Recommendations
Senior Film Conservator

Since its 1927 debut, Too Many Crooks has maintained a artistic bravery status, the legacy of Too Many Crooks is a beacon for those seeking the unconventional. Our criteria for this list were simple: only the most artistic bravery and relevant titles.
The 1927 landscape was forever altered by the arrival of to sustain a sense of mystery that persists after the credits roll.
Celia Mason, the only daughter of a retired banker, discusses with Marshall Stone, the family lawyer, a crook drama she has just seen and maintains she can write a better one herself. Stone puts her in touch with John Barton (actually the author of the play), who supplies bad men on demand. Celia asks him to invite a group of crooks as guests at her house party. Within 24 hours, Fast Hands Foster has stolen 3 suitcases of jewelry; Frisco Flora has vamped 15 millionaires and obtained material for an equal number of blackmail suits; and Coxey the Con-man has sold most of the neighboring homes to "fall guys." Celia is amazed to learn they believe her to be an accomplice, but Barton removes the loot from her safe before the crooks abscond with it. Learning Barton's true calling, Celia is relieved.
Critics widely regard Too Many Crooks as a cult-favorite piece of Comedy cinema. Its artistic bravery is frequently cited as its strongest asset, solidifying its place in United States's film legacy.
Based on the unique artistic bravery of Too Many Crooks, our vault has identified these titles as the most compelling follow-up experiences for fans of Comedy cinema:
Dir: Colin Campbell
Although separated at birth, Siamese twins Fabien and Louis de Franchi remain united emotionally. One day, Parisian Emilie de Lesparre arrives in their Corsican village with her father, and both brothers fall in love with her. Louis goes to Paris to study law and sees Emilie often, but Emilie loves Fabien who has remained in Corsica with their mother. While attending a dinner given by another admirer of Emilie's, M. Chateau Renaud, Louis is drawn into a duel with Renaud and killed. Back home, Fabien senses what has happened and journeys to Paris to avenge his brother's death. After he kills Renaud in a duel, Emilie finally confesses her love to Fabien.
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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.
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Dir: Vernon Stallings
Krazy Kat is held in jail and Ignatz finally bails him out after encountering "guilt".
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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.
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Dir: Hal Roach
An American book salesman (Lloyd) is persuaded to go to the kingdom of Thermosa to impersonate the Prince. He is greeted by a peasants' revolt before the real prince shows up to claim his throne and princess. The revolution succeeds, and the American is elected president of the new republic.
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Dir: Maurice Elvey
A lady marries a horse trainer but withholds herself until her crippled brother is cured.
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Dir: Malcolm St. Clair
A dancing instructor gets involved with a newly rich family.
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Dir: Jerome Storm
Ne'er-do-well Homer Cavender ventures to the city from Mainsville in an effort to find fame and fortune. Both elude him, and after clerking for two years, Homer returns home for a vacation. Impressed by his flashy clothes, the townspeople assume that Homer has achieved success. Attempting to win Rachel Prouty from his rival, Arthur Machim, Homer continues the deception by announcing that his employer, Kort and Bailly, has dispatched him to enroll stockholders for a proposed new plant to be built in Mainsville. Machim discovers the sham and denounces Homer as a crook. Meanwhile, Homer returns to New York, convinces his employers of the merits of his plan and comes home triumphant, with a proposal for both the new plant and for Rachel's hand in marriage.
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Dir: Raoul Walsh
Dave Henderson, an orphan who has become the beneficiary of a rich man's will, falls in with race-track crooks Martin Tydeman and Bokky Sharvan who bilk him out of his $100,000 inheritance. In retaliation, Dave steals the money from Tydeman's safe, but is caught and sentenced to five years in jail. In prison, Dave becomes friendly with Millman, who is about to be released, and reveals the money's hiding place to him, arranging to rendezvous at the end of Dave's term. Once released, Dave is hounded by members of Tydeman's gang as well as the police, who are waiting for him to retrieve his bounty. While taking refuge at the house of Capriano, an old bomb maker, Dave falls in love with the old man's daughter Teresa. However, Capriano sets a trap for Dave, who awakens in a drugged state to find the $100,000 missing. With the help of Millman and Teresa, Dave recovers the money, turns it over to the police and resolves to go straight.
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Dir: Reggie Morris
A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.
View DetailsAnalysis relative to Too Many Crooks
| Film Title | Atmosphere | Complexity | Similarity |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Corsican Brothers | Tense | Linear | 92% Match |
| An Amateur Devil | Tense | Linear | 98% Match |
| The Great Cheese Robbery | Surreal | Linear | 87% Match |
| A Fitting Gift | Surreal | Layered | 96% Match |
| His Royal Slyness | Gothic | Layered | 92% Match |
This guide was algorithmically generated using the cinematic metadata of Fred C. Newmeyer's archive. Last updated: 8/17/2026.
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