Film vs Film
Select two cult films to compare side by side.
Mike Synopsis
Mike, the daughter of a railroad section boss, lives with her father and three other children in a remodeled boxcar attached to a railroad work train. Harlan, a section hand, saves the life of one of the children and invites Mike to a village dance, first telling her that he once was a telegrapher but was discharged for allowing the Transcontinental Limited to go through an open switch. Slinky and his gang plot to hold up the mail train, and Mike learns of their plans. They lock her in a boxcar and set it in motion. Harlan rescues her and then wires the nearest government station for help. With the aid of precision bombing by Marine aviators, Mike and Harlan bring Slinky and his gang to justice. Harlan is reinstated in his former job and marries Mike.
The Bottle Imp Synopsis
Lopaka, a poor Hawaiian fisherman, falls in love with Kokua, a young girl of royal blood. Her irascible father refuses her hand until Lopaka can bring him two feather cloaks, an impossible stipulation, as no one not of royal blood can touch a cloak under penalty of death. Rollis, a drunken sailor, tries to steal the girl, but is driven away by Lopaka. He then concludes to go to Devil's Mountain and snare the bird from which the feathers for the cloaks are obtained. He goes to the volcano but finds no bird. He encounters an old dying priest of Pele, who agrees to give him a wishing bottle in which Kono, a brother of Pele, is confined. Kono will grant any wish to the bottle's owner, but anyone dying with the bottle in his possession will go to hell and the bottle must be sold for less than paid for it, otherwise it will come back with its menace. Lopaka wishes for wealth and servants and his humble hut turns into a beautiful palace. Kokua and her father join the crowd in front of the palace and the father readily gives her in marriage to Lopaka. Lopaka sells the bottle to his friend, Makale, but angers the Bottle Imp and is stricken with leprosy so that he cannot marry. He finds Makale has sold the bottle and it passes through many hands, but he is unable to secure it again. Each time the bottle is sold for less, being sold for the smallest coin. Rollins gains possession of the bottle and is about to steal Kokua when Lopaka rushes to her aid and the two men fight and fall from a high cliff into the sea, where Lopaka strangles the sailor. With the death of Rollins, the last owner of the bottle, the Imp is freed and goes back to his mountain and the dead volcano gushes forth lava and flames. The gorgeous raiment of Lopaka and Kokua fade into their old rags; the wonderful palace vanishes, but the two are happy together in the fisherman's little hut.
"Mike" holds a slight edge in general audience appreciation, but "The Bottle Imp" offers its own unique cult appeal.
Suggested Watch:
Mike