Film vs Film
Select two cult films to compare side by side.
The Marriage of Kitty Synopsis
For the first time in her life Katherine Silverton--Kitty to her friends--hesitated about spending carfare to ride six blocks to the law office of her godfather, John Travers. She was not used to walking and she didn't intend to start just because her money supply was short and she faced a future which threatened economy of the strictest sort. Kitty's father had died leaving her practically nothing. She sought the advice of Mr. Travers. At the moment she entered the outer office, Mr. Travers had a perplexing problem on his hands. He was attorney for a large estate, the heir to which, Lord Reginald Belsize, had that morning arrived in New York to claim his inheritance. Lord Reginald was young, good-looking and ambitious to marry Mme. Helen de Semiano. Mme. Helen saw a favored match in Lord Reginald, who was soon to be wealthy, and her young-spendthrift brother Jack Churchill encouraged the match. But certain provisions of the will perplexed Mr. Travers. They also perplexed Lord Reginald. It was stipulated that Lord Reginald was to marry within a year or lose his inheritance; it further was stipulated that he was not to marry an actress. Lord Reginald didn't see how it could be arranged as he had brought Mme. Helen and her brother to New York. Mr. Travers suggested that he marry someone else first, leave her after the wedding and in six months she will obtain a divorce on grounds of desertion, making you free to marry whom you please. Then Kitty entered the office. Kitty assented to the proposition readily. She had the promise of a large sum of money, a quick divorce, and a chance to look around the world. But Kitty was very attractive and pretty, and Lord Reginald said that if Mme. Helen, who had reluctantly agreed to the arrangement, should see such an attractive young woman, she would refuse her consent. But resourceful Kitty rearranged her hair, put on a gingham apron, rolled up her sleeves, and made herself into a most unpromising person. Mme. Helen passed approval, not knowing the hoax. The ceremony was quickly performed and Lord Reginald and his bride left to be gone for several months until Kitty had gained her divorce. Meanwhile the jealousy of Mme. Helen was discouraging Lord Reginald, so one day he went to Long Island where Kitty was living. Realizing her opportunity, Kitty did everything within her power to make him happy. When Mme. Helen arrived, having followed Lord Reginald, the latter told her the time had come for the parting of their ways. Kitty, he said, was the woman he loved, and Kitty admitted that she loved him.
Shannon of the Sixth Synopsis
Ram, High Priest of the Temple of Delhi, urges his people to throw off the British yoke. Word of the uprising reaches General Kimber who is in command of the troops at Calcutta. Summoning Captain Arlington and Lieutenant Shannon of the famous Sixth, he orders them to proceed to Delhi with their troops. Arlington and Shannon are rivals for the hand of Dora, the commandant's daughter. Although secretly betrothed to Surrada, the beautiful native girl employed as Dora's maid, Arlington is filled with jealous rage upon discovering that Dora loves his rival. The captain has tired of Surrada but fears to cast her off because of the scandal she may create. Shortly afterwards, Arlington and Shannon reach Delhi where they succeed in restoring order. The High Priest Ram, however, lays his plans for a general uprising and on Sunday, May 10, 1857, the famous massacre at Meerut, which started the nationwide mutiny, commences. Thousands of English men, women and children are slain. Ram and his followers make their way to Delhi. At the sight of the priest, the Sepoy troops turn upon their white officers and slay them. At the first sign of danger, Arlington flees. Shannon, however, rallies the white troops. The soldiers are finally compelled to make a stand about the arsenal. The women and children beg Shannon to slay them, should the natives prove victorious. Knowing the terrible fate which must befall them should they fall into the hands of the Sepoys. Shannon consents. The women and children are placed in the magazine of the arsenal, while Shannon makes preparations to destroy the building in event of defeat. The soldiers are beaten back. The victorious natives rush into the arsenal to capture the women inside. Shannon lights a fuse leading to the powder stored in the building. The awful explosion which follows rends the walls asunder, bringing death to the hundreds in