Film vs Film
Select two cult films to compare side by side.
The Circus Ace Synopsis
Tom meets his fate when a balloon goes sailing over the ranch: seeing a girl jump with a parachute, he rides to her rescue. Later, during the circus parade, he rides to her assistance, rescuing her from an elephant and thus arousing the ire of the circus manager, whose henchmen begin to chase Tom. Scrambling over the main tent, Tom falls onto the tightrope and lands in a net with the girl while the crowd wildly applauds. Kirk Mallory, who is jealous of Tom's attentions to Millie, frames Tom for a murder; he lands in jail but escapes and reaches Mallory's ranch in time to rescue the girl and administer a thrashing to the villain.
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.
"The Circus Ace" holds a slight edge in general audience appreciation, but "The Great Shadow" offers its own unique cult appeal.
Suggested Watch:
The Circus AceBoth films share