The Barbarian (1933) User Reviews

Ramon and Myrna "Sheik" Their Way Across the Desert Sands

[g_hawke · 6/10 · 23 June 2008]

Ramon Novarro and Myrna Loy get caught up in a torrid romance in one of the last of the pre-code "sheik" films. To anyone who has not seen "The Sheik" or "The Son of the Sheik", the two most famous examples, the plot is simple. Sexy Arab guy (or white guy posing as an Arab) falls for a Western girl and abducts her across the desert sands where red hot (for the time) romance blooms. Fan magazines of the 1920's would gravely discuss the pros and cons of the "cave man approach" to love. "The Barbarian" must have seemed like something of an anachronism when it was released in the early 30's.

Myrna Loy plays Diana, an American girl with an Egyptian mother. Neatly removing any objections to an interracial romance, this sets the stage for Jamil to enter her life. Novarro's character is a prince posing as a driverman. What exactly he is prince of is unclear since the script will alternately talk about Egypt, Mecca and Tehran as his domain. Quite a cosmopolitan, it seems.

But to Diana, he is a servant and she treats him accordingly. That is, when she is not swooning over his admittedly pleasant singing. But station is station and Jamil's love for Diana takes a decidedly warped turn when the inevitable abduction occurs.

There seems to be disagreement among the viewers as to whether or not Jamil forced himself on Diana. It seems pretty clear to me that he did.

Whether or not she liked him at the time is up to the opinion of the viewer. That does not, however, alter the fact that she was raped. If the viewer believes that she liked him, merely add "date" before the verb. Same crime, different circumstances. For an interesting comparison, try seeing the "love" scene in the equally silly "Fountainhead".

The rest of the film concerns the reactions of Diana's fiancé (Reginald Denny), who isn't really given much to do but stand about and look outraged, and the rest of the cast, who are divided into pro and anti-Jamil camps. Which man Diana will choose is fairly obvious if you know anything at all about Hollywood movies of this time. After all, he IS a prince and she IS half-Egyptian and they DID, well, you know...

So, how was it? Myrna Loy is lovely and tries her best but one gets the impression that she is smarter than the script, provided by the overrated (and supposedly liberated) Anita Loos.

As for Ramon Novarro, he is a personal favorite for his silent work but he is miscast here. Novarro, by all accounts, was a very pleasant man and he just is not convincing in the smoldering roles. He just seems too nice. He was far better with sincere, heroic characters and in light comedy. Sadly, his dark good looks and last name ending in a vowel condemned him to a certain number of Latin Lover roles. He is very charming at the beginning of the film, when is character is more of a rascal. I particularly liked the scenes of him romancing female tourists in English and German!

Is it worth it? Yes, for the glimpse of pre-code Hollywood and just how much they could get away with. It is fun to see big stars in non-typical roles. It will certainly start many discussions of race and gender relations in classic Hollywood. My interest is, frankly, more for research than entertainment. If the plot sounds romantic to you, go for it. If it horrifies you, stay away. If you're like me, you will enjoy the context and theory of the film more than the film itself. It would certainly make a fascinating selection on a DVD set concerning race in early Hollywood. Hint, hint.

PS, does anyone know what language everyone is speaking? It doesn't sound like Arabic but I am no expert.

A mixed bag--some of it wonderful, some of it sick and awful

[planktonrules · 5/10 · 19 September 2006]

I can't believe the reviews so far on this movie on IMDb. So far, one reviewer gives it a score of 1 and two others a 10!! The simple fact is that very, very , very few films deserve a 10 or 1 but reviewers routinely throw these numbers about without thinking. After all, there's no way that anyone could place this movie among GONE WITH THE WIND, THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES or even STAR WARS just as there is no way this film deserves the same rating as BABY GENIUSES or PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE!!! Like most movies, a realistic score would definitely be somewhere in between.

Now this isn't to say that the film reviewers were totally wrong. The one perceptive person who thought the movie was evil because it propagates "the rape myth" is 100% correct--the film is terrible because it seems to indicate that the way to a girl's heart is to kidnap and probably rape her--or at least whip her into submission!! In the 21st century I cannot understand how anyone could rate a movie that treats women like cattle with a score of 10! And, people who would kind of scare me.

On the other hand, the film is gorgeous. The cinematography and costuming is incredible and made Myrna Loy (often the "nice girl" in films of the 1930s) into an incredibly alluring figure. Her bathing scene is simply one of the sexiest scenes in screen history--not so much for what it showed, but how it showed so much without showing everything as well as not being pornographic but artful and beautiful. She was, in many ways, like a modern Venus de Milo. Plus, when Ramon Navarro isn't busy trying to rape Ms. Loy, he is a very, very dashing and gorgeous figure himself. So beautiful and compelling that he was like a better and more romantic version of Valentino from THE SHEIK. Plus, given that Mr. Navarro was in real life gay, he deserves a lot of kudos for his convincing romantic scenes. The problem, though, is that the writers didn't know what to do with this romantic figure. One minute he is kind of funny and clever, the next he is an ardent suitor, the next he is selling her into sexual slavery and the next he's a sex offender trying to rape her!!!! The fact is the movie strongly implies he DID rape her (though it is a bit vague in this respect). And, having this confusing package ruins the wonderful romantic elements of the film. After all, what's romantic about a rapist or spousal abuse?! This is in the end, a complete muddled mess that could have been a wonderful film. With a re-write to remove the sick aspects of the film (the physical and sexual abuse AND Ms. Loy's ultimate choice to run away with this sick, twisted freak after being abused), it could have been among the most memorable and romantic films of the age. As it is, mostly it will be remembered for the pre-Code titillating bathing scene with Ms. Loy.

