Film vs Film
Select two cult films to compare side by side.
The Man Above the Law Synopsis
Having been unlucky in love, Duke Chalmers renounces civilization and moves to New Mexico, where he establishes himself as an illicit whiskey trader. Although he does not really love her, Duke marries Natchah, a Navaho Indian, who bears him a daughter, Tonah. When Esther Brown arrives from the East and opens a school in the small New Mexican settlement, Duke denies Tonah permission to attend, but Esther refuses to abandon her interest in the child and soon grows to love her. Duke rescues Esther from a pair of drunken Mexicans, after which he falls in love with her. Esther, however, reminds him of his duty toward his wife and daughter, whereupon Duke closes his shop and takes his family to a new life in the Far West.
Fighting for Love Synopsis
In adjoining kingdoms rule Sylvia, beloved of her people, and Ferdinand, who is forced to exact homage from his subjects. He spends his life in riotous living. One day the two meet, and straightway Ferdinand decides that he will marry the queen, sending his prime minister with the proposal. But she refuses it. He delivers the ultimatum that unless she consents to his proposal within a certain space of time, he will declare war. In America two cowboys, Jim and Johnny Little Bear, discover a rich mine and decide to spend some of the money traveling. The two start out. It happens that during their travels they stop near the kingdom of Sylvia, and Jim, wishing to see a real queen, makes bold to climb the wall. He sees a beautiful lady, who is none other than Sylvia herself, but he thinks her one of the court ladies. She finally confides the predicament of the queen, and he tells her that he will come to the assistance of the great lady. He wires to Bill, one of the cowboys, and tells him to come on with the whole gang. When he rides to the palace to tell the lady, he finds that she is the queen. Meantime, Ferdinand's favorite, seeing that her reign is coming to an end, tries to hold him, but he refuses to have more to do with her. Both sides prepare for battle. Ferdinand, with his army, attacks Sylvia's force before the cowboys arrive, and they are being forced to retreat when Bill arrives and saves the day. The favorite is killed when she tries to slay Sylvia. Jim explains to the boys that he is in love with Sylvia, and they finally persuade him to ask her hand in marriage. But Sylvia kindly explains that though she loves him, the dictates of custom compel her to marry royalty. Bill and the boys, seeing that Jim is taking this keenly, leave him in the palace and after a time return, telling him that they have captured the whole of Sylvia's forces, and that now he is the king. Sylvia is informed of this and with queenly dignity places her crown upon Jim's head, and so accepts his proposal of marriage.
"The Man Above the Law" holds a slight edge in general audience appreciation, but "Fighting for Love" offers its own unique cult appeal.
Suggested Watch:
The Man Above the Law