The Definitive Watchlist Seeking the Same Brilliance as Under Handicap: Cult Guide

Dir: Fred J. Balshofer

John Cranford, a secret agent of the United States Customs service, has succeeded in unearthing a gigantic smuggling plot. The operations of the smugglers range from contraband opium to diamonds. Opium is found and confiscated, and burned in the street as a warning against future law-breaking. The men who have been handling it are apprehended, but the "man higher up" remains shrouded in mystery, free to pursue his schemes, and it becomes the purpose of Cranford's life to bring him to justice. To recuperate before entering upon his pursuit, John goes to the St. Lawrence River for a fishing trip. Expecting to hire his old friend and guide, "Uncle Billy," he is greatly disappointed at finding that worthy man's time engaged by a charming, mysterious young woman, who insists on fishing in the neighborhood of Pidgin Island. Diana Wynne, the girl in question, comes to Billy's boathouse while John is there, and Billy introduces them. They meet often, and John finds himself falling in love with Diana, but his curiosity is aroused by the air of mystery surrounding her, and he cannot understand her strange interest in the launches plying around the island. To this region comes "the man higher up," Michael Smead, his son Donald and two accomplices, to operate a great smuggling deal on the Canadian border. John recognizes Smead, having previously blocked him in an attempt to smuggle many thousands of dollars' worth of diamonds. Donald is a stranger to him, for he is new to the game. John, finding that his "vacation" has furnished him with the biggest job of his life, watches Smead closely. Complications arise from the fact that Diana also is a secret service agent, and she too is watching Smead's hand. In so doing her actions arouse John's suspicion that she is in league with the band, and the two agents suspect each other. One stormy evening Diana intercepts a telegram to Smead which reads: "Pidgin tonight at 8 without fail." She hastens to Uncle Billy, asking him to take her over to the island at once. They set out in the storm, much against the wishes of "Mr. Billy." John, coming directly afterwards, is told of their destination, and fearing for Diana's safety in the gathering storm forces young Lester, a guide, to take him in pursuit. The storm rages in fury about both boats, and the waves run high. Smead's Canadian agents are in an aeroplane coming toward Pidgin. They are smuggling the gems, which are concealed in the hollow butts of two fishing poles, but the aeroplane is lost in the storm near Pidgin Lighthouse. Billy's boat is dashed to pieces on the reef and Billy and Diana are thrown into the water. They manage to reach an isolated rock, wreckage-washed, to which they cling in momentary fear of being washed shorewards, where the waves are smashing against the reef. Finally Diana is swept from the rock, and Cranford swims to her assistance. Lester, after a struggle, rescues Uncle Billy, and the keeper of the light on Pidgin Reef gives them all a shelter. Next morning Cranford finds the Smead telegram in Diana's coat pocket, and with it a letter from the customs department establishing her identity. Diana surprises him going through her effects, but he convinces her that he too is a government agent. Uncle Billy finds the fishing rods on the island and brings them to the lighthouse, where Cranford discovers their contents to be a fortune in pearls. He hastens to the village and arrests Smead, Donald and their accomplices almost before they know they are suspected. When John proposes to Diana she refuses him, telling him she is the daughter of a criminal and the sister of a criminal. Smead is her father, and she has engaged in the service and come to Pidgin to try to prevent her brother from engaging in his father's scheme. But John Cranford refuses to take "No" as an answer, and the sincerity of his wooing wins him Diana's consent to become his wife.

Dir: Fred J. Balshofer

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

"Broadway Bill" Clayton, a New York playboy and heavy drinker, takes a job at the Maine lumber camp of John Underwood hoping to reform himself and regain the affections of Muriel Latham. Foreman Buck Hardigan, who has been stealing and selling Underwood's maple syrup, suspects that Bill has been sent as a spy and decides to get rid of him. Bill survives several plots on his life and finally defeats Buck in a fight and is elected foreman. His struggle with alcohol is nearly won, but when he reads a newspaper item erroneously stating that Muriel is engaged to another, he decides to drink again. Muriel visits the camp with Underwood, and everything is cleared up after Bill rescues her brother Jack in a snow storm.

Dir: Fred J. Balshofer

Multimillionaire Billy Van Dyke, pursued by fortune-hunting women, longs to meet someone who will love him for himself alone. When social climber Mrs. Pugfeather moves to town with her daughter Celia and penniless ward Beatrice, she begins a campaign to marry her shallow daughter to the millionaire. Beatrice is sent to town to hire a chauffeur and when Billy sees her, he immediately falls in love. Donning his chauffeur's uniform, Billy applies for the position and is hired. Beatrice falls in love with him, too, and later, when Billy quits over the Pugfeathers' mistreatment of Beatrice, the girl offers him her meager savings. Realizing that he has finally found a girl who loves him for himself, Billy proposes. Returning home to hear Celia accusing her parents of sheltering a pauper, Beatrice resolves to run away. As she is about to leave, Mr. Pugfeather informs her that she has inherited a fortune from her father. When, after her marriage, Billy informs Beatrice that he is also a multimillionaire, the last laugh is on Mrs. Pugfeather and Celia when they pay a visit to Mr. Van Dyke and discover their former chauffeur and his new bride.