Does Not Age Well

[Maleejandra · 6/10 · 18 February 2008]

Originally meant to be a steamy romance filled with temptation and scandal, The Barbarian comes off today as antiquated and shocking but for all the wrong reasons. Diana Standing (Myrna Loy) is a wealthy woman from America who comes to Egypt to visit the land of her heritage. Her mother was half Egyptian. There she meets a ruthless womanizer who cons himself into being her guide. Jamil El Shehab (Ramon Novarro) has a history of romancing women and taking their money. He sets his eyes on Diana who no matter how she resists, cannot escape the watchful and menacing eye of Jamil.

Beginning in the 20s, America went wild for all things Arab and mysterious. Women fainted at the thought of men like Rudolph Valentino ravaging them in the desert, something they feared but also longed for. These kinds of stories became commonplace both in Hollywood and in trashy romance novels. Thus, we have The Barbarian. What better subject (rape, brutality, forbidden desire) for a pre-code film? Although she wore a nude bodysuit in the scene, Loy takes a bath in a tub with no bubbles and few flower petals inside to cover her. The soft focus says it all; this movie is all about sex.

Unfortunately today, many women see Novarro as a brute and a savage. Their negative reactions to him make for difficult viewing. His character was intended to be representative of the nagging desire for the unattainable, but by todays standards, Jamil is creepy and bothersome.

Despite these obstacles, the film has some undeniably merits. Novarro's singing enhances the story with a lovely ballad that strains throughout. The direction by Sam Wood leaves the audience with just enough information to tell the story, but not too much as to be smutty. One shot in particular of Diana after her rape is movingly beautiful.

Dark, but intriguing tale of rape of a Western tourist in the Egyptian desert

[vincentlynch-moonoi · 7/10 · 27 April 2013]

It's amazing to me how wrapped up in hysteria some people get. Yes, this film clearly implies rape. Rape happens. It's detestable. Films -- to varying degrees -- depict human life. Therefore, I expect films to sometimes depict unpleasant topics. And that should not be a reason that we give a positive or negative critique of a movie. What's important is how the film approaches a topic. Admittedly, this film doesn't approach it very well.

Although I had often heard the name Ramon Novarro, I don't believe I had ever seen one of his films...I guess I thought of him as too much in the silent era. So this film was a learning experience for me...particularly after reading his bio on Wikipedia. In terms of his performance in the film, I found it interesting, but I was not exactly surprised when I learned that in real life he was gay. He doesn't seem very macho in this film, which sort of belies the character he was playing. He does come across -- at least in our time -- as a pervert, so I wonder how he would have been perceived in this film in 1933. But, despite his supposedly being a romantic lover, his gestures and behavior definitely suggest his gayness. But, still, it's interesting.

Myrna Loy was very good, as she almost always was.

Reginald Denny...well, he did okay here, but I never quite saw the attraction for him in films. It always nice to see the great character actor C. Aubrey Smith, and he's fine here...although in not so noble a role as we often saw him, and with little real screen time. A surprise was seeing Edward Arnold in a character role as an Egyptian...interesting.

In terms of the plot and script, we first meet Ramon Novarro -- as an Egyptian gigolo -- at the train station, where it is clear that he has romanced a number of foreign female tourists...probably robbing them to some extent, as well. And then along comes Myrna Loy with friends and family...his next victim. Early in the film he seems to be annoying in his attempts to insert himself into situations, but alternately being very helpful...although in our time, it would appear to be stalking. And, that interpretation would be justified considering action later in the film. It seems pretty clear that rape does occur in the desert, although you only see the aftermath. Okay, it made sense with this script. But, the conclusion of the film makes no sense at all.

Production values are quite high here, particularly considering it was 1933.

All in all, worth watching at least once. I guess 1933 must have been a very different national psyche; so that makes it an interesting film.

The Train Shall Meet

[wes-connors · 6/10 · 10 August 2012]

At a train station in Cairo, handsome Arab playboy Ramon Novarro (as Jamil El Shehab) bids farewell to a couple of female conquests. From each, he obtains a piece of expensive jewelry. Scouting for a new lover, Mr. Novarro is smitten when he sees lovely Myrna Loy (as Diana Standing) getting off a train. The feeling appears mutual, but Ms. Loy is engaged to dapper Reginald Denny (as Gerald Hume). Novarro maneuvers his way into Loy's entourage, as a guide, after stealing her pooch. Although Loy seems interested, having a fiancé around makes an affair with Novarro awkward. Finally, he takes drastic measures...

