Film vs Film
Select two cult films to compare side by side.
Espionnage ou la guerre sans armes Synopsis
Romanticized story of Louise de Bettignies (1880-1918), a French spy and heroin of the First World War. In October 1914, in occupied Roubaix, Geneviève de Vandeville manages to deliver mail in secret to the still free zone. She is soon contacted by the Intelligence Service who asks her to lead a team of spies. Responsible for delivering intelligence about German troops to the French and British, she enlists the help of Maria, a young girl who becomes her friend. One day, Maria and her lover Charles ask Geneviève to plan their escape into Holland. This mission will prove fatal for Geneviève. She is detected by the German counterespionage, arrested, and imprisoned in Brussels. She becomes sick and dies in prison before the war ends. Some time later, Maria and Charles pay their respects to the monument in effigy of Louise de Bettignies.
Man's Plaything Synopsis
While working as a flower girl in Devlin Maddox's nightclub, Nellie Vaughan meets wealthy young Pelton Van Teel and falls in love. Maddox, desirous of using Nellie to blackmail Van Teel, spreads a rumor that she is his mistress. This makes Nellie uncomfortable, and she demands that Van Teel marry her immediately, to which he agrees. Meanwhile, Van Teel has been losing money gambling to Maddox, who threatens to break up the marriage by producing a worthless check that the young husband has written. Venturing to Maddox's apartment for a showdown, Nellie pulls a gun and demands the check, accidentally shooting Maddox when he throws a lamp at her. Maddox plans to charge Nellie with assault, but when the police arrive, his butler, actually a detective employed by the elder Van Teel, exposes Maddox, who is then arrested, clearing the path for the couple's happiness.
"Espionnage ou la guerre sans armes" holds a slight edge in general audience appreciation, but "Man's Plaything" offers its own unique cult appeal.
Suggested Watch:
Espionnage ou la guerre sans armesBoth films share