Two Arabian Knights (1927)

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Director:

Lewis Milestone

Writers:

Donald McGibney (story)
Wallace Smith (screen version) ...

Release Date:

23 September 1927 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance | Adventure

Plot:

Two American soldiers are captured by the Germans on the Western Front during World War One and escape a POW camp only to stumble into further life-threatening adventures when they come across an Arabian king's daughter while on the lam.

Plot Keywords:

Ship | Escape | Soldier | Emir | Arab

Awards:

Won Oscar.

Cast

William Boyd	...	W. Dangerfield Phelps III
Mary Astor	...	Mirza
Louis Wolheim	...	Sgt. Peter O'Gaffney
Ian Keith	...	Shevket Ben Ali
Michael Vavitch	...	The Emir
Michael Visaroff	...	The Skipper (as M. Visaroff)
Boris Karloff	...	The Purser
DeWitt Jennings	...	American Consul (as De Witt Jennings)
Nicholas Dunaew	...	Mirza's Man Servant (as Nicholas Dunaev)
Jean Vachon	...	Mirza's Maid Servant
David Cavendish	...	The Emir's Advisor (as Denis D'Auburn)

Runtime:

92 min (2004 alternate version)

Country:

USA

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Silent

Certification:

USA:Approved | USA:TV-G (TV rating)

Filming Locations:

San Bernardino Mountains, California, USA

Company:

The Caddo Company

Trivia:

The print for this film that was found was recovered just in the nick of time -- there are points in the film where severe damage (and near-disintegration) can be seen, although the restorers did their utmost to undo the damage.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Amazing Howard Hughes (1977) (TV)

A Return To The Thrills Of Yesteryear

Like TWO ARABIAN KNIGHTS, a couple of American soldiers attempt the daring rescue of a Middle Eastern princess from a loveless betrothal.

Producer Howard Hughes became a Hollywood power with the very successful release of this, his third motion picture. Thought lost for decades, this wonderful silent comedy has recently been rediscovered & restored and given a splendid orchestral score by Robert Israel. Directed with verve by Lewis Milestone and greatly benefiting from William Cameron Menzies' art direction, the high jinks & high adventure of this antique buddy film are once again ready to delight the viewing audience.

Clean-cut private William Boyd and plug-ugly sergeant Louis Wolheim battle Germans, Arabs and each other across Europe, the Mediterranean and into Palestine. They make a terrific comedy duo, constantly involved in one-upmanship and dangerous exploits whether in a POW camp, on a prisoner train, aboard a tramp steamer, or in a Moslem souk and emir's palace. Wolheim, with his hilariously expressive face, has a slight advantage in the scene stealing category, while Boyd has the upper hand in the romantics department.

Mary Astor, as the endangered princess, is the willing recipient of Boyd's attentions. Her role doesn't give her a great deal to do except look lovely & alarmed, but these she carries off admirably.

In the supporting cast, Michael Visaroff is the black hearted ship's captain who comes into conflict with Boyd & Wolheim; look fast for Boris Karloff as his purser. Dashing Ian Keith nicely plays the young Arab chieftain who will stop at nothing to make Astor his bride.

At various points throughout the movie the viewer will notice the deterioration of the film stock, showing that TWO ARABIAN KNIGHTS was indeed rescued, like the princess, just in time.