Film vs Film
Select two cult films to compare side by side.
The House Without Children Synopsis
Richard Walker longs for a son, but his wife Margaret argues for birth control. They live with Richard's sister Florence, Margaret's cousin Jim, and Richard's secretary Lawrence Branford, who is in love with Florence. After Richard and Jim leave for a year on an engineering project, Florence confesses to Margaret that she is pregnant with Jim's child. Margaret's recommendation of an abortion is unacceptable to Florence, so after the birth, Margaret passes the sickly child off as her own to protect Jim and Florence, and to please Richard, who is elated when he returns. After Jim learns that Florence is about to inherit a fortune, he proposes, but when she discovers the reason, she confesses that the child is theirs. Richard upbraids Margaret for being a "modern woman" whose aversion to motherhood is criminal. After Jack leaves and the baby dies, Richard, seeing that Margaret's maternal instinct has been sparked, forgives her, and Florence marries Lawrence.
Hidden Charms Synopsis
Jerry Burke is engaged to marry Mary Manning, the beautiful daughter of a wealthy old Irishman, but his father opposes the match and disowns him. Meanwhile, James Lacey, a successful but crooked politician, returns to Ireland and persuades the elder Manning to emigrate with Mary to the U.S. Jerry follows and finds work at a newspaper, but he is disheartened upon hearing that Mary plans to marry Lacey. While Mary prepares for the ceremony, her veil catches fire. A doctor claims that the accident has left Mary permanently deformed, whereupon Lacey cancels the wedding. Afterward, she reveals to Jerry that the fire was a pretext to prevent her marriage to Lacey, and the lovers are reunited.
"The House Without Children" holds a slight edge in general audience appreciation, but "Hidden Charms" offers its own unique cult appeal.
Suggested Watch:
The House Without Children