The first five minutes might make you think that this will not be your cup of tea - a Foreign Legion story, no thanks but stick with it. It's a proper in-your-face, full blown melodramatic storytelling from a master filmmaker, master storyteller.
Besides the genuinely engrossing story (yes, even ninety years later it'll keep you glued) what's thoroughly outstanding is the fabulous photography. William Dierterle's German expressionist heritage - which he'd exhibit amazingly a few years later his HUNCHBACK OF NOTE DAME is thoroughly evident here. The lighting, the shadows, the use of light and dark to express the mood is beautifully employed in this exceptionally well made picture.
It's just shame that like a lot of films from Fox Film, it hasn't been that well preserved. This means that a lot of the subtlety of the photography which is virtually a character in itself is sometimes lost. It also means that you can't fully appreciate the utter gorgeousness of Loretta Young as well as you should. She was surely the prettiest actress in the world! Her part however isn't that demanding and is only secondary to Victor Jory who is exceptional in this. Yes, Victor Jory is the romantic lead.
The more early thirties pictures I see, the more I keep finding him - especially at Fox Films where he was one of their leading men. After Fox went belly up, his star status slipped and he became a supporting actor on countless movies and to my amazement I have only recently realised that he was Wilkerson in GONE WITH THE WIND.
In this he's the principled and stoic if somewhat sanctimonious hero but shows real depth of character - people like this did exist... or at least after watching his superb authentic performance you'll really believe they did. A shame that as Hollywood grew, there wasn't room for him at the top but you see so many 'big names' from the pre-code days with minor bit parts just a few years later. Fame was very transitory back then.
Besides the genuinely engrossing story (yes, even ninety years later it'll keep you glued) what's thoroughly outstanding is the fabulous photography. William Dierterle's German expressionist heritage - which he'd exhibit amazingly a few years later his HUNCHBACK OF NOTE DAME is thoroughly evident here. The lighting, the shadows, the use of light and dark to express the mood is beautifully employed in this exceptionally well made picture.
It's just shame that like a lot of films from Fox Film, it hasn't been that well preserved. This means that a lot of the subtlety of the photography which is virtually a character in itself is sometimes lost. It also means that you can't fully appreciate the utter gorgeousness of Loretta Young as well as you should. She was surely the prettiest actress in the world! Her part however isn't that demanding and is only secondary to Victor Jory who is exceptional in this. Yes, Victor Jory is the romantic lead.
The more early thirties pictures I see, the more I keep finding him - especially at Fox Films where he was one of their leading men. After Fox went belly up, his star status slipped and he became a supporting actor on countless movies and to my amazement I have only recently realised that he was Wilkerson in GONE WITH THE WIND.
In this he's the principled and stoic if somewhat sanctimonious hero but shows real depth of character - people like this did exist... or at least after watching his superb authentic performance you'll really believe they did. A shame that as Hollywood grew, there wasn't room for him at the top but you see so many 'big names' from the pre-code days with minor bit parts just a few years later. Fame was very transitory back then.