the building. Arlington makes his way back to Calcutta where he informs General Kimber that Shannon and his men have been slain by the natives. Believing her sweetheart dead, Dora is grief-stricken. Arlington attempts to console her but is spurned. By a miracle, Shannon has escaped death in the explosion which destroyed the arsenal. Slaying a native, the lieutenant disguises himself in the man's clothes. After many days he reaches Calcutta. Dora is overjoyed to see her lover alive and uninjured. Fearing lest his cowardice be revealed, Arlington implores Shannon to keep silent. The latter consents. General Kimber marches upon Delhi with his entire army. A few days after her father's departure, Dora decides to follow. Accompanied by a bodyguard of natives, she sets out for Delhi despite Surrada's pleas. The treacherous natives, however, deliver the girl into the hands of Shah, king of Delhi. Inflamed by her beauty, the king decides to make her the queen of his harem. Overwhelmed by the fate which menaces her mistress, Surrada slays the man guarding their room and escapes from the palace. The native girl makes her way out of the city to the British encampment. While she informs General Kimber of his daughter's plight, the murder of the guard is discovered. Dora is thrown into a dungeon to await torture and death. Kimber, Arlington and Shannon are horrified upon hearing Surrada's awful news. Shannon and Arlington beg to be allowed to go to the girl's rescue. Because of his seniority in rank, the honor falls to Arlington. Accompanied by Surrada, the man hastens towards the city gates. The two arrive a moment too late and are locked out of the city tor the night. Unwilling to return to camp, Arlington and Surrada enter the Temple nearby where they determine to hide for the night. There the captain sees the great diamond which forms the eye of the idol Brahma. Filled with greed, Arlington forgets his mission and unknown to Surrada, pries the jewel from its resting place. Umballa, a servant in the Temple, sees the thief at work, and is knocked unconscious after a struggle with the Englishman. To hide the jewel, Arlington returns to camp where he announces his failure. Unable to sleep, Shannon strolls beyond the lines. Learning of Arlington's failure upon his return, the man denounces him as a coward. Later, the thief wraps the diamond in a cloth and gives it to Surrada. He tells the native girl that it contains his mother's jewels. The following morning. Ram, Umballa and a number of natives arrive at the camp and inform General Kimber of the theft of Brahma's eye. Having promised that the sacred edifice should not be molested, the British commander vows to find and punish the offender. Umballa sees Shannon. Mistaking him for his assailant the native accuses the lieutenant of the theft. Circumstances point to Shannon as the vandal. Kimber orders him to his tent. Shortly afterwards, the British troops make an assault upon Delhi. While the attack is going on, Surrada suspecting the truth, comes to Shannon and gives him the package. Heart-broken because of her lover's deception, and fearing the curse of Brahma, the girl suicides before Shannon can interfere. The lieutenant sees that the British are being repulsed. He rejoins his men. Calling for volunteers Shannon announces his intention of blowing up the city gates. Accompanied by three men, the lieutenant crawls to the gates where he plants several sacks of powder A few moments later, the huge doors are torn from their hinges by a terrific explosion. Led by Shannon, the British enter the city and sweep all before them. King Shah hears this news with dismay. Furious, he determines to wreak vengeance upon the daughter of the British commander. Dora is tied to the muzzle of a loaded cannon. After lighting the fuse the natives flee. The maddened rebels make a last stand in the city streets. A number of them surround Arlington. Facing death, the man's courage comes to the surface. Six of the natives fall by his sword. A spear thrust through his breast brings Arlington low. Attracted by a woman's screams for help, Shannon and his men dash into the palace courtyard. The gallant soldier sees his sweetheart's awful danger. Slashing her bonds, Shannon pulls Dora aside. An instant later, a terrific roar appraises the fainting girl of the awful danger from which she had been rescued in the nick of time.
"The Marriage of Kitty" holds a slight edge in general audience appreciation, but "Shannon of the Sixth" offers its own unique cult appeal.
Suggested Watch:
The Marriage of Kitty