Desert Nights (1929)

User Rating:

8.6/10   

Director:

William Nigh

Writers:

Marian Ainslee (titles)
Endre Bohem (adaptation)

Release Date:

9 March 1929 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Hugh Roland is the manager of an African diamond mine, when Lord Stonehill and his daughter Diana arrive to visit the mine...

Plot Keywords:

Diamond | Desert | Robbery | Melodrama | South Africa

Cast

John Gilbert	...	Hugh Rand
Ernest Torrence	...	Lord 'Steve' Stonehill
Mary Nolan	...	Lady Diana Stonehill

Also Known As:

Thirst (USA)

Runtime:

62 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

Silent (alternate version) | Mono (Movietone) (musical score and sound effects)

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Anodyne Film Production

Herr Hugh Rand is the manager of an important African diamond mine and is waiting for a visit, more precisely, from Lord Stonehill and his daughter Diana; since he hasn't seen a white woman for years in such a desolate place, Herr Rand thinks that Herr Lord Stonehill's daughter won't be a beauty but an old maid, bow-legged and cross-eyed; but he is wrong, because she turns out to be a gorgeous lady and shocked by this unexpected surprise, Herr Rand tries to seduce her; but, as always happens with people in love, Herr Rand's love idiocy prevents him from seeing that this beauty is also a crook and the partner of her supposed father, another crook, natürlich!, who pretty soon kidnaps Herr Rand after robbing a tray of diamonds.

"Desert Nights" is an anodyne film production, directed by the anodyne Herr William Nigh, that uses many clichés of the adventure film ( Herr Nigh likes especially exotic film productions ); besides the film had a poor story. The film has little interest and the most remarkable aspect of this oeuvre is that it starred the important silent actor Herr John Gilbert in what was his last silent film and the beginning of his unsuccessful talkie career, decadence with a tragic ending.

So, it is not strange that this German count hasn't enjoyed this film, because the Calahari desert is not Monte Carlo; not to mention that this Teutonic aristocrat prefers racehorses instead of those vultures and hyenas that can be seen in the film ( besides, these last ones have been part of the family for centuries... ), and doesn't understand the main characters of the film yearning for water when they are lost in the desert, instead of simply asking for a cocktail; not to mention the sweaty rags they wear in such a hot place instead of an impeccable and elegant Prussian uniform... In spite of all, there is something in common between those crooks and German aristocrats, their interest in diamonds; don't forget too that Herr Gilbert was an attractive seducer, the same as this German count…

And now, if you'll allow me, I must temporarily take my leave because this German Count must enjoy a dessert.

Herr Graf Ferdinand Von Galitzien http://ferdinandvongalitzien.blogspot.com/