Film vs Film
Select two cult films to compare side by side.
A Man's Man Synopsis
John Stuart Webster having prospecting in Death Valley prosperously, boards a train for Denver and rescues Dolores Ruey, a beautiful Central American girl who was reared in the United States, from a masher. Webster learns that his pal Billy Geary has discovered gold in Sobrante, Central America. He leaves to help, but develops ptomaine poisoning on the way. After recovering in New Orleans, Webster saves a man from being killed in a park. Later, the man, Ricardo Ruey, hides in Webster's steamer room and relates that his father, the former president of Sobrante, was assassinated by the present ruler, Sarros. In Sobrante, Webster finds that Geary is in love with Dolores, who arrived earlier. After sending Geary to marry Dolores while he develops the mine, Webster learns that Dolores is Ricardo's sister, although neither knows this. While fighting for the victorious Ricardo, who becomes president, Webster is wounded. He recovers to find Dolores nursing him, and when she says that she does not love Geary, he confesses his love and soon plans are made to marry.
The Only Son Synopsis
Thomas Brainerd, Sr., as a prospector, is a dutiful and loving husband and father. Two children, Gertrude and Thomas, Jr., are born while the Brainerds live in a log cabin in the mountains. Brainerd strikes gold, goes to New York, where he becomes a financial power. He neglects his wife, devotes every moment of his time to his growing industries, simply supplies funds to his family, and his wife, alone and melancholy, is fascinated by an artist and consents to "sit" for a painting. Feeling her neglect keenly, Mrs. Brainerd becomes a victim to the wiles of the artist, who, however, is killed by the husband of a former victim before the affair has progressed too far. Brainerd, learning of his wife's affair with the artist, orders her from the house. Thomas, Jr. sides with and accompanies his mother. Heretofore a worthless spendthrift, Thomas now becomes ambitious and joins interest with a penniless inventor, goes west, establishes a factory, makes a go of it, sells out to his father at an enormous advance, convinces his father that his mother is innocent and, as he transfers the invention to his father's firm, sees his mother in his father's arms, which example he immediately follows by proposing to the girl he has always loved.
"A Man's Man" holds a slight edge in general audience appreciation, but "The Only Son" offers its own unique cult appeal.
Suggested Watch:
A Man's Man