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Select two cult films to compare side by side.
The Chaperon Synopsis
Jim Ogden, secretly engaged to Madge Hemmingway, wealthy heiress, becomes sensitive over his lack of money and breaks the engagement. In a moment of pique she marries Count Van Tuyle. After six months she returns from Europe, minus her husband. Trying to forget her error, she goes to the country. Richard Coombs is the nearest neighbor of Madge's aunt, and he finds it necessary for his wife and himself to hasten to the city. A chaperon is needed immediately for their four daughters. By necessity they are forced to take Madge, who is still the runaway Countess Van Tuyle. Jim Ogden is on a canoe trip through the lakes and stops at the Coombs camp. This is the crowning embarrassment for the chaperon. Up to the time the cook, butler and chauffeur have quit and each one of the girls has opened a summer flirtation. However, Ogden persuades Madge to take a canoe ride. Their craft strikes a rock and the two are marooned on a little barren Island. Meanwhile the Count has followed his wife to America and with Madge's mother arrives at the camp. Becoming suspicious, he goes up the lake the next morning and finds his wife with Ogden. Madge escapes in his boat and leaves the two men to fight it out. Mrs. Coombs returns to find her four daughters engaged, the chaperon a sorry sight after her night on the lake and half of her servants gone. However, Mrs. Hemmingway solves everything and promises that she will effect a settlement with the Count to enable her daughter to marry Ogden.
Young Mother Hubbard Synopsis
Forced by the death of her mother to care for her three brothers and sisters, little Mona Fairfax is known to farmers of her district as Young Mother Hubbard. The children's step-father, heavily in debt and tired of the burden imposed by the little family, abandons his farm, leaving the children, penniless, to shift for themselves. The following day Daniel Banning, a wealthy "country gentleman" and owner of the Fairfax farm, calls to collect back rent. He finds Mona and her children panic-stricken over a note left by their step-father, telling of his decision to leave. Banning turns a deaf ear to Mona's pleas that she be allowed to remain on the farm with her wards. He notifies the Children's Welfare Society. Directors of the society go to the farm, load them into an automobile, and take them to the society's headquarters. At headquarters the chairman calls for volunteers to take the children into their homes. A square-jawed woman, a miserly old man, a brutal fellow, with bull-dog features, and a ponderous, harsh, mannish looking women, each agree to take a child. When it dawns upon Mona and her brothers and sisters that they are to be separated they break into tears and beg piteously to be allowed to remain together. Their pleas are ignored. Finally Mona begs that they be allowed to spend a last night together on the Fairfax farm. The request finally is granted. That night Mona hitches the family horse to a rickety old wagon and the children set out to escape. They fall asleep and the horse stops near Banning's house. The housekeeper takes them in during the master's absence. When Banning returns he is furious. Mona offers him a wisp of flowers, which he scorns. Finally, however, the child's smile wins his heart and he cuddles her. Later when agents of the welfare society try to take the children, Banning drives them from his place, declaring he will adopt Young Mother Hubbard and her entire family.
"Young Mother Hubbard" is currently leading in ratings, making it a stronger choice for newcomers to the genre.
Suggested Watch:
The Chaperon