Film vs Film
Select two cult films to compare side by side.
The Desired Woman Synopsis
Richard Mostyn, a dishonest New York stockbroker, vacations in the Tennessee hills, where he meets Dolly Drake, a charming schoolteacher. The two fall in love, and Richard returns to New York, intending to wrap up his business affairs and then begin a new life with Dolly in the country. Eventually, however, he forgets about Dolly and marries Irene Mitchell, a society woman. The marriage is unhappy, and Richard finds pleasure only in the companionship of his little son Dick until the child dies on the operating table. After Irene leaves him for her former lover, Richard returns to Tennessee hoping that Dolly will marry him, but she confesses that she now loves his business partner. Having lost everything, Richard finds solace in religion and becomes an evangelist.
The Hawk Synopsis
The Hawk, Count George De Dazetta, preys upon society with the aid of his beautiful wife. She seems to be in love with a young French nobleman, who is the real aggressor in this triangle. De Dazetta finds that the young nobleman's love for his wife is changing her for the better, that she begins to abhor his gambling profession and his inroads upon society. However, he continues to use her beauty as a lure to his gaming tables and wins heavily. In the meantime the nobleman breaks with a young woman aristocrat whom his mother wishes him to wed. During a transaction with an American from whom he borrows money to repay his gaming losses to De Dazetta the nobleman learns of the Hawk's love for his wife, and that she is helping her husband to win. Marina, the wife, washes her hands of the whole earning enterprise and is accused of infidelity by her husband, who tried to kill the nobleman. Failing, he leaves, and the nobleman protects the wife while attempting to locate the gambler and get his consent to a divorce. Finally this is effected, and Marina herself pleads for the divorce, that is until she learns that De Dazetta is now penniless, having lavished his every cent upon her and really loves her, and has consented to give her up only because he thinks it best for her future welfare. Her womanhood comes to the surface and she goes to him, renouncing the nobleman, her love for the latter having been without sin throughout.
"The Desired Woman" holds a slight edge in general audience appreciation, but "The Hawk" offers its own unique cult appeal.
Suggested Watch:
The Desired Woman