Film vs Film
Select two cult films to compare side by side.
Nan of Music Mountain Synopsis
Henry de Spain, a young mountaineer of about twenty-eight, is made general manager of the Thief River Stage Line because he has nerve and can shoot. It is understood that he is to "clean up" the gang of outlaws in Morgan Gap, led by Duke Morgan, with whose pretty niece, Nan, de Spain is in love. Sassoon starts the trouble by a knifing, but de Spain catches him. The laugh is soon turned, though, for Sassoon escapes and soon after de Spain himself is wounded in a fight with about seven of the Morgan gang. He is severely wounded and falls from the horse. The horse runs away, and de Spain is left there unconscious. He is finally discovered by Nan, who cannot forget her resentment even when she sees that he is half dead. Later she learns the true story of his attack by her relatives and from his own lips the reason of his being a gunman. This was that his father was shot in the back by one of the mountaineers and soon after his mother had died from the effects of the shock, leaving him with a birthmark to commemorate his father's tragic death. Nan is won over to his side the more easily that she is already half in love with the handsome gunman. A few days later she helps him escape. Afterwards, although he takes every opportunity for seeing her, they seldom meet and her uncle very nearly succeeds in marrying her to her worthless cousin, Gale Morgan. Duke Morgan is thrown from his horse and seriously hurt. Nan comes to nurse him at the hospital, where de Spain has been since he was shot. De Spain leaves soon after her arrival, but comes to see her under the pretext of bringing supplies. It is while there that she at last surrenders to his pleading and consents to become formally "engaged." Gale learns of the affair and tells Duke. Nan is forced to confess her love for de Spain and her uncle tells her that she will never marry him. Gale wins old Duke's permission to marry Nan and the girl is kept a prisoner in her room until she will consent to marrying her cousin. One night de Spain gets the following message: "Take me away from here as soon as you can." He knows it is from Nan. He rides to the Morgan ranch, and overhears Duke and Gale planning Nan's marriage. He reveals himself and holds the men at bay while he and Nan, who has appeared, escape. Sassoon, a bad man, nearly kills de Spain, but the latter manages to get a successful shot at his enemy and they reach town, where he takes Nan to the home of one of his friends. Henry de Spain learns that old Duke Morgan was the one who killed his father. Nan, broken-hearted, starts back to her uncle to learn the truth. She tries to bring him to de Spain, but they are caught in a blizzard, and only saved by de Spain just as they are about to succumb. Duke tells de Spain that he and Sassoon both shot at his father, but that they never knew which shot proved fatal, and they learned, to their horror soon after, that de Spain was not the man they were after, who had killed a member of their clan. There is a make-shift wedding ceremony performed right there in the snow, for old Duke gives in at last to the lovers, but later at the settlement there is a more elaborate wedding, which serves to unite the two enemy factions.
The Invisible Power Synopsis
Major Dean's developed mental powers have enabled him to give demonstrations in thought-suggestion. Interested in character types, the major, who is an army surgeon, visits a notorious dance hall owned by Lorenzo. The surgeon is struck by the beauty of Mabel, one of the dance hall girls. Mabel lives in deadly fear of Lorenzo. Due to the interest he takes in her Major Dean again demonstrates his wonderful power of mental suggestion by causing the girl to lay down the glass she raised to her lips. Later, a fight is started in the dance hall. All lights are shot out. Mabel is stunned by a bullet. Seizing her in his arms, Major Dean takes her to his home. The following morning finds the girl still unconscious. Major Dean's diagnosis leads him to believe that due to the wound caused by the bullet, a pressure on certain brain cells has wiped all memory of the past from Mabel's mind. Realizing that despite her condition, the girl's subconscious mind is capable o£ registering impressions, the surgeon forces upon Mabel's mind the thought she is, and always has been, his daughter. The girl is possessed of this belief when she recovers. She later accompanies Major Dean to the western army post to which he has been assigned. Sergeant Whitney, an old soldier, is stationed at the post. The man is struck by the wonderful resemblance which Mabel bears to his daughter who, several years previous, had been enticed from her home by a gambler. Although Whitney has never seen the man, he has vowed to find and kill him. Meanwhile, Lorenzo learns what has become of his former victim. Resolved to regain her, he leaves for the west. Arriving at the army post, Lorenzo demands that Dean surrender Mabel. Knowing the girl will not recognize the man, the surgeon allows her to comfort him. Mabel shrinks from Lorenzo in repulsion. Suspecting the truth, Lorenzo later waylays his former victim while she is out riding and endeavors to revive in her mind the memory of her life with him. At the same instant, Major Dean is obsessed by a sense of impending danger. The surgeon gazes out of the window through a pair of field glasses. He discovers Lorenzo talking to Mabel. Aware of the man's nefarious scheme, Major Dean concentrates his powerful will in an effort to so influence Mabel's mind as to enable her to withstand Lorenzo's hypnotic influence. The girl, who had been wavering, receives the message emanating from the major's mind. It causes her to shrink from her former master with the assertion she has no recollection of the incidents he has mentioned. The opportune arrival of Sergeant Whitney prevents Lorenzo from seizing Mabel and carrying her away. That night, Lieutenant Sibley, a young army officer who has fallen in love with Mabel, asks the major for her hand. Feeling it to be his duty, Dean informs Sibley of the girl's past. The surgeon declares it is his belief that Mabel is the daughter of Sergeant Whitney, and that Lorenzo is the man who enticed her from home. So great is his love, that Sibley vows to marry Mabel in spite of what has happened. Unknown to the two, Whitney has overheard the story. Mad with hate, he seeks Lorenzo. Unaware of his impending doom, Lorenzo resolves to make one supreme effort to regain Mabel. Seated by his window, the man fixes his mind upon Mabel with every ounce of power he possesses. Although fast asleep, the girl's mind receives the command sent forth by her former master. As though in a trance, she dons her clothes. Again the sense of danger overcomes Major Dean. He hastens towards Mabel's room. Just at this instant, Whitney enters Lorenzo's room. The rage-maddened father engages the gambler in a death struggle. While this combat rages, Mabel stands as though petrified. Securing possession of Whitney's revolver, Lorenzo shoots, wounding the old soldier mortally. Although he has received his death wound, Whitney's consuming hatred gives him strength to continue the struggle. A sudden twist, and the sergeant secures a vise-like grip on Lorenzo's throat. He forces the man back towards the bed. Mabel awakens with a start. In answer to Major Dean's anxious query, she replies that a bad dream had caused her to walk in her sleep. In Lorenzo's room, Whitney draws back from the silent form on the bed. The soldier attempts to reach the door, but his strength fails. The man staggers and crumples to the floor.
"Nan of Music Mountain" holds a slight edge in general audience appreciation, but "The Invisible Power" offers its own unique cult appeal.
Suggested Watch:
Nan of Music Mountain