Film vs Film
Select two cult films to compare side by side.
It Pays to Advertise Synopsis
Wealthy Cyrus Martin, known as "the soap king," cannot induce his pleasure-seeking son Rodney to work, he arranges for his pretty stenographer, Mary Grayson, to attract Rodney so that he will have to work to be able to court her. When Mary and Rodney fall in love and decide to marry, however, Cyrus angrily disinherits Rodney. With Mary and Ambrose Peale, a theatrical agent, Rodney opens a business and begins to advertise without a product. After he buys his father's soap and successfully packages it with his own label, Cyrus tries to buy out the company for $50,000, but he cancels the deal when he discovers that the soap came from his own factories. Meanwhile, Rodney, not knowing of the cancellation, has written a $25,000 check. To protect him, Cyrus secretly has a Marshall Field department store representative give Rodney a phony order, but when the soap sells well because of Rodney's advertising, and the store places more orders, Cyrus deals with Rodney, who now marries Mary.
A Roadside Impresario Synopsis
Giuseppe Franchini lives with his little daughter Francesca and pet bear Bruno on the Italian coast. One day, Giuseppe sees a shipwrecked man offshore and swims to his rescue, but in doing so, he is carried out to sea. Upon his return, he finds that his wife has died of shock at the news of his drowning, and the stranger has taken away the little girl. Years later, Giuseppe travels to America with Bruno where they are arrested for invading an apiary on the Vandergrift estate. Giuseppe is befriended by Vandergrift's daughter Adelaide, but Bruno is sent to jail for his crimes. To pay Bruno's fine, Giuseppe takes a job in a roadhouse owned by John Slade. Here, he learns of Slade's plans to smear Adelaide's fiancé, Craig Winton, the reform candidate for mayor. Giuseppe presents proof of Slade's corruption to Adelaide, who turns it over to her father. When Giuseppe meets Vandergrift, he recognizes him as the man he rescued, but, realizing that Adelaide is happy in her life, he leaves town without letting her know that he is her real father.
"It Pays to Advertise" holds a slight edge in general audience appreciation, but "A Roadside Impresario" offers its own unique cult appeal.
Suggested Watch:
It Pays to Advertise