Producer/director Sam Wood does a nice job for MGM and Novarro with "The Barbarian", which resembles the star's successful silent "The Arab" (1924). Novarro is both charming and disturbing, as the script dictates. His singing of the lush "Love Songs of the Nile" (by Nacio Brown & Arthur Freed) was a sheet music and Top Ten hit (for Leo Reisman's orchestra). Loy is an alluring co-star; she plays her nude bathtub scene with innocent sex appeal, although many in the 1930s took such display of flesh as vulgar and censorable...

The real problem with the story is illustrated later. After Novarro becomes more and more aggressive with Loy, we see her slumped by a tree and crying after an evening with (and without) him, then initially recoil when reaches for her - the cinematic grammar is unmistakable and it stops the romantic fantasy dead in its tracks. Having the characters whip each other was enough. Interesting, too, that the times dictated Loy's character must be revealed as "half Egyptian" - but Novarro's "I wouldn't care if she was Chinese" reply is such a clever way to punctuate the objectionable element, you can forgive, at least, some xenophobia.

****** The Barbarian (5/12/33) Sam Wood ~ Ramon Novarro, Myrna Loy, Reginald Denny, Louise Closser Hale

great production values, horrible message

[AlsExGal · 5/10 · 10 August 2012]

This film is not your typical 5/10 film. It has all the hallmarks of a well-made MGM production of its era, including a good cast performing their roles quite well and believably, great cinematography, good art and costume design etc. However, you just can't get past the spectacle of Myrna Loy's character falling for a man who is at least her stalker and most probably her rapist.

The opening scene is humorous, with amorous Jamil (Ramon Navarro) talking to lady after lady on the train leaving Cairo telling each that she is the only one for him and that parting is heartbreaking. He gives each a piece of jewelry that is supposedly a priceless heirloom. After leaving the train he reaches into his pocket and reveals that he has a handful of such priceless jewelry - they are in fact cheap trinkets, which is precisely how he sees his western conquests, now on their way back to the west with smiles on their faces. So far, so good - Jamil is a playboy, probably just taking advantage of silly women who did give themselves willingly even if under false and, quite frankly, obvious pretenses, and the audience should be able to live with that.

Enter Diana Standing (Myrna Loy) arriving in Cairo from the west to marry her fiancé (Reginald Denny), who is unfortunately joined at the hip with a very critical and talkie mother. Jamil spots her and decides she is the one for him. Unfortunately, Diana isn't given the option of saying no to Jamil's dishonest sales pitch, which she does. He abducts her from her caravan, takes her out into the desert, and besides continually pitching woo he uses methods that are tried and true means of breaking down prisoners of war.

Diana's fiancé and company finally catch up to her, Jamil escapes, and Diana goes back to civilization to do what she came to do originally - marry the rather dull guy with the unhealthy mommy attachment. Now I can see the ordeal and the distance causing her to change her mind about her wedding, but the final scene is just too much. Jamil appears on her balcony, serenades her, and she not only doesn't turn him into the authorities, she abandons her wedding and goes with him enthusiastically. Her final line - she tells Jamil that her mother was Egyptian. Is that supposed to be some kind of excuse, like a purebred Western girl would never succumb to this treatment but an Egyptian one would? I normally don't write reviews that basically outline the whole plot, and I have left enough details out that you should still find it interesting should you plan to watch it, but the outcome and thus the message of the film is what undoes it to begin with. It's an interesting artifact of the precode era, and I've always enjoyed Myrna Loy and her films, but this is just too much to take.

Compelling because of Loy and Novarro, but...

[gbill-74877 · 7/10 · 21 December 2016]

Let's start with the positives – you have the very beautiful Myrna Loy appearing in a bathtub for goodness sake, a suave Ramon Novarro wooing her with beautiful songs, and an exotic pre-code tale set in Egypt. Where modern viewers will struggle is with the scenes in the desert, where Novarro mistreats and later rapes Loy. What started out as a forbidden romance, albeit with borderline creepiness in Novarro's persistence, becomes cringe-inducing, and I have to say, I also hated the ending. Men forcing themselves on women until they gave in was de rigueur for the time, and the fantasy about Arabs post-Valentino was still strong in America, but the film would have been stronger had it either had Novarro's character been truly honorable ('Barbarian' indeed), or Loy's ultimately capable of resisting him if he wasn't. As it is, one feels conflicted and kind of icky with the message it conveys about both Arabs and women. And yet, Loy and Novarro are both pretty compelling, and make it worth watching. Did I mention Loy appears in a bathtub?

