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Cinematic Discoveries Following the Footsteps of What'll You Have?:...

Author

Senior Film Conservator

27 June 2026

4 min read

The artistic legacy of Francis Corby was forever changed by What'll You Have?, this Short landmark continues to dictate the rules of its category. We've assembled a sequence of films that complement the tone of What'll You Have? perfectly.

The What'll You Have? Phenomenon

The vintage appeal of What'll You Have? to maintain its cult relevance across several decades.

Charlie is clerking in a soda establishment patronized by college girls. Here he meets a pretty heiress and insists on accompanying her home, and plays Sir Walter Raleigh at a muddy crossing so that she can mount the taxi. Quite a stir of funny action takes place at the store when Charlie is trying to disguise himself in order not to be recognized by the heiress. Comedy winds up in a riot of fun when he takes the girl home and there beats up a couple of burglars in a Van Bibber style, is acclaimed hero, and receives a fat check from the girl's father. Of course Charlie claims the girl also, so he gets both.

Cinematic Discoveries Following the Footsteps of What'll You Have?

Based on the unique cinematic excellence of What'll You Have?, our vault has identified these titles as the most compelling follow-up experiences for fans of Short cinema:

The Deadlier Sex scene — Scene from The Deadlier Sex

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

The Deadlier Sex

1. The Deadlier Sex 1920

Dir: Robert Thornby

Mary Willard takes over her father's railroad after his death. Her major competitor is a ruthless crook named Harvey Judson. She arranges for Judson to be kidnapped and taken to an isolated spot deep in the forest and turned loose to fend for himself. She accompanies the kidnappers to the wild and Judson, not knowing who she is, begins to fall in love with her. Complications ensue.

The Amazing Quest of Mr. Ernest Bliss

2. The Amazing Quest of Mr. Ernest Bliss 1920

Dir: Henry Edwards

A millionaire bets £25,000 that he can earn his own living for six months.

The Amazing Quest of Mr. Ernest Bliss scene — Scene from The Amazing Quest of Mr. Ernest Bliss

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of The Amazing Quest of Mr. Ernest Bliss perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

Trail of the Rails

3. Trail of the Rails 1920

Dir: Unknown Director

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

Down the Mississippi

4. Down the Mississippi 1920

Dir: Frank Moser

The simple story is about two siblings, little brother Bud and big sister Susie. After they've been reading "Huckleberry Finn" they dream of adventures on the Mississippi River.

Trail of the Rails scene — Scene from Trail of the Rails

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

On Strike

5. On Strike 1920

Dir: Bud Fisher

Mutt and Jeff go on strike and make their own film.

The Great Cheese Robbery

6. The Great Cheese Robbery 1920

Dir: Vernon Stallings

Krazy Kat is held in jail and Ignatz finally bails him out after encountering "guilt".

Down the Mississippi scene — Scene from Down the Mississippi

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

In the River

7. In the River 1920

Dir: Edgar Jones

A mail-order bride arrives at a Maine lumber camp but doesn't like her prospective husband.

An Amateur Devil

8. An Amateur Devil 1920

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.

On Strike scene — Scene from On Strike

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

Lunatics in Politics

9. Lunatics in Politics 1920

Dir: Richard Smith

Two female candidates for Chief of Police live across the hall from each other, and their political rivalry follows them home, leading to plenty of hi-jinks.

His Royal Slyness

10. His Royal Slyness 1920

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.

Cinematic Comparison Matrix

Analysis relative to What'll You Have?

Film Title	Atmosphere	Complexity	Similarity
The Deadlier Sex	Gothic	Layered	97% Match
The Amazing Quest of Mr. Ernest Bliss	Gritty	Linear	86% Match
Trail of the Rails	Tense	Layered	96% Match
Down the Mississippi	Gritty	Linear	92% Match
On Strike	Gothic	Linear	92% Match

* This matrix is generated based on structural DNA and genre proximity to the 1927 classic What'll You Have?.

This guide was algorithmically generated using the cinematic metadata of Francis Corby's archive. Last updated: 6/27/2026.

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