I just got this DVD and watched it with mixed feelings anticipating to see a declining star. I was surprised to find (despite the obviously missing reel) a star at his top in a gritty action drama.
Jack Gilbert is very good as the kidnapped manager of a diamond mine as he schemes and bluffs his way from being tied up and about to be killed to capturing his capturers. His Rand is a gritty, ruthless equal to a murderer and a dubious moll.
A key scene is when he is tied up and being threatened by the murderer. Gilbert laughs as he is threatened. What is interesting is his laugh. It is not an Errol Flynn laugh. Nor is it hysterical. Rather it is edged with black and nervy tension and is surprisingly scary. Gilbert's Rand is not a nice guy. He plays their game with equal viciousness and deceit.
Another scene occurs early on when the 'Lady Diana' mockingly aims a rifle at Rand. For a second his eyes go gritty. No proper English woman would or should aim even an unloaded rifle at someone. How does Gilbert do it? A split second look as his Rand registers that there is more to this pair than appearances say? The film is gritty and clearly entering Pre-Code in it's sweat, torn clothes, undone blouses, semi nudity, and ungallant threats by all three players toward each other. Everyone threatens everyone and the sexual tension between all three is very Pre-Code risqué. Rand kisses the moll in one scene ---by force and unwanted -- and teases her lover by entering her tent in the night in another scene --- and closing the tent flap! The title cards are gritty and it is interesting to speculate if Gilbert's wish for this to be his first talkie had happened. Would this have launched him into sound better? It is more modern and gritty and just might have saved him. As it was, it is an interesting and teasing addition to the mystery of John Gilbert and why he fell from superstar to failure in only six years.
J E F Rose
Jack Gilbert is very good as the kidnapped manager of a diamond mine as he schemes and bluffs his way from being tied up and about to be killed to capturing his capturers. His Rand is a gritty, ruthless equal to a murderer and a dubious moll.
A key scene is when he is tied up and being threatened by the murderer. Gilbert laughs as he is threatened. What is interesting is his laugh. It is not an Errol Flynn laugh. Nor is it hysterical. Rather it is edged with black and nervy tension and is surprisingly scary. Gilbert's Rand is not a nice guy. He plays their game with equal viciousness and deceit.
Another scene occurs early on when the 'Lady Diana' mockingly aims a rifle at Rand. For a second his eyes go gritty. No proper English woman would or should aim even an unloaded rifle at someone. How does Gilbert do it? A split second look as his Rand registers that there is more to this pair than appearances say? The film is gritty and clearly entering Pre-Code in it's sweat, torn clothes, undone blouses, semi nudity, and ungallant threats by all three players toward each other. Everyone threatens everyone and the sexual tension between all three is very Pre-Code risqué. Rand kisses the moll in one scene ---by force and unwanted -- and teases her lover by entering her tent in the night in another scene --- and closing the tent flap! The title cards are gritty and it is interesting to speculate if Gilbert's wish for this to be his first talkie had happened. Would this have launched him into sound better? It is more modern and gritty and just might have saved him. As it was, it is an interesting and teasing addition to the mystery of John Gilbert and why he fell from superstar to failure in only six years.
J E F Rose