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Select two cult films to compare side by side.
The Web of Desire Synopsis
When his wife Grace inherits her father's stock, John Miller, the president of the Western Power and Development Company, becomes a millionaire and moves to New York with his family. Beset by business problems, Miller pays little attention to his wife, and Grace, feeling neglected, takes up with a bohemian set. Among her new acquaintances she meets Stuart Mordant, the attorney for Thomas Hurd, a business rival of Miller's. Grace seeks refuge from loneliness in Mordant, who makes a bargain with Hurd to gain control of her husband's company for half a million dollars. Mordant succeeds in compromising Grace and Miller, finding evidence of his wife's betrayal, insists upon a divorce. Grace transfers her stock to Mordant, and at the stockholders' meeting, Hurd demands Miller's resignation. He is about to comply when Grace enters, exposes Mordant and destroys the transfer. Miller offers Mordant a pistol, suggesting that suicide is his only honorable alternative. Mordant takes the gun and leaves the room, but escapes to Europe, leaving behind a note which exonerates Grace. Grace and Miller then decide to unravel their problems together.
Sudden Riches Synopsis
Although he is a successful architect, devoted family man Robert Crewe does not earn enough to cover the expenses of his wife Marion and daughter Emily. Unknown to him, his Uncle Abner wants to ruin him because Robert's father stole Abner's fiancée, who died in childbirth after their marriage. Abner hires a beautiful seductress to break up Robert's happy home, but she is unsuccessful. Abner, who dies prematurely, leaves Robert his fortune, hoping that it finally will lead to Robert's downfall. As Robert and Marion drift apart, Emily is left in the hands of an uncaring nurse and cries herself to sleep each night. Robert has an affair with a Broadway actress and Marion becomes romantically involved with a prominent sculptor. Robert squanders his inheritance and involves himself in highly speculative business investments until, threatened with Emily's death, he and Marion finally decide to change their lives and bring the family back together once again.
"The Web of Desire" holds a slight edge in general audience appreciation, but "Sudden Riches" offers its own unique cult appeal.
Suggested Watch:
The Web of Desire