Movies by Erville Alderson

The Lash

The Lash

A nobleman returns home to Southern California after the Mexican American War to find his people mistreated by unscrupulous Americans.

Mr. Whitney Had a Notion

Mr. Whitney Had a Notion

Historical short showing how Eli Whitney (best known for the invention of the cotton gin) played a significant role in the introduction of mass production techniques to the USA in the late 18th century.

Romance of Louisiana

Romance of Louisiana

A short historical drama about the Louisiana Purchase.

First Comes Courage

First Comes Courage

Merle Oberon plays a Norwegian resistance figure in a small town, married to a Nazi commandant. When his superiors begin to suspect her, the Allies land an assassin to kill him -- an assassin who happens to be her former lover.

The Dawn Trail

The Dawn Trail

Dissension arises between cattlemen in Osage County, Texas, and sheepherders who have settled there and use the same watering stream. Mart Dalton, son of a wealthy cattleman, quarrels with and kills one of the settlers, thus placing sheriff Larry Williams in a delicate position; for he is Mart's best friend and is engaged to Mart's sister June. However, sworn to do his duty, he arrests Mart, incensing the cattlemen, who help Mart escape, leaving Larry wounded.

Haunted Gold

Haunted Gold

John Mason returns to the Sally Ann mine to claim his half share. Janet Cater also returns although her father lost his half share to Joe Ryan. Ryan and his gang are also there to get the gold. A mysterious Phantom is also present. Mason's plan to expose Ryan as an outlaw and to force him to turn his share to Janet works. But when distracted by the Phantom, John is made a prisoner by the gang.

Fleetwing

Fleetwing

Capturing a beautiful horse and slave girl, Thurya young Arab Jaafor’s happiness is short lived when the girl is sold to a cruel sheik. Sneaking into the encampment he attempts escape with her on horseback but is captured. The attack of an enemy tribe saves him, the sheik is slain, and the young Jaafor’s tribe celebrates his nuptials with Thurya.

Salvation Jane

Salvation Jane

An ambitious tenement girl forced into a life of crime has a change of heart when her victim tries to kill himself.

The Man Without a Country

The Man Without a Country

This short film tells the story of a disgraced U.S. army officer who is charged with treason. At his court martial he is sentenced to lifetime exile aboard American ships at sea, no crew member can mention anything about the United States within his hearing, and in the books he is allowed to read all references to the United States are removed.

Oklahoma Outlaws

Oklahoma Outlaws

In this short western, a gang of outlaws plots to gain control of the town of Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Trifles of Importance

Trifles of Importance

Part of John Nesbitt's Passing Parade series, this short shows how three seemingly unimportant things can affect people. The first is how the number 7 affects a student accused of theft charges. The second segment shows that a person's doodles can reveal personality traits. The final segment shows why certain items are on men's suits, such as lapels.

The Man in the Barn

The Man in the Barn

After John Wilkes Booth assassinated President Abraham Lincoln, he escaped to Maryland and was discovered hiding in a barn. After he refused to surrender, the barn was set afire and Booth died in the blaze. However, in 1903 a Mr. David E. George, while on his deathbed in Enid, Oklahoma, claimed to be John Wilkes Booth. This MGM An Historical Mystery series short presents evidence of the possibility that Mr. George's claim was true.

What's Buzzin', Cousin?

What's Buzzin', Cousin?

Musicians help a woman (Ann Miller) and her friends make some money with a ghost-town hotel.

The Girl from Chicago

The Girl from Chicago

Mary Carlton, who lives with her invalid father on a cotton plantation, receives a letter from Bob, her brother, in New York, stating that he faces death in the electric chair for a crime of which he claims to be innocent. Determined to save him, she goes there, learns of his association with an underworld gang, and begins to suspect Handsome Joe of a connection with the crime.

Sally of the Sawdust

Sally of the Sawdust

Judge Foster throws his daughter out because she married a circus man. She leaves her baby girl with Professor McGargle before she dies. Years later Sally is a dancer with whom Peyton, a son of Judge Foster's friend, falls in love. When Sally is arrested McGargle proves her real parentage.

Lincoln in the White House

Lincoln in the White House

This short chronicles Abraham Lincoln's presidency from his inauguration through delivery of the Gettysburg Address.

Arizona Trail

Arizona Trail

A young cowboy returns home to help his father fight off a gang trying to take over the family ranch.

The Heart of Maryland

The Heart of Maryland

At the outbreak of the War Between the States, Maryland Calvert is loved by Maj. Alan Kendrick, son of a Virginia general, and Capt. Fulton Thorpe. Nancy, whom Thorpe has loved unwisely, follows him to Washington and commits suicide when she learns he will not marry her; as a result, Alan is forced to request his resignation. When Fort Sumter is fired upon, Alan, who admires Lincoln's principles, joins the Union Army though his father is among the Secessionist leaders; as a result, he is estranged from Maryland. Thorpe, who has joined the Co...

The Fighting Code

The Fighting Code

The death of a young woman's father puts a cowboy on the trail of a killer.