Film vs Film
Select two cult films to compare side by side.
The Flying Mail Synopsis
Following a party, Sherry Gillespie, a U.S. Mail flyer, awakens to find himself in a strange apartment and is shown evidence by Cleo Roberts that they were married the previous evening. Bart Sheldon, a crook, plots with an associate to pilot Sherry's plane and cautions Cleo not to let the pilot escape. When Sherry escapes and returns to the flying field, he is suspended, then estranged from Alice, his fiancée, by the appearance of Cleo, who is scheming with Sheldon to obtain part of an inheritance that Sherry is to receive if he earns $10,000 in a year. Following a series of fast complications, Sherry tracks down the gang: swinging from a motorcycle to a rope ladder, he mounts a plane, encounters the robber's plane, and fights with the villains. He and Sheldon parachute to the ground, and Sherry is finally vindicated in the eyes of his girl and his employer.
Squabs and Squabbles Synopsis
Paradise Alley is a street in a tough neighborhood in which every inhabitant has a grudge against every other one. Consequently the street is a constant battle field. Ruler of the street is the Big Boss. His slumbers are disturbed by the tumult and he appears at the door of his house and yells an order. Instantly the street is cleared. The Boss then goes to a beanery where a beautiful girl presides over the cash register. Around the corner a cop sleeps undisturbed by the constant fighting. As the Boss disappears, the combatants resume their fight. A "man of Mystery" gets in the way of several thrown vegetables and determines to stop the fracas as the Boss did. He goes to the restaurant, borrows the Boss' hat and goes out on the street. He is mistaken for the Boss and the fighters again disappear. The man of mystery then returns the hat, steals the Boss' cigar and disappears. Two or three harmless urchins come forth and play craps. The cop wakes up, seizes them, calls the patrol wagon and the urchins are hustled off to the lock-up. At the far end of the street is a mission. James, our hero is one of the congregation. He sits with wide-staring eyes. The minister gets nervous under his gaze and others the congregation grow restive. It is finally discovered that James has painted the eyes on his eyelids, thus enabling him to appear awake, while he is really sound asleep. He wakes up and in walking out, steals the poor-box. Outside he finds the Boss beating two crooks for stealing. James hurries back and replaces the poor-box. The pretty cashier sees this and extends her sympathy. A fat man is thrown out of the beanery. James and the man of mystery get into his clothes and go in to eat. James hides inside the suit and the man of mystery feeds him. The ruse is discovered and James is put to work in the kitchen. He manages to almost wreck the place. The Boss conspires with the mystery man to rob the restaurant. The Boss passes out the money from the cash register, but James accidentally gets it. The proprietor discovers the loss and pursues the man of mystery. James is required to still the noise of a German street band. He proves a target for all the vegetables thrown at the band. He acquires a soldier's uniform and puts them all to rout. He also helps regain the stolen money of the proprietor and thus proves himself a hit with the girl.
"The Flying Mail" holds a slight edge in general audience appreciation, but "Squabs and Squabbles" offers its own unique cult appeal.
Suggested Watch:
The Flying Mail