The Auteur's Selection In the Shadow of Two A.M.: Cult Guide

Dir: Al Christie

Bobby, a clerk, is sent on a hurry trip by his boss to deliver a $5,000 check to Mr. Brown. Bobby meets a girl while on the train. At the junction they miss another train, wait three hours, arrive at the home of Brown - and then the plot deepens when another plot in the making makes it appear that the girl is Brown's wife.

Dir: Al Christie

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

Alice undertakes to present an amateur performance at the local small town opera house. After turning down Ibsen, Shaw, Oscar Wilde and Shakespeare, Alice decides the only way to get a good play is to write one herself.

Dir: Al Christie

Jay made the fatal error of trying to make his wife believe that he had all the money in the world.

Dir: Al Christie

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of Tell Your Wife Everything perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

Bobby had been instrumental in having Dorothy Invited to a weekend party that he might propose to her in ideal surroundings. There were other chaps in the competition, however, and Dorothy was a bit coy when Bobby tried to monopolize her society. In fact, she seemed more than willing to have the other fellows do the monopolizing. Sympathetic girl friends of Bobby told him that the slogan of the tanks, "Treat 'Em Rough," was the proper rule in love making - and so Bobby tried it. He kidnapped Dorothy in a motor, drove her to the mountains and forced her by wielding the "cave man's club" to don tiger skins as dress and submit to his commands. That Dorothy liked the idea was evident when the entire weekend delegation followed them forthwith to the mountain cave, bringing along a minister to tie the knot.

Dir: Al Christie

After Eddie Plum discovers oil on the family ranch, he and his widowed mother move to the city where they meet Lord Burlington, a British fortune hunter. Burlington introduces the Plums to two socialites, Mrs. Van Zant and Betty, her daughter, and while Burlington woos Mrs. Plum, Eddie falls in love with Betty. A double wedding is arranged, but on the day of the ceremony, Mrs. Plum announces that the deed to her land has been stolen and without it she has no claim. Devastated by the news, Burlington requests a postponement and leaves. In spite of the apparent disaster, Eddie and Betty elope while Mrs. Plum, hurt by the Lord's sudden departure, plans to return to the country. Realizing that his affections for the widow are genuine, Burlington asks for her forgiveness and insists on the marriage. Her faith restored, Mrs. Plum reveals that the stolen documents were fakes, and that her oil millions are safe.

Dir: Al Christie

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

On the strength of father's promise of a $10,000 check to the happy bride and groom, a truckload of furniture arrives with which newlywed Mary desired to furnish a city flat.

Dir: Al Christie

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

Dir: Al Christie

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of Mrs. Plum's Pudding perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

Dir: Al Christie

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

Dir: Al Christie

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.