Hidden Genre Gems for Fans of Wives and Old Sweethearts: Cult Guide

Dir: Eddie Lyons

Eddie and Lee are newspaper reporters and Mildred is a vamping Russian countess in a laughable "Bolsheviki" burlesque in which Eddie and Lee find themselves obliged to commit all sorts of crimes, but wake to find it all a dream.

Dir: Unknown Director

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

The Judge needs a present for his wife's birthday, so Harry suggests a new corset. They go to the shop, but he's so embarrassed to ask the saleslady he hides in a phone booth.Harry goes in, but finds a GUY wearing one, and runs out.They both dress as women to get back in, but Mrs. Rummy gets there and chases him out.

Dir: Eddie Lyons

Eddie has a wife and baby. Lee plays his well known role of janitor, who finds himself with the baby, a dog and a parrot on his hands, after a mix-up in the apartment house, but eventually gets them in the hands of their proper owners.

Dir: Eddie Lyons

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of Whose Baby Are You? perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

Bernie and Sidney are a buyer and a salesman who smash each other's hats before becoming acquainted. Their wives afterward mix in at a hat sale and later all meet at dinner, when the riot begins again.

Dir: Eddie Lyons

A burlesque on the making of a picture based on an Alaskan story.

Dir: Eddie Lyons

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

Nifty Ned is a heavyweight champion that meets all comers. He is successful through the fact that he manages to back his opponents against the scenery at the back of the stage ring. From a vantage point behind the scenes, Happy Harry whacks the opponent on the head with a club, invariably causing the "knockout." The end comes when the "heavyweight" is pushed against the scenery by one of his opponents, and Happy Harry knocks out the wrong man.

Dir: Eddie Lyons

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

Dir: Eddie Lyons

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

Mr. Ups likes the gay life and Mr. Downs is a "stay-at-home." One night when Ups is out sporting and Downs is home in bed, Ups arrives at the entrance of the apartment house at the same time with Downs' wife. Ups' wife, who is at home, hears the cat ransacking the milk cans in the kitchen and thinks a burglar is in the house. Then Mr. Ups and Mrs. Downs arrive and the chase starts. Up and down the dumbwaiter goes Downs and Mrs. Ups, looking for the burglar, one in his bathrobe the other in her pajamas. The mystery is solved and the two couples become the best of friends.

Dir: Eddie Lyons

Lee and his family take Eddie and his wife riding in their new car.

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.