The Definitive Guide Deeply Connected to The Vamp: Cult Guide

Dir: Jerome Storm

Andrew Gray is a shy youth who also stutters. He has worked in the office of the Wells Motor Truck company for five years, never getting beyond the job of clerk. Yet, he knows more about the business than anyone else, but his shyness has held him back. He is also in love from afar with his employer's daughter, Dorothy. Meanwhile, William Blinker, a cocky newcomer, has advanced to assistant manager after only four months at the company. The firm needs to land a big trucking contract from Mr. Dodge. Blinker tries, but his cockiness antagonizes Dodge. Andy meets Dorothy, and when she accidentally thinks he is Blinker, he is too bashful to deny it. Andy then meets Mr. Dodge, who finds Andy appealing. Andy lands the contract for the firm, and wins Dorothy's love.

Dir: Jerome Storm

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of Hay Foot, Straw Foot perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

Ulysses S. Grant Briggs, raised by his grandfather Thaddeus, who served under General Grant, grows up with the General as his hero even though his neighbor, former Confederate soldier Jeff Hanan, argues that General Lee was the better man. When war is declared, Thaddeus and Jeff forget their differences and train Ulysses for military service. At the camp amateur show, Ulysses falls in love with dancer Betty Martin, but remembering Thaddeus' admonition to "watch out for play actresses," Ulysses avoids her. When dissolute Harry Weller lures Betty to a notorious roadhouse, Ulysses follows, knowing he can be court-martialed. Hearing Betty struggle, Ulysses fights Weller and keeps the military police from entering until Betty can escape through a window. Ulysses then is sent to the guardhouse where Thaddeus and Jeff unsuccessfully try to convince him to talk. After Betty confesses, the commanding officer, Thaddeus and Jeff agree that Ulysses did what both Grant and Lee would have done.

Dir: Jerome Storm

Mary Manning lives in a cabin in the Wisconsin woods with her invalid mother, her uncle, and her stern grandfather; her own father, Paul, disappeared 18 years earlier. When Paul, who became a derelict, finally returns home, his father turns him away, but Mary retrieves the prodigal and leads him to his wife, who bids Mary take care of him and then dies of shock. Aware of the pain that Paul caused her mother and preoccupied with handsome Tom Gale, Mary neglects her father, and he soon resumes his drinking. When Paul visits a notorious dance hall, however, Mary remembers her promise to her mother and goes after him, but both are arrested in a raid. In court, she tries to assume the blame for Paul's presence in the dive, but Judge Michael Burke refuses to believe her. In his chambers, the judge effects a reconciliation of the family, after which Tom asks for Mary's hand in marriage.

Dir: Jerome Storm

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

Hosiah Howe struggles to earn his living on a farm that lies in the shadow of a wealthy summer resort. Visiting the resort are Dr. Rand, his daughter Virginia, and a scoundrel named Ward Andrews. One day Andrews stops at the Howe farm and discovers that the land contains water with a highly-exploitable medicinal value. Smelling money, Andrews convinces Dr. Rand to buy an option on the farm, then runs away to the city with Hosiah's innocent sister Martha. Hosiah, who has fallen in love with Virginia, pursues his sister to the city but fails to locate her. Time passes, and Martha returns, having run away from Andrews. Attempting suicide to atone for her disgrace, Martha is saved by Hosiah in the nick of time. Andrews also reappears and attempts to claim the Howes' land, but Hosiah soundly thrashes him to win back both his land and Virginia's love.

Dir: Jerome Storm

A young man working in a steel mill falls in love with an old Scotsman's daughter. The young man saves the life of the steel-mill owner and is adopted by him. But then he learns that the Scotsman and the mill owner are mortal enemies.

Dir: Jerome Storm

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

Nadine Fortier is captured by a band of desert marauders. "The Sheik" wins her in a game of dice but then lets her go - for now.

Dir: Jerome Storm

A young baseball pitcher in the bush leagues is discovered by a big-league manager and given his chance in the major leagues. But will he be up to the challenge?

Dir: Jerome Storm

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

David Harrington plans to marry Betty Graves. He is an old-fashioned boy, believing in marriage, having children, and living a suburban life. Betty is more ultra-modern, and independent. When Betty gets a tour of the bungalow that David has built for them, she says it's cute but she would hate to have to live in it. The two break up and Betty goes back to a former sweetheart. Sybil, the wife of David's friend Herbert, has just has a row with her husband because he wouldn't buy her a new hat. So she takes their three children and hides in David's home, hoping to throw a scare into her husband. Now David tries to take care of the kids, hoping to forget his own troubles. Herbert phones David that he is coming over, but David tells his friend he has the measles. Meanwhile, Sybil's kids have gotten sick from eating too much taffy. So David calls Betty's father, who is a doctor. Betty comes over with her father, and David cooks up a scheme with the doctor to quarantine the house so that Betty will have to stay and help him take care of the children. Herbert arrives and chaos ensues when he discovers his wife and kids are there. Eventually, things get straightened out and David regains Betty's love.

Dir: Jerome Storm

A rural youngster uses the strength he has developed handling egg crates in a shipping office to carry him to success in the boxing ring.

Dir: Jerome Storm

Cuthbert Trotman wants to be a writer. He becomes the protege of wealthy Harry Travistock, who shows him the ways of the big city. But Harry's girlfriend Anita begins to take more of an interest in Cuthbert than in Harry.