Breaking the Commandments - Pre-Code Hollywood: The Most Dangerous Game (1932)
A pre-code curio with a 63 minute running time. How can you miss? Ernest B. Schoedsack and Merian C. Cooper’s warm up to King Kong — the nighttime jungle scenes share the same sets and sounds — introduces Leslie Banks as Count Zaroff, a tangible threat more terrifying and prevalent, if not sympathetic, than even the great ape. A wealthy gun nut, alone on an island paradise and with acres to spare, Zaroff arranges for a human hunt. Refusing to be his sporting partner, Bob (Joel McCrea), a recently shipwrecked big-game hunter, instead becomes Zaroff’s prey. Houseguest Eve (Fay Wray) joins Team Bob after Zaroff makes it clear that, “One does not kill the female animal.” Implausible? Seeing how well he knows every inch of Baranks Island, did Bob really think that Zaroff would fall for the old “branches over the chasm” routine? The final chase, with the Count trading his archer’s bow for a high-powered rifle, continues to pack a thrill. Historical footnote: Noble Johnson co-stars as Zaroff’s Russian henchman, Ivan, making this the first film in which an African-American actor appears in whiteface. — Scott Marks