Stingaree (1934)

User Rating:

5.8/10   

Director:

William A. Wellman

Writers:

Becky Gardiner (screenplay)
Lynn Riggs (adaptation) ...

Release Date:

25 May 1934 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Plot Keywords:

Nobility | 1870s | Melbourne Victoria | Outlaw | Bar

Cast

Irene Dunne	...	Hilda Bouverie
Richard Dix	...	Stingaree
Mary Boland	...	Mrs. Clarkson
Conway Tearle	...	Sir Julian Kent
Andy Devine	...	Howie
Henry Stephenson	...	Mr. Hugh Clarkson
George Barraud	...	Inspector Radford
Una O'Connor	...	Annie
'Snub' Pollard	...	Victor
Reginald Owen	...	The Governor-General
Billy Bevan	...	Mac
Robert Greig	...	The Innkeeper

Runtime:

77 min (Turner library print)

Country:

USA

Language:

English | French

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Victor System)

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #1427-R: 4 September 1935 for re-release) | USA:Passed (National Board of Review) | USA:TV-PG (TV rating)

Filming Locations:

Edgar Rice Burroughs Ranch, Tarzana, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

RKO Radio Pictures

Trivia:

Rather than build their own opera-house set for the final concert sequence, RKO went to Universal and shot the sequence on the standing set built for the 1925 Lon Chaney, Sr. version of "The Phantom of the Opera."

Goofs:

Factual errors: Hilda's name in the ads reads "Madame Hilda Bouverie." In fact, she is not supposed to be married at this point in the movie, and so should have been referred to as "Mademoiselle Hilda Bouverie."

Quotes:

Mrs. Clarkson: ...Why, the very foundation of empire is woman's virginity.
Sir Julian Kent: Chastity, madame, chastity. No empire would get very far with virginity.

Movie Connections:

Version of Stingaree (1915)

Soundtrack:

Lucia di Lammermoor

The Outlaw Helpmate

Somewhat lackluster period musical/adventure tale set in Australia, 1874 telling the story of a young lady named Hilda (played by Irene Dunne) who works as a servant for the wealthy Clarksons, sheep farmers, and dreams of being a great singer. An upcoming visit by Sir Julian, a famous composer arriving from London, drives jealous Mrs. Clarkson (an interfering biddy who fancies she can sing - but can't) to send away Hilda, so he doesn't hear Hilda has a good voice. Meanwhile, an infamous outlaw named Stingaree (Richard Dix) has just arrived in town and kidnaps Sir Julian, then poses as him at the Clarksons, where he meets Hilda a few hours before she is to leave. Hilda, thinking he's Sir Julian, sings for him - and Stingaree decides to help her with her career. She soon finds out he's an impostor, he ends up kidnapping her - um, and she likes it (and this is all in one night!). They are instantly in love - the fact that he is a bandit that the police are after means nothing to her. They are soon separated though - after Stingaree is arrested and Sir Julian takes Hilda to Europe to make her into a famous opera singer.

This is a somewhat mediocre film - though I did like Irene Dunne in this, Richard Dix gives a pretty hammy performance here (rolling eyes and all). It's not all bad, but I thought the story was just a bit hard to swallow - Hilda and the memory she just can't seem to forget: being carried off on horseback by a bandit/outlaw - I just don't know about this woman's choices. Some of the character actors in this do add a few bright moments here and there - especially Andy Devine, as Stingaree's sidekick "valet", who got me laughing in the few brief scenes he is in. The music in this is not too memorable either - all in all, so-so.