Not so forbidden fruit

[bkoganbing · 5/10 · 14 February 2021]

The team of Ramon Novarro and Myrna Loy did not strike any sparks at the box office with this throwback film The Barbarian. The property had two silent versions and it was originally entitled The Arab. Novarro and Loy were ships passing in the night on the MGM lot, her on the way up and him on the way down;.

Loy is in Egypt with her stuffy British engineer fiance Reginald Denny. But when Novarro as an ever eager Arab guide insinuates himself in their company. she's gradually drawn to him.

After that it's a throwback to the silent screen when Rudolph Valentino was stealing the hearts of women everywhere. During the Depression era 30s this sort of stuff wasn't going over.

Novarro who had a pleasant singing voice gets to sing the Love Song Of The Nile. And since interracial romance was a big old no-no back in those days a most convenient excuse is provided for the happy couple.

Some similarities for Loy to the role she later played in The Rains Came, a much better film.

Well, if you can stand the horrific sexism and racism...

[mrnunleygo · 6/10 · 18 November 2019]

It's hard to rate this movie because of the combination of artistic admiration and cultural disgust it evokes. Following new archaeological finds, the elite classes of the U.S. went gaga in the 1920s and early 30s for the anything Middle Eastern, especially Egyptian. At this same time, Europe and the U.S. were in the process of shedding Victorian restrictions and recognizing that women, too, could have sexual feelings. Alas, what was called Orientalism did not stop Americans or Europeans from feeling superior to West Asians, but it did make the latter seem exotic and "romantic." And alas, again, the male film-makers of the time believed that one element of "romance" for a woman was a fantasy that some exotic brute would carry her off by force and ravish her (thus allowing her to express her long-denied sexual feelings). "The Barbarian" is a product of that era, a version of the same fantasy that had been seen in many earlier silent movies, most famously in Rudolph Valentino's "The Sheik." Its artistry is by no means perfect. The technical elements--sets, costumes, cinematography, editing, sound--are fine, but there is a jarring disconnect between the comedy of the first half of the movie and the drama of the second half. Some movies have found the right mix to pull this off (for example, "The Graduate"), but "The Barbarian" is not one of them. The character played by Roman Novarro is initially presented as a lascivious con-artist and later as a particularly annoying hustler (both of which are supposed to be "cute"), which makes it nearly impossible to later accept him as a sincere and honorable hero. The final scene is especially cringe-worthy. On the other hand, Myrna Loy gives an astonishing performance, both as the harassed female of the "comic" first half and in the dramatic second half (though even she can't save the last scene). She remains a believable human being in a role that is about as sexy as any role Loy ever played (and she played a lot of sexy roles). If you think the worst elements of U.S. cultural history are better denounced and rejected than tolerated as appropriate to their times, you will hate this movie. But if you do watch, please do it to mainly to admire Loy's wonderful performance.

Trashy (and not in the good sense of that word!)

[Ursula_Two_Point_Seven_T · 3/10 · 21 September 2006]

I love lurid, trashy pre-Codes. Love 'em a lot! And I usually love Ramon Navarro. But I hated him in this movie, and I hated this movie.

We are supposed to believe that Myrna Loy's character (Diana) loves Ramon Navarro's character (Jamil), but we are never given any valid reason as to *why* she might feel this way about him. Jamil is a creep, through and through. Not a charming cad. Not a dangerous bad boy. Just a creep.

Jamil lures Diana to a house under false pretenses and lures another man "Pasha" there too, letting Pasha think that Diana is hot for him and wants to meet for a tryst. Jamil then hands Pasha a whip as Pasha enters Diana's room. Off-screen we hear three blood-curdling screams. Pasha has used the whip on Diana. Niiiiiiice. (insert eyeroll here)

Jamil then abducts Diana and takes her across the desert. In the evening he rapes her. OK, there I said it. Do not believe the other reviewers who say that Diana wanted it. She didn't, and the movie makes that clear to us. She rescinds from Jamil's touch and tries to fight him off. In the next scene (after the deed has been done), we see her sitting down with her clothes torn and tears on her cheeks. Jamil approaches her and she recoils and flinches in fear. So you tell me: rape or consensual sex?

And at the end of the flick, she runs out on her own wedding to a fairly nice guy who clearly loves her, and runs off voluntarily with Jamil. Why???? The movie gives us not one good reason why we should root for this couple or feel sympathy for Jamil.

It was just disgusting and vile. And not in a good way, like oh say Kongo or Three on a Match or Sign of the Cross or The Unknown or any other late 20s / early 30s really great lurid films are. This one was just pure trash. Don't waste your time!

Up The Nile & Across The Desert With Novarro & Loy

[Ron Oliver · 10/10 · 18 June 2001]

Kidnapped in the Egyptian desert, a beautiful American finds herself alternately loving & loathing THE BARBARIAN who abducted her.

Taken solely as romantic adventure, this lavish little MGM film has much to offer, including good acting & fine production values. Considered only from the standpoint of the plot, the story is ludicrous, what with a heroine suffering histrionics among the sand dunes & a hero who is a completely unprincipled cad.

