Film vs Film
Select two cult films to compare side by side.
The Lure of the Wild Synopsis
Jim Belmont, believing that his wife has committed adultery with Gordon Daniels, takes his small daughter, Cuddles, and heads for the Canadian wilderness. Daniels then pays Murdock to murder Jim; after Jim's death, Shep, Jim's faithful dog, assumes responsibility for the child, going to Poleon Dufresne, a trapper, for help. Poleon takes in the dog and the little girl and sends for Agnes Belmont, who quickly hurries to her child's side. Daniels follows Agnes (who, in fact, has been faithful to both the person and the memory of her husband) and attempts to kill her. Shep saves her life and drives Daniels off a cliff to his death. Agnes and Dufresne wed, providing a happy home for Shep and Cuddles.
Man's Plaything Synopsis
While working as a flower girl in Devlin Maddox's nightclub, Nellie Vaughan meets wealthy young Pelton Van Teel and falls in love. Maddox, desirous of using Nellie to blackmail Van Teel, spreads a rumor that she is his mistress. This makes Nellie uncomfortable, and she demands that Van Teel marry her immediately, to which he agrees. Meanwhile, Van Teel has been losing money gambling to Maddox, who threatens to break up the marriage by producing a worthless check that the young husband has written. Venturing to Maddox's apartment for a showdown, Nellie pulls a gun and demands the check, accidentally shooting Maddox when he throws a lamp at her. Maddox plans to charge Nellie with assault, but when the police arrive, his butler, actually a detective employed by the elder Van Teel, exposes Maddox, who is then arrested, clearing the path for the couple's happiness.
"The Lure of the Wild" holds a slight edge in general audience appreciation, but "Man's Plaything" offers its own unique cult appeal.
Suggested Watch:
The Lure of the WildBoth films share