She (1935)

After regaling him with fantastic tales of his adventures, “Vincey” (Samuel S. Hinds) intrigues his nephew “Leo” (Randolph Scott) who decides to set off with their old friend “Holly” (Nigel Bruce) to retrace his steps. Along the way, they encounter the duplicitous “Dugmore” (Lumsden Hare) and his daughter “Tanya” (Helen Mack) who offers to take him high into the mountains where answers might lie. When they discover a frozen sabre-toothed tiger, then a secret cave they begin to believe that the long-secret land of “Kor” and its legendary ageless ruler might be within their reach. “She” (Helen Gahagan) immediately thinks that the young “Leo” is the man she fell in love with many, many, years ago, but this love proves unrequited, especially as “Tanya” has her eyes on him too. Thing is, will a women who has been obeyed unconditionally for centuries agree to let them choose or will she impose her will? There is some great studio modelling here and coupled with a jolly effort from Bruce and a menacing one from an on-form Gahagan, ably abetted by her high-priest (Julius Adler) this is a solid and entertaining adaptation of H. Rider Haggard’s late 19th century mystery. The sets manage to mix the ancient cultures of the Egyptian with a sort of look of the “King Kong” to them and with the torches burning and the really effective use of light and shadow, this film has a lovely mysticism to it that I thought offered just enough menace to counter the burgeoning romantic elements between the competent Scott and his femmes. If you like the genre and this writer’s brand of adventure, then this ought not to disappoint.