Compare Films

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 Fortunes of Fifi Synopsis

Fifi is seen as Pierrot in a French play that is a failure despite her effort to put ginger into the rest of the cast. Among the few in the last audience was Cartouche, a veteran, who had become an actor when his wounds no longer allowed him to follow Napoleon. Through Cartouche's efforts Fifi is employed at the Imperial theater in Parts. He takes her to his lodging, determined to protect her. Fifi fails to understand how much Cartouche is doing for her, and when he gives her money to buy clothes she purchases a toy dog sailed Toto. The veteran buys a lottery ticket and gives it to Fifi. The ticket bears the winning number and Fifi finds herself in possession of a fortune. Cartouche decides Fifi must be educated. He applies to his old general, who suggests that Fifi be sent to the home of Louis Bourcet, an attorney who lives alone with his mother. Instead of putting her money in the bank Fifi hides it and startles the Bourcet family by her extravagance. They decide she has even more money than they thought and Louis begins to see in the wealthy Fifi a very acceptable wife. He makes love to the girl, and she accepts his proffer. Then she sets about to make him break the engagement by squandering her money, realizing she is in love with Cartouche. Accordingly she buys the most impossible things, scandalizing the Bourcet family into a complete renunciation by giving the remainder of her wealth to a charitable benefit for old soldiers. Ejected from the house by the angry Mme. Bourcet, Fifi returns to the Imperial, where she demands more money for her services because she has been publicly thanked by the General for her donation to charity. She tells Cartouche she loves him, but the old soldier refuses. to permit her to "throw herself away" upon him until Fifi gets an inspiration of her own.