Film vs Film
Select two cult films to compare side by side.
Man's Desire Synopsis
Tom Denton comes from the East to the Northwest lumber region and becomes co-owner of a lumber camp with Howard Patton, whose bored wife Vera insists on flirting with Tom despite his discouragement. After the partners break because of Patton's suspicions, Tom, as sole owner, declares that his lumberjacks must refrain from drinking liquor. When Tom discharges Slim Dorgan for drinking, Slim visits illicit whiskey dealer Bull Larkin, and they plan to dynamite Tom's sawmill. Bull's abused wife Mary, who married him to fulfill her father's dying wish, warns Tom, but the explosion goes off early and kills Tom's brother and Slim. After Bull exchanges clothes with Slim to escape, Tom and Mary wed and move to another territory. Later, Bull arrives wounded, but Tom does not know him and Mary, pregnant, is afraid to reveal Bull's identity. After they care for him, Bull shoots Tom. Bull forcibly takes Mary to a dance hall near Mexico, but Tom recovers, follows them, shoots Bull and reclaims Mary.
Nina, the Flower Girl Synopsis
Nina, a blind girl, lives with her grandmother, who has taught her to make artificial flowers, which she sells at a flower-stand. Nina, and Jimmie, a crippled newsboy who sells papers on the same corner, are sweethearts. Nina's grandmother dies, and she turns to Jimmie. One day Jimmie has a fight with another newsboy, whom he thinks is hanging about Nina's stand too much, and the other boy is soon begging for mercy. Miss Fifi Chandler, an artist, happens to be passing, and becoming interested, she accompanies Nina and Jimmie to their rooms, and is surprised to find that Jimmie is an artist, having made a beautiful plaster cast of Nina. Fifi brings Jimmie and his protégé to the notice of her fellow artist, Fred Townsend, who falls in love with Nina. Fred has a great specialist examine Nina's eyes, and assured that an operation would restore her sight, takes her to his mother's home. Townsend tells the boy that the operation will be a success, and is amazed when Jimmie bursts forth in a torrent of words against his fate. Nina will know he is a cripple and not the straight, handsome youth she has pictured. He hurries from the house, and during the ensuing days, when Nina must stay in a darkened room, Jimmie cannot be found. The day comes when the bandages are removed and the operation is a success! That night, in the general hospital, the physician's attention is called to a crippled boy, who had tried to end his life by jumping in the river, but had been rescued. He recognizes Jimmie, hears his story, and a few days later an operation is performed and it becomes evident that he will go forth as straight as Nina's fancy had pictured him. Meantime Nina wonders why Jimmie does not come to see her, as she had not been told about the operation. At last he is brought to her, and Fred Townsend has his reward in watching the happiness of the two youthful lovers.
"Man's Desire" holds a slight edge in general audience appreciation, but "Nina, the Flower Girl" offers its own unique cult appeal.
Suggested Watch:
Man's Desire