Film vs Film
Select two cult films to compare side by side.
Hamburg Synopsis
Germany, 1923. Economic ruin, hunger and strikes. Workers called to fight by the communist Nils Unger seize an arsenal of weapons and turn each building into a fortress. The Social Democrat Busch does not fulfill Unger's order to blow up the bridge across the Elbe, and the Reichswehr troops enter the city. The massacre begins. Nils Unger is arrested. Busch, tied to the enemy's helper Dr. Mays, betrays the rebels under interrogation. The rebels face the trial. To avoid political publicity during the trial, Nils Unger is declared insane, but he manages to escape. And again one can hear his call "Keep the rifles!" on the streets of Hamburg.
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.
"Hamburg" holds a slight edge in general audience appreciation, but "Man's Plaything" offers its own unique cult appeal.
Suggested Watch:
HamburgBoth films share