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Select two cult films to compare side by side.
McKenna of the Mounted Synopsis
One of Columbia's favorite and most-recycled plots involving a "disgraced" lawman crossing the border to clear his name which on five occasions (twice previously with Jones) involved a Texas Ranger crossing the Mexican border to accomplish his goal, but this one and two other versions with Charles Starrett and later with Russell Hayden (who also had a Ranger version), has the lead as a Mountie turned bad to join the gang and stays on his side of the border. This one has the Northwest Mounties at Elkhorn failing to catch the perpetrators of a series of robberies, and catching much heat from a citizens band of vigilantes headed by Morgan. After being discharged from the service for robbing a rancher, Sergeant Tom McKenna ups and robs the Elkhorn bank, and is followed by Pierre, a member of the gang, who takes him to the outlaws' hideout as a new gang member. The robberies and drummed-from-the-service discharge were part of a plan to capture the gang and its secret leader, who is always the head of the vigilance committee protesting the loudest against the inability of the sometime Mounties and more-often Rangers to do their job.
Blackmail Synopsis
Confidence artist Flossie Golden attempts to fleece foolish but wealthy James Venable with a breach-of-promise suit. Venable's shrewd attorney, Richard Harding, outwits Flossie by proposing that she marry Venable and live on an allowance of $3,000 per year. Flossie is determined to get even with Harding for ruining her plans. In an attempt to con him, she poses as Innocence Page, but falls in love and marries him instead. Larry, Flossie's former accomplice, endeavors to blackmail her with her errant past, but Harding is already cognizant of the facts and Larry fails.
"McKenna of the Mounted" holds a slight edge in general audience appreciation, but "Blackmail" offers its own unique cult appeal.
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McKenna of the MountedBoth films share