Hidden Genre Gems In Alignment with the style of Wanted - $5, 000: Cult Guide

Dir: Gilbert Pratt

Earl and Joe get jobs in a barber's shop, Earl as a bootblack and Joe as an expert with the razor. Of course, the manicure girls figure in the lively party, and it's a safe bet that all the customers who visit this particular barber shop while Earl shines shoes and Joe shaves faces are going to get everything the shop has to offer but service.

Dir: Gilbert Pratt

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

The struggles of a rent collector that has to face tenants that are behind on their rent as well as crooks trying to steal the rent he has collected.

Dir: Gilbert Pratt

Joe comes to the rescue of his sweetheart's father (who is going broke in the hotel business) with a clever scheme for attracting guests.

Dir: Gilbert Pratt

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

Jimmy is compelled to retreat when he tries to flirt without a license. He annoys the park policeman who chases him, He comes upon Stella Flip, seeking her run-a-way dog, He helps her hunt for the dog, finally resting on a bench, Jimmy is surprised suddenly by the dog jumping upon the bench with friendliness to him. He falls asleep on the bench and dreams the following. Mr. Jipper, more of a robber than the usual hotel proprietor, is caught in a safety first trap, when he tries to pick Willie Hold's pocket, and Willie, who is a salesman for the Safety First Trans tries to sell him a trap, Jimmy arrives with the dog, meets Stella and returns the dog to her. He is trying to make a hit with Stella, when the proprietor interferes, and has him kicked out, Jimmy, nothing daunted, finds his way back, as a bell hop. After causing considerable trouble, he finally lands in the crook's den, and the proprietor, who is also the leader of the gang, makes him a member of it. During the course of his operations as one of the gang, Jimmy is forced to operate on an audience in the hotel room, which was borrowed to display some of the latest creations and shapes. Caught in the act by the policeman, Jimmy makes his escape, seeking safety behind the curtains of the stage. When the curtain goes up he has assumed the disguise of a nifty bathing suit - and again as Madame Peekaboo, when the cop and proprietor discover him. There is a wild chase, Jimmy finally wakes up, the policeman rapping him with his club, and finds the dog next to him. He grabs up the dog, and runs with it, as the policeman looks after him, scratching his head in perplexity.

Dir: Gilbert Pratt

Honorable Mike O'Flannigan; duke of Dublin, and the Honorable Patrik O'Toole, count of Cork, touring the country, receive an invitation from their friend. Barney, to pay his two nieces a visit while in their town. Finding that her demand for rent meets with no response, the landlady collects her boarders clothes, Monty and Rock, two of the non-paying boarders, finding their clothes gone, steal the suits from two dummies which the second-handed clothes dealer had nought from a thief who had stolen them from the two Irish men, Pat and Mike, Dressed like "Beau Brummels" but without a cent to their name, the two, Monty and Rock, pose as the count and the duke, and call on the two nieces. Invited by the two girls to go to the cafe, the two accept with great willingness, it so happens that the two Irishmen go to the same cafe. Finding the bill, far, far above their expectations, and not being able to pay it, Joe manages to get the money from a "drunk", and is seen by the waiter who takes it from him, Monty seeing what is going on, picks the waiter's pocket, putting a salt cellar in its place. The ''drunk's" dog takes it from Monty's pocket and returns it to his master. Waiter discovering..how he has been fooled, chases them out. Meanwhile, Mike and Pat have discovered the girls, recognize them and go over to them, Monte and Rock return, and there is much comedy in their discovering the real duke and count, Mike and Pat start "some thing". In avoiding the count and duke, Monty and Rock come face to face with the landlady and the second-handed clothes dealer, who have suspended business for pleasure, and in the melee that follows, every one is hitting some one else, Monty manages to creep out, and is taking the girls out to the car to safety, where they meet Rock already in the car. Just as they are about to drive away, Mike and Pat who have "cleaned up" the crowd, come out, and start in pursuit of the car, which speeds away, the four looking out through the window of the hood at Mike and Pat, both angry, vengeful men.

Dir: Gilbert Pratt

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

Percie and Ferdie answer an ad for barbers, and to be sure of the job they get there in the middle of the night, sleeping on the steps of the shop. They get the jobs, and the balance of the reel is a burlesque of the daily happenings in a barber shop. It's all good stuff, with a succession of new bits of business. The second reel find the boys preparing to attend Miss Millionbucks' ball. They go attired in stolen uniforms, passing as two friends of the young lady's father. Of course the rightful two arrive and show the boys up. At the moment they are about to be shot for impersonating officers, they wake up - still in front of the barber shop, and the jobs taken.

Dir: Gilbert Pratt

The story follows the arrival of an immigrant girl, her kidnapping by a band of crooks and her ultimate rescue by her sweetheart, who is forced to deface the station building in order to obtain service from the local police force.

Dir: Gilbert Pratt

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

The daughter of a member of a duck hunting club is in love with one man, while her father chooses another. Finally the father strives to bring the affair to a proper and just ending by promising his daughter to the one who can bring in the elusive game.

Dir: Gilbert Pratt

At a powder mill, the formula for an all-destroying explosive is sought by enemies of the mill owners, and the chase for this provides a riot of fun.

Dir: Gilbert Pratt

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.