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Select two cult films to compare side by side.
The Return of Eve Synopsis
Believing that over-civilization was destroying the race, Eli Tapper, an eccentric millionaire, took two unrelated orphan children, a boy and a girl, and placed them in a wilderness, there in the care of an old tutor, David Winters, to grow up as a new Adam and Eve, and become path-breakers of a better race. In delightful simplicity and educated as much as they could be without contact with the world, the children attain the age of nineteen years. Mrs. Tupper-Bellamy, society leader, lives in costly splendor against the day when she hopes to inherit her brother millions. She plans to marry her daughter, Clarice, to Seymour Purchwell, society idler of standing and also an attorney. Purchwell makes it plain that the marriage can occur if Eli Tupper's fortune goes to the girl and her mother. When Tupper dies the sister and her set learn for the first time of his odd experiment. His will provides that the sister must take Adam and Eve into civilization in order to win an annuity of $50,000 a year. The orphans are heirs to the rest. Purchwell sets out to find them. He locates the Eden of the boy and girl and old Winters, and is literally the serpent in the garden. Winters resents leaving, but a clash between Adam and Purchwell decides him. Plunged amidst the whirl of social affairs Eve is delighted. Adam is disgusted with the sham and deceit of society, and pleads with her to return to Eden. She refuses. Winters takes him to Paris to study. Purchwell, seeking the Tupper fortune, turns his attention to Eve. Clarice is in a frenzy of affection spurned, and after finding the two alone she accuses them before the whole house party. Eve, in her innocence, does not readily grasp the meaning of the charge. When it dawns on her she faces the guests, and in her bitterness denounces them as tools of passion and greed, and announces that she will give up all and return to Eden. With old Winters, she returns. Adam is recalled from Paris, and the girl and the boy, now awake to their love, together with their beloved guardian, give up the world.
The Golden Idiot Synopsis
Uncle Woolwich, an eccentric millionaire, wills that his fortune be divided between his nephews, Barry Owen and Walter Woolwich, in proportion to the amount of money that each shall have saved at the time of their uncle's death. Walter, a broker, is prospering while Barry, a reporter, is penniless. With his three-legged dog Pod, Barry starts out to make his fortune. Along the way, he meets Faith Fanshawe, whose car has broken down. Faith gives Barry fifty cents for repairing the machine, and he keeps the money in remembrance of the beautiful girl. Next, Barry meets Jeffery Jarvis, a writer, who gives him shelter. Barry tells the writer his story and Jarvis takes him to his country club. Here Barry again meets Faith and rescues her from drowning. Their friendship grows into love, but Barry is too poor to propose marriage. This situation is remedied when Uncle Woolwich dies at the time when Walter is swamped by the market and is half a million dollars in debt. By the terms of the will, Barry inherits a fortune, and with his new found wealth, marries Faith.
"The Return of Eve" holds a slight edge in general audience appreciation, but "The Golden Idiot" offers its own unique cult appeal.
Suggested Watch:
The Return of Eve