Dir: Fred J. Balshofer

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

Randall Ridgeway. a lumber king, learns that one of his contracting companies in northern Maine is carrying on crooked transactions. His son, Burt, overhears his father discussing the matter and asks if he might go and investigate. His father refuses, thinking his son too young and not strong enough physically to deal with the woodsmen. Mac Heberton, who controls the camp in Maine, hears of Ridgeway's suspicions. He compels his bookkeeper to arrange a double set of books, under penalty of exposing him for a murder he saw him commit. Burt Ridgeway falls in with a fast crowd and meets a professional dancer named Lotus de Valois. Under the spell of the girl, and the direction of her unscrupulous chaperon, Burt becomes involved financially. He goes to his father for more money. His father, fearful that his son is not improving his time, puts him to a test. He gives him $25,000 with the understanding that every time he adds another thousand to the amount he will present him with an additional $5,000. With more funds at his disposal Burt strikes a faster pace. Lotus sees a lavaliere, valued at $14,500, which she induces Burt to buy for her. The elder Ridgeway becomes discouraged when he does not see any business activity on the part of his son. Hoping to interest and assist him he takes a three days' option on some real estate where there is a chance to make a big coup. The boy confesses that he cannot cover the option, as he has but $5,000 left in the bank. That night Burt returns home intoxicated. He has words with his father, who has lost faith in him for the first time. In a rage his father orders him from home, telling him he is not "worth his salt." Burt leaves and makes straight for the lumber camp in Maine, where he hopes to rejuvenate himself. Arrived there, after many severe trials, he meets Patta Heberton, a pretty girl of the woods, and the ward of Mac Heberton. They become interested in each other, at their first meeting, and are engaged in pleasant conversation, when "Bully Bill," a camp foreman, observes them. "Bully Bill" is all his sobriquet implies, and he is madly in love with Patta. He challenges the stranger's right to talk to the girl, which results in a fight. The dissipated young man from the city is like a child in the woodman's hands, and h« is knocked cold with two sharp blows. Burt takes his beating with chagrin, but decides to remain, and obtains a position as checker. He plans to regain his strength and prowess if proper training will do it. He leaves off cigarettes and whiskey, and exercises in the open at every opportunity. On a holiday, soon afterward, when the woodsmen are gathered for a day of sports, Burt has another encounter with "Bully Bill." He dispatches the bully with ease. For this Burt wins the admiration of the crowd and the lasting friendship of "Bully Bill." The following day Burt is passing the office of Mac Heberton, when a draft of wind carries a check out of the window, and at his feet picking it up he finds it is from a rival concern. Burt hurries inside, and backing the spineless bookkeeper up in a corner, he threatens to kill him if he does not tell him the whole truth. For the first time in the camp he discloses his identity. The bookkeeper weakens and confesses that Heberton has been cheating his father out of thousands of dollars. Heberton comes in the door unseen, as the bookkeeper makes this statement, and with uplifted axe is about to strike Burt, when "Bully Bill" rushes in and stays his hand. In a subsequent investigation Burt finds a will left by Patta's grandfather, in which she is named sole beneficiary of his estate on her eighteenth birthday. Heberton has kept her in ignorance of this situation, and has taken over the estate himself. Burt's father is overjoyed beyond expression when his son comes back, a new man, with the story of the arrest of Heberton and a vivid description of the girl in the woods, who is to join him soon in New York, as his life's partner.

Dir: Fred J. Balshofer

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

Dir: Fred J. Balshofer

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

The Earl of Gilleigh, whose dyspepsia has been severely aggravated by the news that his ill-tempered wife Sophronia is due to arrive from abroad, is startled by the noise of a burglar and enters the room to find his long-lost brother, Warren Ellis, voraciously helping himself to a meal. Warren accepts the Earl's proposal that the two trade identities, and while he remains in Gilleigh, the Earl retreats to his country estate. After meeting Sophronia, however, Warren quickly follows his brother to the country, where he is entranced by a lovely shepherdess named Rosalind. Sophronia also travels to the estate, and mistaking the lovesick Warren for her husband, believes that she has lost the Earl's love. Through her change of disposition, she regains her husband's affections, while Warren wins Rosalind.

