This is an American release of two German films directed by a true master, Fritz Lang, at the end of his career. She is remaking several films from his silent ears, and the result is a colorful film that might have been perfect for Maria Montes, Jon Hall, Sabu and Lon Chaney in the 1940's. We still can't seem to escape these romantic tales set in exotic places, and perhaps it's because they show a fantasy we could never hope to find as individuals. This is as deliciously hokey as "Cobra Woman" from 1944, featuring an exotic dancer in front of a giant cobra that is obviously a puppet that even the Muppets would reject. That scene was so ridiculously funny that I found myself rewinding it just to see it again.
The story of course focuses on an evil ruler, an Indian Maharaja who keeps a dancing girl as his property, and when she runs off with a visiting Canadian, The Peasants are threatened with torture if they don't assist him in finding her. Debra Paget, fresh from "The Ten Commandments", play the exotic dancing girl, and Paul Hubschmid is have the services of an architect the handsome hero who faces many tortures after daring to defy the evil ruler who has an even more evil brother determined to oust him.
The dubbed version that I found has credits in German watch Once the character starts speaking, it is all in English. Many of the actors playing the Indians are obviously Caucasians with extremely dark makeup (black with a hint of purple), and it is truly eye rolling in the most ridiculous of ways. Still, the sets are opulent and the color photography is stunning. Obviously, this is just going to be better viewed as a comedy because there are a ton of implausibilities and the acting, especially with a dubbing is atrocious. Paget will never be considered a threat to Lang's most famous female stars, Sylvia Sidney and Joan Bennett, but she does look stunning and gets to wear some truly magnificently exotic costumes. Therefore, technically this ends up being fantastic simply for its design if nothing else.
The story of course focuses on an evil ruler, an Indian Maharaja who keeps a dancing girl as his property, and when she runs off with a visiting Canadian, The Peasants are threatened with torture if they don't assist him in finding her. Debra Paget, fresh from "The Ten Commandments", play the exotic dancing girl, and Paul Hubschmid is have the services of an architect the handsome hero who faces many tortures after daring to defy the evil ruler who has an even more evil brother determined to oust him.
The dubbed version that I found has credits in German watch Once the character starts speaking, it is all in English. Many of the actors playing the Indians are obviously Caucasians with extremely dark makeup (black with a hint of purple), and it is truly eye rolling in the most ridiculous of ways. Still, the sets are opulent and the color photography is stunning. Obviously, this is just going to be better viewed as a comedy because there are a ton of implausibilities and the acting, especially with a dubbing is atrocious. Paget will never be considered a threat to Lang's most famous female stars, Sylvia Sidney and Joan Bennett, but she does look stunning and gets to wear some truly magnificently exotic costumes. Therefore, technically this ends up being fantastic simply for its design if nothing else.