She (1935)

I watched the German dubbed version of the movie. It has a nice opening, great effects and a beautiful setting and goes well until they meet with "her". Then there is simply too much unnecessary dialogue instead of action :) I was wishing for some nice giant creature to appear... that would have made a great movie out of it. But unfortunately that didn't happen. I guess they were running out of money. The actors were quite OK, but nothing special. Apart from Nigel Bruce and Helen Mack maybe, who looked really nice as Tanya. On the other hand Helen Gahagan as "she" seemed miscast to me. The remake from 1965 was slightly better in my opinion. Overall I rate it 5/10.

Time almost Forgot this Treasure seemingly Covered by the Inferior Hammer Remake. It has now been Resurrected in Pristine Prints with a new Colorized process and the DVD and Blu-rays include the Original B&W for Purists.This is a rather Unique Adventure and Early Sci-Fi Film with Wonderful Art-Deco Sets, SFX, and one of Max Steiner's Best Scores. Elaborate Costumes and Dance sequences also Highlight this Beautiful mix of Lost Civilizations and Enduring Love.It is a Treat for the senses and this is what it was like in the Early Days of Hollywood when Imaginations abound and Cost was Not a Factor. There is much to Enjoy, it places the Audience in a Land Long Lost with much Beauty and Awe. The Pacing is a bit Slow but its Rhythm is Riveting and there are a number of Set Pieces that are Memorable and the Production as a whole has a Look that is like No Other.

By today's standards, this is a pretty bad movie. However, for lovers of classic Hollywood films (particularly escapist adventure movies), this is a very rare treat--and thanks to Buster Keaton for saving a single copy so we can see this amazing flick today.The film begins in Britain. An American young man (Randolph Scott) has been called back to his ancestral land to see his Uncle--a man he has never met. The Uncle is dying but wants to convey a strange story to him--a story about a distant relative who disappeared 500 years looking for a magic radioactive flame that has the ability to keep someone young forever. Scott is somehow convinced to leave with his Uncle's good friend (Nigel Bruce) in search of this odd flame. Along the way, they meet up with a nice lady (Helen Mack) and they head to the mountains to where this relative went centuries earlier.Once they find this fanciful land, they and the audience are in shock to see amazing sets, weird and highly choreographed dancing, "King Kong"-like sets and a very bitter woman who is "She". It seems that She has been waiting for Scott to arrive...waiting 500 years for his return! Unfortunately, She is also a very bitter and nasty lady--and yet she offers him the secret of eternal life! The film is crazy to watch today because of the incredible scope and sense of silly escapist fun--something you rarely ever see any more (except, perhaps, with the Indiana Jones films). It evokes a fun time in film making when movies like "Lost Horizon", "The Cobra Woman" and serials were all the rage. Sure, the dialog is a bit heavy-handed and silly and the dancing is darn funny--but it's also very captivating and pleasant fun.Oh, and the film's female lead, Helen Gahagan, later was famous as the woman Richard Nixon beat through a rather disreputable smear campaign. In response, she coined the term "Tricky Dick Nixon".

Having recently finished the reading of Haggard's masterpiece (which I recommend as one of the best English classic I have read along Stevenson's Treasure Island), I was eager to view this movie, considered the best of all the adaptations made out of the book. Knowing that Cooper was on the producer chair, my expectations were somehow high...And those were not necessarily met, but it might be because I am so fond of the book. The main fault of this movie is, in my opinion, the fact that the writers decided to drop all the Freudian subtext and philosophical considerations of the story. Well, of course, this is a movie and we were in 1935, but those were the elements that set Haggard's book apart from all the other adventures book. Setting the story in the north rather than in Africa and making Leo Vincey the reincarnation of an English adventurer of the 1500s have riped Ayesha of some of her mystic too.Yet, there is some things to enjoy in this well made adventure. The settings are appropriate and so is the acting (well, for the era...). The soundtrack is one of the best and the scene of the sacrifice is a must-see (complete with mickey-mousing and a very interesting choreography!!!!!). The first apparition and the ending of Ayesha were worthy of Haggard's character too and are more than well-done (althought Helen Gahagan is not as beautiful as Ayesha is supposed to be, but still: who can be THAT beautiful... It might explained why Leo Vincey and Holly are not so overwhelm by her presence as they are in the source!!!!!!!!).To the credits of the writers, they have preserved some of the key scenes of the story (the scene with the cannibals and their judgement by Ayesha are prime examples) and give the titular character enough of her self-awareness and pride to make her a juicy role for Gahagan (it's a shame that she were not able to make another movie for she obviously have talent).This is not as well-made and interesting as King Kong, but it is still a good movie, complete with adventures and mystery from the dawn of time (Indiana Jones was not the first to make such discoveries!) And you're likely to appreciate it more if you have not read the book... but this one is much, much better!!!