Ramon Novarro does well in the title role, a reprise of his silent film THE ARAB (1924). MGM's Mexican star adds yet another ethnic stripe to his thespian escutcheon, this time portraying an Egyptian prince. Looking a little like a Valentino clone, he gets to sing & act in a variety of languages. Myrna Loy, who only gets billing below the title, is excellent as the Englishwoman caught-up in the allures & entrapments of the Nile Desert. After paying her dues in roles like this, she would very soon become a major Hollywood movie star.

In the very able supporting cast Reginald Denny plays Loy's stuffy fiancé; Edward Arnold is an unctuous pasha; Hedda Hopper appears briefly as an American tourist very pleased with Novarro's attentions. Wonderful old Sir C. Aubrey Smith is well cast as Loy's eccentric uncle and elderly, tart-tongued Louise Closser Hale steals every scene she's in as Loy's peppery companion.

This film is definitely pre-Production Code vintage, a fact made plainly obvious by Loy's lounge-in-the-tub scene. Considered rationally, many of THE BARBARIAN's implications are rather disturbing. That Loy could only be happy with the man who has humiliated, beaten, abused & raped her are decidedly unwholesome ideas to come from the pen of screenwriter - and liberated woman - Anita Loos.

Novarro sings 'Love Songs of the Nile' quite well, but interminably. If it sounds suspiciously like his previous 'Pagan Love Song' hit, it may be because the two songs share the same composers, Nacio Herb Brown & Arthur Freed.

Taming of the Shrew on steroids

[SnoopyStyle · 6/10 · 14 August 2021]

In Cairo, Jamil El Shehab (Ramon Novarro) is a gigolo-conman working out of the train station. He spots his next target, Diana Standing (Myrna Loy), stepping off the train. Her mother is Egyptian. She is met by her wealthy British fiancé Gerald Hume.

This is pre-Code with Myrna Loy in a skimpy nightgown. One's opinion on this depends on how one takes Jamil. He's a cad and a scoundrel. That could be a romantic lead but Diana needs to be up to the challenge. Myrna Loy has that well within her acting range but the character is written a little soft with a healthy dose of western superiority complex. The portrayal of Arab culture is a bit superficial but I expected much less from that era in Hollywood. The chauvinism is interesting. The oasis drinking scene is both brutal and enlightening. This is taming of the shrew on steroids.

You've got to be kidding!

[folsominc2 · 1/10 · 1 October 2019]

Any writer who thinks a woman will love a man after he firsts tries to molest her several times, tricks her and takes her to another and encourages him to try to wip and rape her (changing his mind at the last minute), then treating her like crap in the desert, eventually raping her himself when she is too weak and tired to defend herself is NUTS! That's a sicko plot which is not surprising for early 30s. Found some treasures but this isn't one of them.

An Awesome and Fantastically Sexy Movie!!!!!!!!!

[linda_ann_10-1 · 9 August 2007]

I have read the previous comments about this movie, and as much as sexual assault is heinous, it is unfair to judge a movie almost 75 years old by our standards in the 21st century. I have just seen it for the first time and I absolutely fell in love with all the characters and the roles they played! All we saw was Jamil kiss Diana passionately, and there is absolutely NOTHING that follows indicating that sex took place between the two characters at that desert scene. I do not think the writers or directors of the movie intended for us to conclude anything - it was a maybe at best as to whether or not they had sex. I have no use for feminazis who want to destroy older movies by assuming that this scene should be the whole basis of this film. It was well done with super talented actors, beautiful cinematography and magnificent costumes. AND, given the divorce rate today, we really have no right to judge or question why two people (fictional or real) fall in love and want to spend the rest of their lives together. These movies are what they are, some are good and some are, well, um, hmm..... overall, better than most of the modern garbage Hollywood puts out for it. I was so awed by this stunning film and I hope it comes out in DVD someday, I will be first in line to buy it!!!

THE BARBARIAN (1933) starring Ramon Navarro and Myrna Loy is/was an agreeable, no-brainer "B" movie with "A" movie stars of talent, esp. Loy.

[DavidAllenUSA · 6/10 · 27 February 2015]

THE BARBARIAN (1933) starring Ramon Navarro and Myrna Loy is/was an agreeable, no-brainer "B" movie with "A" movie stars of talent, esp. Loy.

It's a desert romance story of which the 20's were packed (both Valentino SHIEK movies, THE DESERT SONG and others less famous).

None of the Arabs had dark skin, and all of the Oases had unpolluted water holes and half moons shining through the sweeping palm trees and all the sand looked like White Sands, New Mexico with huge (but firm, easy to walk on) sand dunes.

Hollywood's idea of the desert in "Arabia."

The movie is a "girl's movie" (called a "Chick Flick" nowadays) written by GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES author Anita Loos.

The movie is about a pushy (probably feminist), spoiled "half Egyptian" leading lady with an American accent about to marry an English aristocrat in Egypt (but who runs off with Ramon Navarro at the very end of the movie..... Ramon had told her when he abducted her in the middle of the movie and proposed marriage that she won't have to be part of a harem, but makes her wait for water at an Oasis waterhole until the horse drinks first, then he drinks.....she's last to drink.)

