Film vs Film
Select two cult films to compare side by side.
Murder by an Aristocrat Synopsis
Bayard Thatcher is blackmailing the family into which he has married: He demands $25,000 by the next night or else he will tell about shady deals and family skeletons. That is the price the bully Bayard demands for leaving the family alone. At midnight, he is shot and Dr. Carick is called. He has Nurse Sally Keating take care of Bayard's superficial wound and watch over him. Later that night while he is out arguing with someone, a mysterious person steals the gun under his pillow. He is still alive in the morning and demands the money before nightfall, but he does not live long enough to claim it. Who did him in? Nurse Keating has some clues and a lot of questions.
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.
"Murder by an Aristocrat" holds a slight edge in general audience appreciation, but "Man's Plaything" offers its own unique cult appeal.
Suggested Watch:
Murder by an AristocratBoth films share