Dir: Fred J. Balshofer

Dorothy Cruickshank is secretly in love with Captain Westwood, whom her parents have never seen, and they plan to elope. Her father, an old sea captain, has quarreled with a Professor Jogram, following a public denunciation of a book Jogram has written on navigation. Professor Jogram lives with Sir Jasper Thorndyke, who sympathizes with him about the criticism but secretly considers the matter lightly. Dorothy and Captain Westwood elope during a storm, but their chaise is overturned near the home of Sir Jasper, where they apply for shelter and are taken in. Dorothy's parents pursue her, but they, too, meet with an accident and bring up at Sir Jasper's home. Dorothy and Captain Westwood are in their rooms when the girl's parents arrive. Sir Jasper and Cruickshank sit up late, Cruickshank drinking heavily, and his host, learning who he is, as a joke, puts him to bed with Professor Jogram. The next morning Dorothy arises early, and while gathering flowers in the garden, encounters Sir Jasper. Sir Jasper falls in love with her, and gives her a bunch of rosemary which she pins to her gown. At breakfast all are present, save Dorothy, and Sir Jasper takes this opportunity to gain her parents' consent to her marriage with Captain Westwood. A journey to London with a happy wedding is planned. At an inn in London Dorothy goes to the stable to give some sugar to Sir Jasper's favorite mare. The stable catches fire and Dorothy is trapped in the loft. Sir Jasper, who has been showing her much attention, rushes through the flames and rescues her. He is badly burned, and during the days that follow Dorothy insists on attending him. One day Westwood demands to see a page Dorothy has just written in her diary. She refuses, tears out the page and gives it to Sir Jasper. It is an artless confession of her high regard for Sir Jasper and he is elated. He is on the point of confessing his love for her when Professor Jogram stops him. Jogram tells him he is about to ruin the lives of two people he had never seen until a few days before. Realizing the truth of this Sir Jasper places the diary page in a broken panel in the wall, buys the inn and goes away to leave the lovers in happiness. Many years later, while Dorothy and Westwood are happy with their family, Sir Jasper makes a pilgrimage to the inn. He finds the page, together with the rosemary, and muses over them as he remembers Dorothy's little speech when she gave it to him. "Rosemary, that's for remembrance."

Dir: Fred J. Balshofer

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

Jerry Benham, the ten-year-old heir to a vast fortune, must remain on the Benham estate, where he has no contact with any female, until his twenty-first birthday, according to the will. Ten years later, while fishing, Jerry meets beautiful Una Habberton, who has wandered through a broken gate onto the estate. She returns many times to their "Paradise Garden," and an affection grows between them. However, when Jerry's kindly guardian, Roger Canby, finds them together, he sends Una away. Upon reaching twenty-one, Jerry, curious to see New York, goes there with another mentor, Jack Ballard, and is introduced to the business and society life. Despite Roger's warnings, Jerry becomes infatuated with Marcia Van Wyck, an idle-rich temptress who teaches him how to kiss, but thoughts of Una still linger. At a party, when Jerry catches Marcia kissing Ballard, he throws Ballard over a banister, thus disrupting the evening. Jerry repulses Marcia's advances, tears her dress down the back, and returns home. Roger arranges for Una to appear at the spot where they first met, and they are reconciled.

Dir: Fred J. Balshofer

As the government of Alpania, a seaside European republic, is threatened by revolutionary monarchists, three American adventurers--Jack Perry, Dick Sayre, and Lyn Brook--arrive in the country and immediately become embroiled in the civil strife. Perry offends the monarchists, who capture him and sentence him to death before a firing squad. Brook rescues his compatriot by bombing the complex, thus killing Perry's captors. Disguised as a woman, Perry infiltrates the royalists' circle where as "Fedora" he quickly becomes a court favorite and earns the love of Zana, an Alpanian woman. While Perry carries news of the monarchists' plot to the republicans, Brook, donning feminine attire and calling himself "Thelma," diverts Grand Duke Nebo. Perry is recaptured, but commandeers an enemy airplane to safety. After an automobile chase, Perry eludes the revolutionaries and escapes to America with Zana.

Dir: Fred J. Balshofer

On a treasure hunt in the tropics, adventurer Mortimer Gregg discovers beautiful Horse Island, and upon his return to New York, forms a partnership with Christopher Beaumont, allegedly to develop the island's resources. Just before his death, however, Gregg reveals to his assistant manager, David Smith, that the Tropical Products Company was formed for the sole purpose of swindling the stockholders. A highly principled man who believes in the island's potential, David refuses to tamper with the company's financial reports, which so angers Beaumont that he visits Horse Island to deliver David an ultimatum. When the young man learns that he is about to be fired for his persistent honesty, he refuses to allow Beaumont and his daughter Christabel to leave the island. Caught in a tropical storm one afternoon, David and Christabel take refuge in a cave, where they fall in love and, incidentally, uncover a store of pirates' gold. After the Beaumonts have departed for New York, David invests the treasure in Tropical Products stock under Christabel's name, whereupon old Beaumont, finally beaten, agrees to run the company honestly as the partner of his future son-in-law.