Girls buy movie tickets.

Young guys between ages 18 and 24 courting girls and trying to keep the girls happy ALSO buy movie tickets for girls!

"Keep the girls happy" is what this movie is all about.

She's a pushy, spoiled USA feminista, and the guys (two of them!) both think she's wonderful!

It's just like WHEN HARRY MET SALLY (1988) starring Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal.

They guys never learn, the girls always win.

The guys always pension off the girls at an early age (which is why marriage is so popular with young girls) and kill themselves to do it, and the girls live 30 years longer than the guys, thanks to the good life the martyr husband earned for them before he died early!

Unpardonable cynicism, but I put to you and leave it with you.

Old story, and it still goes on!

The rising races of the world (Orientals, Latinos in the USA) ALL support the ladies, lots of children, and "family values" and the disappearing races (White people loyal to each other in the USA esp.) disappear because their numbers shrink and disappear, like a water hole during a drought.

So it goes, and THE BARBARIAN (1933) shows why!

Myrna's famous bathtub "nude scene" was dull and boring, (not as good as Maureen O'Sullivan's swim with Johnny Weismuller in TARZAN AND HIS MATE 1934).

Myrna was/is a true movie star, and was the best actor in the movie. A pleasure to watch her act.

Ramon Navarro wasn't terrible, but also wasn't convincing. His career didn't continue in the sound era, and this movie shows why.

Not recommended

[MovieKen · 3/10 · 9 April 2020]

I am a big fan of classic films, so I was looking forward to seeing what I thought would be a good screwball comedy. Myrna Loy is a frequent performer in that kind of film. However I didn't find this to be very enjoyable at all. In fact I found it to be insulting. All throughout the film I was hoping it would get better but it gets worse. The biggest insult is how it ends.

I will not spoil the film but I will say that the way the Prince treated Myrna Loy's character is offensive. If you would like details, please read other reviews that contain spoilers.

I give it 3 stars only because the production quality of the film is excellent. It looks like it could have been made in the early 1950s.

Outrageous, no matter when produced

[ddeelt · 2/10 · 12 December 2016]

Film was awarded a 2 for filming, but content earns a 0.

While I can give a pass to certain inequities in movies, (i.e. the Nicholas Brothers dance number that Fred Astaire rated as the best dance number ever filmed) I draw the line at praising a film where a woman is kidnapped, raped, eventually returned, ridiculed upon her return, then runs off with her kidnapper/rapist, for the lame reason of her mother was half Egyptian, feeding into the stereotype that people of certain ethnic backgrounds should stick together.

The cinematography of the film rated a 2 because that could be interesting.

No matter when this picture was made, pre-code, post-code, whatever, there is no excuse for tolerating the torture of a woman, then have the woman go out of her way to return to her torturer. Sorry, no can do.

A creepier version of The Sheik

[MissSimonetta · 5/10 · 21 August 2013]

What would you get if you cranked up the unfortunate racial and sexual implications of The Sheik (1921) to eleven? The Barbarian (1933).

Ramon Novarro is badly miscast as a womanizing Arab prince who sets his eye on the beautiful American tourist Myrna Loy, who's visiting Morocco with her fiancé. He pretends to be her servant before kidnapping and raping her. He takes her to his desert tent, where he tries to force her to marry him, but she humiliates him during the ceremony, prompting him to let her go marry the man she loves..... Until she gets cold feet and decides she really loves the guy who stalked and assaulted her, so the movie ends with the two of them living happily ever after (made okay by the fact that Myrna's character is half Egyptian, mentioned once at the beginning and once at the end).

The Sheik, while horribly dated and somewhat offensive, has Valentino's goofy performance and an undeniable kitsch element that makes it enjoyable as a "so bad, it's good" movie. Plus Valentino's sheik never actually rapes his female co-star. The Barbarian is truly vile. While it has some beautiful sets, a delicious scene of Myrna Loy lounging in a tub with deliberately placed rose petals, and a charming musical bit by Novarro, it's hard to get past the squick factor of the plot.

Ramon and Myrna Shine In A Delicious Precode Flick

[overseer-3 · 10/10 · 15 January 2005]

I am constantly amazed at how sexy the precode films of 1933 are (the last year before the Production Code was enforced, which resulted in all Hollywood actresses becoming virgins again overnight), including this intense movie, "The Barbarian", the story of an inter-racial attraction between a white British woman (Myrna Loy, looking exceedingly beautiful here) and an Arab prince (Ramon Novarro, in what has to be his sexiest role ever), who disguises his true identity as part of a coming of age tribal ritual. Myrna's character is attracted to Ramon's Arab the moment she steps off the train in Cairo, Egypt. Fireworks promptly ensue between the two but it is unclear that Ramon is actually falling in love with the woman he pursues until closer to the end of the picture.

