Film vs Film
Select two cult films to compare side by side.
Viennese Nights Synopsis
In 1890, Gus Sascher joins the Austrian Army and romances the impoverished girl Elsa Hofner. Elsa instead marries the wealthier officer Franz von Renner, in an attempt at social climbing. Both Gus and Elsa later have unhappy marriages. They attempt an affair, but Vivienne terminates it quickly. In 1930, Barbara (Elsa's granddaughter) falls in love with Gus' grandson. The elderly Elsa helps them get married, shortly before her own death.
The Whirlpool Synopsis
Wanting to impress the beautiful Bella Cavallo, whose stepfather Ferris forces her to act as a decoy in his Tenderloin gambling establishment, Richard Brettner commits a minor robbery. Judge Reverton pardons the love-struck young man but regrets his decision when Richard is arrested for murder. Through his physician, Dr. Comyns, the judge meets Bella and soon makes her his wife. The doctor, however, tells Reverton about Bella's profession, thereby causing him to distrust his new wife. Reverton returns home to find Bella planning a night meeting with Arthur Hallam, the murdered man's nephew. Expecting the worst, the judge soon realizes that Bella plotted only to beguile Arthur into a confession that he, and not Richard, committed the murder. Richard is released and the married couple is reunited.
"Viennese Nights" holds a slight edge in general audience appreciation, but "The Whirlpool" offers its own unique cult appeal.
Suggested Watch:
Viennese Nights