin he falls in love with her, but later believing she loves another, orders her from the cabin. She goes, but he learns the man was her brother and all ends happily.
Based on the unique thematic gravity of The Spirit of the Lake, our vault has identified these titles as the most compelling follow-up experiences for fans of Short cinema:
Dir: Robert N. Bradbury
The uncle of John Davis, killed on the mountains, leaves a will directing that Davis and his cousin, Hawke Morgan, shall be joint guardians of his adopted daughter, Ethel, and receive each a share in a valuable gold mine, the location of which is indicated on a map left, with the will, a certain proportion going to various charities. Hawke Morgan comes out West, and determines to get rid of Davis, and so acquire not only the entire fortune but also the girl who is in love with Davis. He at once sets out to accomplish the murder of Davis, and every stage of the story is packed with exciting adventure, the hero and heroine going through amazing adventures before their final happiness is secured.
View Details
Dir: Wilfred Lucas
Brian O'Farrell (Snowy Baker), is an English 'new chum' who takes a job at an Australian cattle station. He is teased by station hands because of his appearance (including spats and a monocle) but he soon impresses them with his skills at riding and boxing. The station manager, John MacDonald (Wilfred Lucas), takes O'Farrell to Sydney to meet his daughter Edith (Kathleen Key) who is working in the slums. Edith is kidnapped by criminals after witnessing a crime but O'Farrell rescues her. It is later revealed he is the owner of the station.
Dir: Edward LeSaint
When famous opera singer Elinore Duane undergoes an operation on her throat, she has a series of ether-induced visions. In one, she is transported to ancient Rome where she appears as a much-admired woman in love with Paul, a young heretic, and at odds with Lutor, the high priest. To save her love, she poisons Lutor with her ring. After several other visions which involve variations on this love triangle, Elinore awakens to discover that Lutor is actually her doctor, Sascha Jaccard, and that Paul is the son of a friend who has come to visit the recovering prima donna.
View Details
Dir: Robert N. Bradbury
When Riley becomes engaged to Sal, the lady of the suds, upon one of his drunken sprees, he doesn't know how to get out of it. He fixes matters up with the gang to chase him and his partner Bob out of town. However, Bob takes along the cashbox to the post office and the chase becomes a real one. Sal saves him just in the nick of time, and he's glad to be back in her ample arms.
Dir: Robert N. Bradbury
Lumberjack Anthony Briggs has lived alone in the Canadian North Woods ever since his wife took their daughter and ran off to New York City with Robert Lacey, the lumber camp foreman. One day he comes across young Indian chief Lone Wolf and his sister Na-ta-Le, whose tribe has been wiped out by a "spotted sickness", and adopts them. Years afterward Briggs' daughter, now a young woman, returns to lead a hunting party with her fiance, Lacey's son Reynard. Complications ensue.
View Details
Dir: Bruno Ziener
A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.
Dir: Unknown Director
The Judge needs a present for his wife's birthday, so Harry suggests a new corset. They go to the shop, but he's so embarrassed to ask the saleslady he hides in a phone booth.Harry goes in, but finds a GUY wearing one, and runs out.They both dress as women to get back in, but Mrs. Rummy gets there and chases him out.
View Details
Dir: Dallas M. Fitzgerald
Confidence artist Flossie Golden attempts to fleece foolish but wealthy James Venable with a breach-of-promise suit. Venable's shrewd attorney, Richard Harding, outwits Flossie by proposing that she marry Venable and live on an allowance of $3,000 per year. Flossie is determined to get even with Harding for ruining her plans. In an attempt to con him, she poses as Innocence Page, but falls in love and marries him instead. Larry, Flossie's former accomplice, endeavors to blackmail her with her errant past, but Harding is already cognizant of the facts and Larry fails.
Dir: Charley Chase
A young married couple volunteer to take charge of several orphans after the asylum has burned down. Of course they find their hands full with their troublesome charges.
View Details
Dir: Richard Smith
Two female candidates for Chief of Police live across the hall from each other, and their political rivalry follows them home, leading to plenty of hi-jinks.
View DetailsAnalysis relative to The Spirit of the Lake
| Film Title | Atmosphere | Complexity | Similarity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Perils of Thunder Mountain | Ethereal | Abstract | 86% Match |
| The Jackeroo of Coolabong | Ethereal | High | 85% Match |
| A Sister to Salome | Gothic | High | 88% Match |
| The Wooing of Riley | Gothic | Linear | 95% Match |
| The Last of His People | Tense | High | 85% Match |
This guide was algorithmically generated using the cinematic metadata of Robert N. Bradbury's archive. Last updated: 6/25/2026.
Back to The Spirit of the Lake Details →