Film vs Film
Select two cult films to compare side by side.
The Reward of Patience Synopsis
When rich civil engineer Robert Penfield goes to a small Quaker town in Pennsylvania to supervise a job, he meets Patience, who soon falls in love with him, but Robert is engaged to Edith, who plans to marry him for his money only. To remain close to Robert, Patience returns with him to the city to take a job as his mother's secretary. After Robert and Edith's wedding, and following the birth of their child, Patience takes care of the baby much more enthusiastically than Edith does; in fact, Edith is preoccupied with Paul Dunstan, a former suitor who wasn't rich enough to marry her, but who has since inherited a fortune. Finally, the couple elope, but they both die when Paul's yacht sinks. After the accident, Robert realizes that he loves Patience, and marries her.
The Vanderhoff Affair Synopsis
Lester, returning from Mexico, becomes interested in Helen, a girl whose life he had saved. Helen, according to her uncle, Vanderhoff, is insane. Dr. Luchow, Lester's friend, confirms Vanderhoff's statement. Upon returning home, the author finds that the Vanderhoffs have rented the adjoining cottage. The writer sees Helen drop a note. Picking it up, he finds the paper blank. Lester's window faces Helen's window. That night, the girl informs him in pantomime that the note contains a message written in milk. Scorching brings the message into view. As the result, Lester learns that Helen is the victim of a foul plot on the part of her uncle who desires to obtain her fortune. The girl drops a notebook which contains the details. The author is thus informed that Vanderhoff, by keeping his niece drugged with a loco weed preparation, succeeds in fooling the physicians who examine her. Lester breaks into the Vanderhoff house the following morning. He is discovered by Jose, who knocks the author unconscious and places him in the room above the dining room. Vanderhoff hastens his preparations to place Helen in the insane asylum. Dr. Luchow calls for the purpose of preparing the papers. Lester, using the top of a ventilator, saws away at his bonds. The blood from his bruised hands drips down upon Luchow's paper and the doctor soon becomes aware of what is going on. Jose attacks Lester just as the latter gains his freedom, but Dr. Luchow's timely arrival saves his friend. The Mexican and Vanderhoff endeavor to make their get-away in an auto, but an explosion, which wrecks the machine, ends their villainous careers.
"The Reward of Patience" holds a slight edge in general audience appreciation, but "The Vanderhoff Affair" offers its own unique cult appeal.
Suggested Watch:
The Reward of Patience