Film vs Film
Select two cult films to compare side by side.
That Devil, Bateese Synopsis
After her romance with Martin Stuart shatters, Kathleen St. John leaves Montreal for the little village of Montrouge, where she plans to teach school. Kathleen loses her way between the station and the village and is attacked in the woods by the town bully, Louis Courteau. Seeing a pretty woman in distress, Bateese Latour, a warmhearted lumberjack whose drunken temper tantrums have earned him the sobriquet "That devil, Bateese," beats off her attacker. A short time later, Bateese falls in love with Kathleen, and promising to abandon his drinking, he carries her off and marries her. When Martin comes to Montrouge, however, Bateese becomes convinced that Kathleen still loves her former sweetheart and paddles away in his canoe, intending to let the falls carry him to his death. Louis's sister, a pathetic creature who is still clad in the wedding dress she wore when her groom deserted her, recognizes Martin as her long-lost lover, whereupon Kathleen rushes out to find Bateese. Hurt, but still alive on the bank below the waterfall, Bateese returns home with his wife.
By Right of Possession Synopsis
Kate Saxon inherits the Blue Goose mine in Colorado, and arrives as rioting miners battle a sheriff's posse. Once the disturbance has been quelled, Kate improves wages and working conditions. With the encouragement of old "Bells", the mining engineer, a friendship quickly develops between Sheriff Tom Baxter, a wealthy cattleman, and Kate. Consequently, when women suffragists urge Kate to run for sheriff, she is initially reluctant to oppose Tom, but finally accepts and wins the election. Tom decides to test Kate's mettle by leading her to believe that he bribed voters. His arrest convinces him that Kate is serious about her new job, and he admits that the story was false. Although Kate frees Tom, she does not forgive the lie. As she rides away, Tom follows her and they are caught in a cattle stampede after labor agitator Tremble dynamites the reservoir. They race for their lives, and when all danger has passed, Tom professes his love for Kate. She spurns him until old Bells finally brings about a reconciliation.
"That Devil, Bateese" holds a slight edge in general audience appreciation, but "By Right of Possession" offers its own unique cult appeal.
Suggested Watch:
That Devil, Bateese