I completely disagree with another reviewer who called this movie "bilge" because of a certain scene in the desert. It is clear that Myrna finds the Arab desirable, so no real force was involved, it was mutual attraction right from the beginning. This was an important film role for Myrna Loy; she finally got to look beautiful and sexy on screen as the lead, instead of being cast in minor roles in silly exotic parts which didn't do much for her talents. It is not right to attack her memory, as the other reviewer here did, for a theme that has been repeated by Hollywood many times over the decades.

Other cast members were perfect here, including dapper Reginald Denny as the fiancée who quickly realizes the Arab's true intents, and Louise Hale as the grandmotherly Powers, who comes off with some of the most hysterically funny lines in the picture.

A wonderfully entertaining and intense film, and I give it a 10 out of 10. Excellent and very romantic. I just wish that Ramon's silent film "The Arab" from 1924, which was the basis for this re-make, was available to compare with this one, but unfortunately it is sitting in European archives and unlikely to ever be seen on video or DVD. Even "The Barbarian" is only available for viewing whenever TCM bothers to show it (usually once per year).

I love Myrna Loy, but... ***spoilers***

[jndp5 · 1/10 · 26 April 2013]

This is one pre-Code movie I will miss should I ever come across it again.

****This may contain spoilers**** The reviews seem to be divided between whether Myrna's character (Diana) is British or American. The movie tells us she is half Egyptian.

Whatever her nationality, what she endures is much more obvious. Lured to a house under false pretenses by Roman Navarro's character (Jamil), where she is subjected to being whipped (we hear the off screen screams), a whip that Navarro himself hands to Edward Arnold (Pasha), she is "rescued" by her betrayer and bought back. This leads to a trek across the desert with Jamil wistfully repeating "you called for me". Right, Diana called for him rather than her no where to be seen fiancé or the police.

Then after a fight with some of Pasha's men sent to bring back Diana, Jamil, the winner of the fight, makes Diana walk across the desert to the oasis.

After all of this comes the much debated scene. Jamil grabs her and forcefully kisses her, completely with pulling hair scene. She tries to fight him off.

Did he or did he not rape Diana?

The movie makes this very plain in the very next scene. A close up of Diana, face tear stained, eyes vacant, she recoils when Jamil talks to her, offers her a cloak to cover herself for the rest of the trek in the desert. He graciously offers to let her ride the horse this time.

At his father's camp, Jamil reveals he is a prince and that he adores Diana, even wanting to marry her. She goes so far as to go through the ceremony until it is her turn to drink from the wedding cup. She throws the water in his face and storms out. Humiliated, Jamil grabs a whip and strikes her. A second whipping! Yes, this is love. Then he relents and sends her home.

Back with her people, and her fiancé, Diana is getting ready to be married that day. The movie gets in one more subtle hint to what happened to Diana. Her close confident, overcome by emotion at seeing her friend ready to be married responds to Diana's request to be alone by saying "yes, your last moment of virgin solitude" then turns away from Diana suddenly realizing the import of her words indicted by her gasping and whispering "virgin".

And at the end of all of this, Diana runs away with Jamil!

Another reviewer commented that we shouldn't judge a movie made so long ago by our century's standards. I disagree adamantly. Eighty years or eighty centuries, rape is rape, abuse is abuse.

Skip this one and watch one another of Myrna Loy's pre-Code movies such as "Penthouse" or "When Ladies Meet".

Disgusting and Creepy Right from the Start

[tr-83495 · 1/10 · 18 April 2019]

Novarro is reprehensible and disgusting and so is the script. Loy should not have been in this movie, regardless of the prevailing attitudes of the times...how things have changed. It's still disgusting and deserves no stars.

Myrna in the desert

[guswhovian · 4/10 · 30 April 2020]

Pesky Arab conman Jamil (Ramon Navarro) relentlessly pursues Englishwoman Diana (Myrna Loy), who is due to be married.

The Barbarian is bad. How exactly this one got past the drawing board at MGM is beyond me. Novarro is good enough as the titular character, and Loy is her usual dependable self. Good old C. Aubrey Smith is around as well.

The script (co-written by Anita Loos!) is chock-full of bad romantic dialogue. Being an MGM film, the set design and costumes are excellent, but even the MGM glitter can't save it.

About the only reason I recommend watching The Barbarian is that you get to see Myrna Loy taking a bath. First time viewing. 2/5

Am I supposed to be charmed by a guy who bites a dog's ear?

[ArtVandelayImporterExporter · 3/10 · 22 December 2021]

Right after the opening scene that establishes Navarro as a charming womanizer, we see him steal a small dog and then bite its ear to shut it up. That's a bad omen. A very bad omen.

Myrna Loy has come to Cairo with some stiff fiance and his abrasive mom along for the ride. Navarro insinuates himself with their entourage. They all go wandering out to find the shortcut to Aqaba, or something. Navarro tries a nighttime r#pe. Gets rebuffed. Then kidnaps Loy and takes him to Edward Arnold playing some kind of Arab bigshot who's into S&M (whips, specifically).

