Although I am a committed movie buff of many decades experience now, I
had somehow never seen this famous old adventure flick until I acquired
the excellent Hen's Tooth DVD of it for Christmas.
It proved to be a delightful surprise and far better than I was
expecting. As an independent production, it may have lacked the big
budget production values of a Warner or MGM film, but it still managed
to look impressive, with some clever use of glass shots, hanging
miniatures and other film tricks.
It is only 92 minutes long yet packs an astonishing amount of incident
for its length, all helped along by a throbbing music score that relies
heavily on judicious borrowings from Max Steiner's famous score for
KING KONG, which surprisingly fits the action rather well.
An excellent cast of 1930s favourites is led by a young Randolph Scott
who makes a terrific Hawkeye and clearly enjoys himself in the role.
1936 was an interesting year for him. Not yet typecast in "oaters", he
made, in rapid succession, a big musical (Follow the Fleet with Astaire
and Rogers) a sexy comedy (Go West Young Man with Mae West)and this,
which was a logical follow-up to the previous year's SHE. He was a much
better actor and more versatile than he is usually given credit for and
in this role, he may well have found his career best.
The DVD offers what is probably the best surviving print of this old
movie and it is rather variable in quality, though it does get better
after the 3rd reel. I would love to have seen a restored print but I am
guessing this would be impossible now unless an original nitrate can be
found.
George B. Seitz directs the whole show with flair and keeps things
moving at a considerable pace. The film easily bears comparison to
better known films in the genre, such as BEAU GESTE, GUNGA DIN and THE
FOUR FEATHERS.
In short, it's a grand old fashioned adventure film, the kind Hollywood
turned out with ease and great skill and long before the inflated
budgets, running times and CGi of today.
The kids back in 1936 must have been on the edge of their seats....I
know I was, in 2017!
