Top-Tier Alternatives In the Shadow of Thin Twins: Cult Guide

Dir: Eduardo Notari

A crime drama in the Gennariello-series. The police detective in Naples that is confronted with modern gangsters and crime events.

Dir: James W. Horne

Adam, the proprietor of a country hotel, loses his heart to Nell, a soubrette. Unknown to the old man, the girl and his son Jack were formerly sweethearts, but had quarreled because of her refusal to leave the stage. Knowing of Adam's love for Nell, Mason, the leading man, and Eppstein, the manager, induce him to finance the show. This is on its last legs. The members of the company stop at Adam's hotel while in Preston and thus Nell meets Jack again. Upon her refusal to give up the stage, Jack angrily leaves her. When the show departs early next morning, Adam goes with it. Nell is fascinated by Mason and the latter plays her against Clara, who also fancies she loves him. Nell does not know that it is Adam's money which is backing the show. When she does discover the manner in which the old man is being fleeced, she promptly declares her intention of quitting the company. The conspirators vainly plead with the girl. Desperate, Mason and Eppstein kidnap Adam and wire Jack in the old man's name asking him to telegraph $600. His suspicions aroused, Jack determines to investigate. In the meantime, Nell has discovered Adam's predicament. Securing assistance, she rescues him just as Jack arrives. In gratitude, Adam advances enough money to send all the members, with the exception of the plotters, home. Nell, sick of the stage, returns to Preston with Jack and his father. The latter learns of their love affair, and concealing his own love, gives them his blessing.

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

Dir: Henry Edwards

A millionaire bets £25,000 that he can earn his own living for six months.

Dir: James W. Horne

In the Australian outback, a young woman falls for a dashing bandit known as Stingaree, who is actually a wealthy Englishman cheated out of his fortune by his greedy brother.

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of The Amazing Quest of Mr. Ernest Bliss perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

Dir: Unknown Director

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

Dir: James W. Horne

A series of 12 2-reel mystery thrillers, each story complete in itself. Episode titles: #1: The Strangler's Cord (1915); #2: The Disappearing Necklace (1915); #3: The Secret Code (1915); #4: The Riddle of the Rings (1915); #5: The Substituted Jewel (1915); #6: A Double Identity (1915); #7: The False Clue (1915); #8: When Thieves Fall Out (1915); #9: Under Oath (1915); #10: _The Wolf's Prey (1915)_; #11: The Man on Watch (1915); #12: The Man in Irons (1915).

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

Dir: Edgar Jones

A mail-order bride arrives at a Maine lumber camp but doesn't like her prospective husband.

Dir: Maurice Campbell

Carver Endicott, a young sophisticate, is rejected by his fiancée for being too foppish and dull. When she feigns an interest in his father, Carver attempts to disgrace his family name by working as a farmhand and later as a busboy in a hotel. However, the newspapers only praise him for his self-sacrificing principles; and finding that he cannot bring shame to the family through menial labor, he takes up with a notorious actress. But when this maneuver also fails, he returns to his former fiancée, who has no further complaint about his being an inexperienced dullard.

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

Dir: James W. Horne

Although she loves Clive, a young lawyer, Margaret weds Deering to save her father from financial ruin, while passing years bring fame to Clive and result in his being elected district attorney, the man cannot forget Margaret. Deering conducts a magnificent gambling establishment in his mansion. His conduct toward Margaret causes her to hate him. In the meantime, having promised to break up the ring, headed by Garvin, which is protecting the gamblers, Clive arranges a raid upon the Deering establishment. Due to a leak, however, this raid comes to naught. While in the mansion, Clive comes face to face with Margaret. Deering watching the two, sees their old love well up anew. It causes the man to become more brutal than ever to his wife. The district attorney discovers his secretary to be the source of the leak which had frustrated the raid. A second raid proves successful. Before this takes place, Clive dispatches a note to Margaret urging her to leave before his men arrive. Deering, believing his wife had known of this raid all along, is wild with rage and attempts to kill her. This is frustrated and the gambler is arrested. He later makes a sensational escape and returns to his mansion in time to see Ramon, his partner, rifling the secret safe containing their funds. After mortally wounding the man, Deering attempts to kill Margaret. Dying, Ramon summons Clive and the police. The latter come just in time to save the woman. Again Deering tries to escape, but this time he meets his death in leaping from a balcony.

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.