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Select two cult films to compare side by side.
The Mother of His Children Synopsis
When Princess Yve comes to Paris, attended by her faithful servant Hadji, she meets sculptor Richard Arnold and the two fall in love. This drives Count Tolstoff, who also is in love with the princess, into a jealous rage. Attempting to gain revenge by destroying Richard's prize-winning statues, Tolstoff breaks into his studio but is followed by Hadji. In the ensuing scuffle, the count is killed and Richard is arrested for the crime. When the princess discovers that Richard is married, it looks as if the sculptor will lose both his love and his freedom, until the servant confesses to the crime and Richard is notified that his wife has died while on an ocean voyage. Thus freed of his bonds, the sculptor marries the princess, who then becomes the mother of his children.
The Golden Fetter Synopsis
Schoolteacher Faith Miller inherits $10,000. Edson, McGill and Slade, three enterprising crooks, own the Moonflower, a worthless mine. Slade goes East to unload, and hearing of Faith's good fortune, he approaches her and finds her easy prey: she buys a share in the mine for $9,000. Advised by friends to take a rest, Faith goes to inspect her mine. Arriving at the town, she is insultingly approached and the man who has annoyed her is knocked down by Jim Ralston, a young mining engineer. She goes to the home of Big Annie, who tells her that the mine is worthless. The miners, touched by her beauty and helplessness, engage her to teach their school, the only available pupils being Pete, a half-wit, and Jim, who is held in connection with a hold-up committed by Edson and McGill. At first Jim rebels, but when he sees the teacher, he becomes a willing student. Faith recognizes him as her protector. Jim conceives the idea of salting the mine, and wires Slade to the effect that the mine is rich with silver and not to sell. Slade returns. Edson and McGill, pursued by a posse, reach the schoolhouse and persuade Jim to conceal them. Flynn, at the head of the posse, accuses Jim of hiding the bandits and is killed by a shot from an unseen hand. Jim is arrested as the murderer. Faith intercedes, begs him to flee and is handcuffed to him. They escape and take refuge in a mountain cabin. Jim shoots the fetter apart, breaking his wrist, and insists that Faith return home. As Jim tells Slade of Faith's whereabouts, Slade notices the fetter on his hand, takes him to the outskirts of the town and the miners prepare to bang him. Faith sells her interest in the mine back to Slade, and Pete, as he delivers a note to her from Jim, also tells Faith of Jim's peril. The outlaws, Edson and McGill, are shot as they resist arrest, Edson's dying confession of Flynn's murder reaching Jim's executioners just as they refuse to listen to Faith's pleading for her lover's life. Faith, weakened by the trying ordeals through which she has passed, sinks to the ground, only to be taken into the waiting arms of the man she loves.
"The Mother of His Children" holds a slight edge in general audience appreciation, but "The Golden Fetter" offers its own unique cult appeal.
Suggested Watch:
The Mother of His Children