Film vs Film
Select two cult films to compare side by side.
Rose of the Tenements Synopsis
Rose Rosetti, the orphaned daughter of a New York gangster, and Danny Lewis, another orphan, have been brought up by Sara and Abraham Kamisnsky, an elderly Jewish couple with an artificial-flower shop on the lower East Side. Rose works in the shop and Danny, after defeating the ward-bully in a fight, joins the political gang. The Kininskys die, having told Rose of her real parentage, and will the shop to Danny and Rose. Danny, saved from the gang by Rose, falls into the clutches of Willifsky, a Bolshevik agitator, and his co-worker, Emma Goldstein. Danny falls in love with Emma and she uses him for the "cause." When the war with Germany comes, Danny will not enlist into the army. Willifsky and Emma are attacked by a crowd while they are agitating and Danny, in helping them, assaults a policeman. He also prevents her from throwing a bomb, and, after Galligan, a ward-leader, gets him exonerated, decides to join the army.
The Great Shadow Synopsis
Jim McDonald, the foreman of a shipbuilding plant and head of the labor union, strives to combat the anarchistic propaganda being put forth by Klimoff, the leader of a Bolshevik gang whose goal is to disrupt the country with strikes and anarchy. Despite McDonald's efforts, a strike is called, resulting in chaos. McDonald's child is knocked down by runaway horses abandoned by their striking driver, and dies. Mob scenes take place in America, as well as in Russia. Eventually, the unrest is quelled with an armistice called between Capital and Labor for a year, during which time wages are to be increased to reflect the cost of living, and leaders are to work out a common plan for their mutual advantage. The strikers now realize that they have been pawns of the Bolsheviks and call off the strike, agreeing to the plan.
"Rose of the Tenements" holds a slight edge in general audience appreciation, but "The Great Shadow" offers its own unique cult appeal.
Suggested Watch:
Rose of the TenementsBoth films share