Quick and easy to get through, this hour long silent adventure starring John Gilbert has to be seen to be believed. It's a story of the foreign manager of a diamond mine in Africa who finds himself conned and kidnapped by two jewel thieves. Ernest Torrance and his daughter (Mary Nolan) get their hands on recovered jewels and take Gilbert along with them as an insurance package. Keeping him out in the hot desert sun they believe might drain him of the desire to rebel, but he's clever and uses earlier flirtations with Nolan to break her down. It's a fun jaunt to watch him get the better of the two, particularly the nasty Torrance. There's not much to the story, corny and overloaded with clichés, a suave performance by Gilbert, and a few surprises along the way. What's fun is watching how Torrance comes to depend on Gilbert for his survival, having earlier tried to get Nolan to prevent Gilbert from getting water. Later on when they find a sudden desert oasis filled with clear water and waterfalls, the joy on Torrance's face explodes as he splashes around after seemingly days without water or a bath of any kind, and this increases the romantic entanglement between Gilbert and Nolan. Torrance goes from an extremely nasty villain to a childlike joy literally within seconds, and that makes his performance a standout. Nolan has several moments where she's romantic, then ruthless, and all of a sudden, like a star struck young girl finding love where she didn't expect it. Gilbert is more of a reactor, but several scenes show a glint in his eyes as his plans for his own survival come together. Technically, it's excellent, but overly silly and unbelievable, although the ending is one of those that gives you a sudden gasp of shock and humongous laughter to follow.
Review of Desert Nights
