Top-Tier Alternatives Exploring the Legacy of The Wooing of Riley: Cult Guide

Dir: Robert N. Bradbury

The story deals, as its name implies, with the rigid law of the Northwest and with Jack Meadows' efforts to set free the girl's father, who is the sheriff. The man has been wounded by outlaws and found in a dying state by Jack and his pal. The two set out to bring the criminals to justice. The girl at first misjudges Jack and believes him responsible for her father's disappearance. When he proves the respected deputy is in reality the leader of a band of liquor smugglers and captures the culprits, she changes her mind. Jack's identity as a government ranger is established.

Dir: Robert N. Bradbury

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

Tom appears as a wandering fellow, strolling on the docks. The crew of a schooner see him and he is promptly shanghaied, the captain having first thrown the hero's canine pal into the water. He recovers from the beating given him on board the vessel, but swears he will not work. The only friend he makes is a lad on the boat who has also been forcibly taken on board. During a storm the hero starts a mutiny and is thrown overboard. He lands near a lighthouse and is befriended by the sole inhabitants, the keeper of the light and his daughter. The hero falls in love with the girl and later thinks he has lost her when the boy from the schooner suddenly appears. He turns out to be her brother.

Dir: Robert N. Bradbury

After striking a rich gold vein, miner Bob Meredith writes two letters, one to summon Jean, his school teacher granddaughter from Indiana, and another to his best friend Jack Hastings asking him to meet Jean's stagecoach at the state border. Coming upon Jack's camp, notorious outlaw Steve "Wolf" Santell steals Bob's letter and Jack's horse, leaving behind his exhausted mount. Later, recently deputized Lemuel Blatherwick recognizes Wolf's horse and, believing Jack is Wolf, tries to arrest him. Jack resists, however, and flees Blatherwick and his posse. Later, Jean receives Bob's letter that includes a map detailing the location of the gold claim and advising her to trust no one but Jack. Meanwhile, tracking Bob by information from his letter to Jack, Wolf tries to force the old miner to reveal the location of the gold, but Bob refuses. Later, Jack finds Bob parched and wandering in the desert, having lost his mule. Jack tends to Bob, who pleads with him to go to Rangely to meet Jean on the stage, unaware that Wolf is listening nearby. Arriving at the border, Jean is disappointed to learn that the Rangely stage operates infrequently due to constant attacks by Wolf. Swindler Laroque overhears Jean's dilemma and gallantly offers to drive her to Rangely on his buckboard. Late in the afternoon, Laroque pulls into at a lonely rest stop called the Tavern, explaining they cannot travel by night. When a drunken gambler tries to force himself on Jean, Laroque comes to her aid, but he is stopped from knifing the man by the Tavern owner, "border queen" Rose Romaine. Although uncomfortable with the presence of the respectable Jean, Rose listens attentively when Jean tells her of the contents of Bob's letter. Rose later plots with Laroque to get the map, not realizing that Wolf is listening outside. Later that night while Jean sleeps, Rose goes through her belongings, but is unable to find the map. Wolf then breaks into the Tavern, claiming that he is Jack and has come to tell Jean that Wolf has murdered Bob and he is there to escort her to safety. Believing that Wolf is Jack, Jean entrusts him with the map, which she has hidden in her compact. Wolf then flees, but Laroque chases him to a creek where, during their fistfight, Wolf loses the compact. The next morning, when Jack rides into the area and sees the shiny compact in the creek, he picks it up and, finding a picture of Jean inside, keeps it. Later, at the Tavern when Rose asks Jack his name, he playfully replies that he has recently been called "Wolf," convincing Jean that he is the man who has murdered her grandfather. In Rangely, Blatherwick's wife, Kitty O' Brien, aggravated by her husband's tall tales of chasing away Wolf, urges him to resume looking for the outlaw. Back at the Tavern, Rose regretfully bids farewell to the cheerful Jack, after which Laroque tries to attack Jean. Terrified, Jean flees with Laroque in pursuit, but falls into the river, where Jack rescues her. Confused by "Wolf's" kindness, Jean wonders if he is truly wicked. Having followed the others, Rose again prevents Laroque from attacking with his knife. Jack insists on escorting Jean back to the Tavern, where, privately, Rose frets that Laroque has not been able to secure the map. Aware of Jean's attraction to Jack, Rose tells the couple they can depart, but Laroque angrily intercedes. They are interrupted by the arrival of Wolf who has led Blatherwick there in order to arrest Jack, but Rose helps Jack and Jean escape. Wolf reveals his identity to Rose and informs her that Jack has the map in the compact. Wolf fights off the bumbling Blatherwick and chases Jack and Jean into the nearby hills, unaware that they are near the site of Bob's mine. Jack carries the exhausted Jean into the canyon, followed by Wolf, Rose and Laroque. Attracted by the ensuing gunshots, Bob, who has recovered completely, stops Laroque from attacking Jack. Rose is unable to shoot Jack, who engages in a fistfight with Wolf. Meanwhile, Blatherwick and his posse arrive, and upon learning Jack's identity, arrest Wolf. Jean intervenes on Rose's behalf, then reunites with her happy grandfather and Jack.

Dir: Robert N. Bradbury

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

While Tom, a wandering artist, is painting a portrait of his dead mother, a young girl chances along with her grandmother who is a very lovable type. A strong affection springs up between Tom and Granny and it is not long before he discovers that she is in a lot of trouble because her scapegrace son is trying to marry the girl and secure control of the property. The opportunity soon arrives when Grandmother is glad to take advantage of Tom's proffered assistance. In an encounter, he overcomes the villainous son and sets all of his schemes at naught, winning Grandmother's gratitude and the affection of the girl for whom he promises to return after she has grown up.

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.

Dir: Robert N. Bradbury

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of Mother o' Dreams perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

Silent Jim Sutherland has a secret sorrow. At length a city financier, his daughter and her fiance all arrive to this Western town and engage Silent Jim as guide to look into some timber land. Silent Jim recognizes the girl's fiance as the man who killed his wife many years before and stole his gold. The truth is revealed in the same cabin that was once Silent Jim's home. An old Indian proves the statement and when the villain attempts to kidnap the girl, he meets his fate at the hands of the dog.

Dir: Robert N. Bradbury

A simple country girl, brutally mistreated by her stepfather, awakens first the sympathy, then the love, of The Boy. The Spider, who lusts after The Girl, makes a bargain with the stepfather and takes her to the city where, kept prisoner, she is soon broken in health and spirit. Cast out and near death, she is taken in by The Boy. Following the demise of The Spider, The Boy takes her to church, where he prays, and after many hours she is restored to health.

Dir: Robert N. Bradbury

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

Kincade shoots Baird and takes the map to his gold mine. Sutherland finds the dying Baird who tells him the mine's location. Kincade, having lost the map, now goes after the gold Sutherland has taken out of the mine.

Dir: Robert N. Bradbury

A mysterious character lives in the desert and is reputed to have hidden wealth. A dance hall girl and a gambler frame a plot to rob him. They follow him to the desert where the girl pretends to be dying and is taken in by Tom. He falls in love with her and she with him, and eventually tells him of her plot. After a proof of her love, Tom forgives her and they are happy.

Dir: Robert N. Bradbury

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.