Film vs Film
Select two cult films to compare side by side.
Greed Synopsis
Eve Leslie and Adam Moore become interested in the stock market. Eve decides to try to add to her fortunes by plunging. Tempted by the sin of greed, Eve becomes reckless. At first she wins, then she begins to lose, and desperately tries to recover her losses. She meets Alma, who formerly was a party to illegal stock transactions, but who is now living an honorable life. Alma is discovered by Denton, who formerly was connected and who knows her history. Denton is wanted by the police. He blackmails Alma. Eve and Adam become involved with their friend, Alma, who hates Denton. Denton wants her to marry him and after she refuses, finally turns to Eve. Denton gives a sensational party, during which the men, as a stunt, put aside all their money and choose partners. Each couple is given a dime and told to go out into the city, spend it as adventurously as possible and return to tell their experiences. Eve is paired with Denton and Alma with Adam. The novel plan develops exciting incidents. Denton traps Eve. Alma and Adam return to rescue her. In the excitement, Denton is killed and Alma is wounded so that she loses her mind. Adam is arrested. Alma is the only person who saw the crime committed, but she is unable to testify. Adam is sentenced to death. In the denouement, after Adam seems to have been proved guilty, his life is saved and he returns to Eve, who forever is cured of the sin of greed.
The Cave Man Synopsis
Realizing the folly and superficiality of society, Madeline Mischief, in the spirit of a wager, claims she could choose at random any man from the streets and make of him in a very short time a leader of society. Her friends laugh at her, but she determines to prove her contention and places one-half of a $100 bill in an envelope with a note reading: "If the finder of this is a woman, give it to the nearest man; if a man, call at Room 1798, Clarion Hotel, at once, for the other half of enclosed bill." Hanlick Smagg, a burly coal-heaver, finds the envelope and, after some hesitation, goes into the fashionable apartment house, still carrying his shovel. Then follow many amusing Incidents of Hanlick's introduction to society as a sociologist, for, although Hanlick proves very tractable, he is like a bull in a china shop. However, a barber, haberdasher and the necessary accoutrements of a gentleman convert Smagg into a very passable type, but his temporary breaks are only put down as eccentricity, for is he not studying the life of the "submerged tenth"? When he passes upon a painting, all listen breathlessly, and under Madeline's coaching he soon becomes a social lion. But the inevitable follows. Hanlick falls in love with Madeline, and Dolly Van Dream, her friend, falls in love with him. But Hanlick breaks up threatened complications by reverting to the old type and going back to the "submerged tenth," and coal-heaving. Finally he gets a job at the steel works, turns out a valuable invention and gains a fortune. Now a genuine man of the world, he once more meets Madeline, who has never forgotten him, and the joyful outcome is that he elopes with her, without opposition in the old caveman fashion and romantic way.
"Greed" holds a slight edge in general audience appreciation, but "The Cave Man" offers its own unique cult appeal.
Suggested Watch:
Greed