The Barbarian (1933)

Director:

Sam Wood

Writers:

Elmer Harris (writer)
Anita Loos (writer)

Release Date:

12 May 1933 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Drama | Romance

Plot:

A racy story of Myrna, who arrives in Cairo to meet her fiance. She attracts the attention of Ramon...

Plot Keywords:

Guide | Arab | Aqueduct | Half Caste | Socialite

Cast

Ramon Novarro	...	Jamil El Shehab
Myrna Loy	...	Diana 'Di' Standing
Reginald Denny	...	Gerald Hume, Diana's Fiancee
Louise Closser Hale	...	Powers
C. Aubrey Smith	...	Cecil Harwood
Edward Arnold	...	Achmed Pasha
Blanche Friderici	...	Mrs. Hume, Gerald's Mother
Marcelle Corday	...	Marthe, Diana's Maid
Hedda Hopper	...	Mrs. Loway, American Tourist
Leni Stengel	...	Ilsa, German Tourist

Also Known As:

A Night in Cairo (UK)
Man of the Nile
The Arab

Runtime:

83 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

USA:Approved

Filming Locations:

Yuma, Arizona, USA

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

In wide shots of their characters riding across the desert on camel-back, Myrna Loy and Louise Closser Hale were doubled by Audrey Scott.

Movie Connections:

Version of The Arab (1924)

Soundtrack:

Temptation

Does Not Age Well

Originally meant to be a steamy romance filled with temptation and scandal, The Barbarian comes off today as antiquated and shocking but for all the wrong reasons. Diana Standing (Myrna Loy) is a wealthy woman from America who comes to Egypt to visit the land of her heritage. Her mother was half Egyptian. There she meets a ruthless womanizer who cons himself into being her guide. Jamil El Shehab (Ramon Novarro) has a history of romancing women and taking their money. He sets his eyes on Diana who no matter how she resists, cannot escape the watchful and menacing eye of Jamil.

Beginning in the 20s, America went wild for all things Arab and mysterious. Women fainted at the thought of men like Rudolph Valentino ravaging them in the desert, something they feared but also longed for. These kinds of stories became commonplace both in Hollywood and in trashy romance novels. Thus, we have The Barbarian. What better subject (rape, brutality, forbidden desire) for a pre-code film? Although she wore a nude bodysuit in the scene, Loy takes a bath in a tub with no bubbles and few flower petals inside to cover her. The soft focus says it all; this movie is all about sex.

Unfortunately today, many women see Novarro as a brute and a savage. Their negative reactions to him make for difficult viewing. His character was intended to be representative of the nagging desire for the unattainable, but by todays standards, Jamil is creepy and bothersome.

Despite these obstacles, the film has some undeniably merits. Novarro's singing enhances the story with a lovely ballad that strains throughout. The direction by Sam Wood leaves the audience with just enough information to tell the story, but not too much as to be smutty. One shot in particular of Diana after her rape is movingly beautiful.