Essential Cult Cinema Drawn from the Same DNA as Western Yesterdays...

Dir: Bruno Ziener

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

Dir: Francis Ford

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of The Mystery of 13 perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

Dir: Francis Ford

Phil Kelly, a veteran of the Spanish-American War, serves as an American spy during World War I unknown to his mother, fiancée Rose Lockely and friends, who sadly question his loyalty when he fails to enlist. German agents Karl Shamme and John Harris invite Phil to a secret meeting, where he learns of German plans to sink several Allied transports. Phil saves the transports and then is sent to Germany posing as a German aviator. After flying over American lines to warn the Allies of an impending large-scale German offensive, Phil is discovered by Shamme and sentenced to death. Shortly before he is to be shot, Americans bombard the area where he is imprisoned. Although injured in the battle, he is rescued and nursed back to health by Rose.

Dir: Wilfred Lucas

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

Brian O'Farrell (Snowy Baker), is an English 'new chum' who takes a job at an Australian cattle station. He is teased by station hands because of his appearance (including spats and a monocle) but he soon impresses them with his skills at riding and boxing. The station manager, John MacDonald (Wilfred Lucas), takes O'Farrell to Sydney to meet his daughter Edith (Kathleen Key) who is working in the slums. Edith is kidnapped by criminals after witnessing a crime but O'Farrell rescues her. It is later revealed he is the owner of the station.

Dir: Francis Ford

Clay Norton and Duke Fuller are partners in a mining venture and have several claims, none of which have proved particularly successfully but do have promise. They are both in love with Agnes, and Clay wins her hand. While he is away in a nearby town to buy a wedding ring, Jim Butts, who has the territory's best mine, dies and Duke jumps his claim and sells it for $10,000, and the widow Butts is left penniless. When Clay, on his return, finds out what Duke has done, he demands his partnership share of $5,000 and tells Duke that they should see the widow and give her the money to go East so she will cause them no trouble. They visit her together and Clay tells her he will give her $5,000 and forces Duke to do the same. Overcome with the shock of the good fortune, the widow faints, and Duke, furious at being tricked, rushes from the cabin and meets Agnes, who is on her way to meet Clay. He takes her to the door of the cabin where she sees the widow Butts in the arms of her sweetheart. Misunderstanding the situation and being told by Duke that Clay is unfaithful to her, she breaks off their engagement.

Dir: Francis Ford

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

While waiting in a hotel lobby for instructions from his government, Ludwig Schumann, an agent of the Black Legion, is enchanted by Marion Washburn, the daughter of a Texas senator. As he is about to speak to the girl, Schumann is stunned to see a young American enter who could be his double. The American is James Walbert, whom Schumann's contact mistakes for the agent. The contact passes to Walbert a photograph of a woman spy, Wanda Bartell, whom the agent is to meet aboard a steamer. Walbert realizes the mistake and determines to protect his country. After overpowering Schumann, Walbert rushes to the steamer where he meets Wanda. Also aboard are Marion and her fiancé, Herbert Cornell, a Washington fop who is trying to prove his earnestness by transporting secret plans to New York. Arriving in New York, Wanda and Walbert report to the Black Legion headquarters where they are instructed to procure Cornell's plans. Wanda succeeds in drugging Cornell, but Walbert intervenes, seizes the plans and returns to headquarters, intent upon smashing the organization. He is greeted by Schumann, who has exposed the spy, and is hopelessly outnumbered until the police arrive, having been summoned by Marion.

Dir: Francis Ford

As a baby, John Ermine is stolen from a wagon train by the Crow Indians and is adopted by Chief Fire Bear. John grows to manhood, ignorant that he is a white man until his parentage is disclosed to him by Crooked Bear,.

Dir: Francis Ford

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

Lumberjack Gaston Olaf is newly arrived in the lumber camp of Havens Falls, but it isn't long before he finds himself coming to the rescue of the lovely Rose Havens, who is being pursued by the nasty Lefty Red. Impressed by Olaf's actions, lumber boss Dave Taggart hires Olaf to be foreman of his band of rogue lumbermen. Taggart, however, has his own plans for Rose, and not the same kind that Lefty had--he's after a valuable stand of wood on Rose's property and hatches a scheme that will allow him to not only get the wood but the land it stands on and Rose's safe in the bargain. while ensuring that both Rose and Olaf remain unaware of his plan.

Dir: Edward LeSaint

When famous opera singer Elinore Duane undergoes an operation on her throat, she has a series of ether-induced visions. In one, she is transported to ancient Rome where she appears as a much-admired woman in love with Paul, a young heretic, and at odds with Lutor, the high priest. To save her love, she poisons Lutor with her ring. After several other visions which involve variations on this love triangle, Elinore awakens to discover that Lutor is actually her doctor, Sascha Jaccard, and that Paul is the son of a friend who has come to visit the recovering prima donna.

Dir: Francis Ford

An Indian scholar seeks an American colleague who is working on a powerful explosive, trying to get to his formula by taking advantage of his drinking problem.