While in captivity she takes a s3xytime bath that viewers are expected to believe was genuinely in the nude (actually a flesh-colored bodysuit).

Later, Navarro drags Loy through the dessert - he on horseback, her on foot - like Eli Wallach does to Clint Eastwood in The Good, The Bad & The Ugly. And then lets his horse drink out of the oasis before he lets Loy drink. And THEN he r#pes her. And then, and THEN, he takes her back to his cavalcade of goat herders for a forced marriage. Good gawd, what an abomination.

As if THAT wasn't offensive enough, Loy is sitting at her makeup mirror just before her marriage to The Stiff when one of the old bags mentions something about Loy sitting there in her ''virgin solitude." At which point we hear Navarro crooning his little lovesong and Loy gets all moonie for him. Are we supposed to understand that Loy realizes she is ''spoiled" for her white suitor and thus, in a desperate bid to salvage everyone's dignity and maybe her own happiness she runs away with her Arab r@pist?

My jaw was actually on the floor by the end of it.

Production values are quite excellent. Myrna Loy was stunningly beautiful. And Navarro is actually believable as a guy who sleeps with woman. So it gets a 3 based on those qualities alone.

Complete and Utter Bonkers

[mmallon4 · 9/10 · 13 February 2015]

The Barbarian has to be seen to be believed. That's if you're able to believe this unbelievably ridiculous plot. Ramon Navarro's Jamil is the textbook definition of a creep and why the characters in the movie take as long as they do to realise this is beyond me. Throughout much of the film he treats the Myrna Loy's Diana like dirt. He kidnaps her, drags her into the desert, has her whipped by another man so he can pretend to save her and on top of that, or at least what's implied, he rapes her. Throughout The Barbarian I was thinking there's no way these two are getting together at the end of the film but with only five minutes run time left to go, Diana ditches her nice loving fiancé for the man who earlier in the film kidnapped her and made her life a living hell. Why?! Stockholm syndrome, abused wife syndrome, girls just love a bad boy syndrome?

The final scene of the movie shows the two in a loving embrace on barge under the moonlight, implying that his ending is supposed to be happy. Uh no, this is dark and disturbing. This women is with a man who is the most morally dubious character being presented as the hero of the story I've ever seen. Is it supposed to be ironic or just horribly misguided? The Barbarian however is a rare instance of a movie which I feel kind of bad for having enjoyed, like I have to have the TV facing the wall in the corner of a room with the volume lowered, not letting anyone knowing I'm watching such a thing; or at least that was the case until I decided to post a review on the internet.

So what makes this movie enjoyable? For starters, there is the unmitigated joy that comes from watching politically incorrect pre- code movies. I've seen some crazy pre-code films but this just takes the cake. It's like a train wreck, it's so shocking but you can't look away. Moments of The Barbarian are shocking, other times it's unintentionally funny, yet despite this bizarre mish-mash, the film works. It's engaging and there's tension throughout, the sets and locations are superb, feeling like a tourist brochure at its exotic interiors and landscapes and there's Myrna Loy's bathtub scene, a moment of astounding risqué beauty and one of the sexiest scenes in all of cinema. Loy actually shows a lot of skin throughout the film in a range of skimpy attire. This is also the only movie I've seen to date which shows that the Pyramids of Giza are right beside the city of Cairo and not in the middle of nowhere - Who knew! Watch and observe The Barbarian in all its unbelievable pre-code glory.

Just a ridiculous story from beginning to end

[nomoons11 · 5/10 · 18 July 2011]

I think the only saving grace for this film is that is when it was made...1933. Basically you get a suave young lady coming to Cairo to marry her husband. She seems to love him enough then a ruthless womanizer who happens to be a guide/thief in Cairo continually professes his love for her but she resists.

They let you know early on that he's a inveterate womanizer but by the end the Myrna Loy character falls in love with him. I mean after he lies to her consistently and she knows it, constantly undermining things between her and her husband, and she knows it...constantly kissing her and she doesn't expect or want it...then the peak of it all, he kidnaps her and forces marriage from her from his tribe. She says yes then turns the tables on him at the ceremony. She gets to leave his ways and she then informs the Egyptian authorities who then set out to catch him (Of course they don't).

After all this you already know the ending. There's 2 to 3 minutes left and she finally gets alone in her room ready to get married to her future husband and guess who arrives? You got it, Mr. Charm himself. We then proceed to see them floating down the Nile lying in each others arms.

I can only think of this film as offensive to women, in 1 way, is this character so weak minded that she would leave her future husband she loves for a guy who does everything he does to her in the way of lying, cheating and kidnapping and then she decides.."Oh well, I'll go with him cause now I love him."? It's just ridiculous. I can see why this one isn't very popular. It's a dud.

If you wanna see where Myrna Loy starts to shine, fast forward a year and start on the "Thin Man" movies. They're a class unto themselves.