Film vs Film
Select two cult films to compare side by side.
A Fool and His Money Synopsis
John Smart (William Haines), a hack writer, inherits a fortune from a distant relative and buys a castle in Laupheim. He pursues what appears to be a ghost of a beautiful woman but he learns that the so-called ghost is the estranged wife, Countess von Pless (Madge Bellamy), of the castle's previous owner, the cruel Count von Pless (Stuart Holmes). A romance blossoms despite the efforts of Count von Pless to convict Smart of obstructing justice.
The Great Shadow Synopsis
Jim McDonald, the foreman of a shipbuilding plant and head of the labor union, strives to combat the anarchistic propaganda being put forth by Klimoff, the leader of a Bolshevik gang whose goal is to disrupt the country with strikes and anarchy. Despite McDonald's efforts, a strike is called, resulting in chaos. McDonald's child is knocked down by runaway horses abandoned by their striking driver, and dies. Mob scenes take place in America, as well as in Russia. Eventually, the unrest is quelled with an armistice called between Capital and Labor for a year, during which time wages are to be increased to reflect the cost of living, and leaders are to work out a common plan for their mutual advantage. The strikers now realize that they have been pawns of the Bolsheviks and call off the strike, agreeing to the plan.
"A Fool and His Money" holds a slight edge in general audience appreciation, but "The Great Shadow" offers its own unique cult appeal.
Suggested Watch:
A Fool and His MoneyBoth films share