Sunday, August 11, 2019

Movie review - "Star of India" (1954) **

This should have been good. It starts well with bright colour and movement and Cornel Wilde returning to his castle in the 17th century. The basic idea isn't bad - it's a chase after a special Indian diamond.

But they don't develop it. There's little Indian presence. Few personal stakes - I mean why should the Dutch get back the jewel, they stole it? It's strained - Jean Wallace happens to take all Wilde's property but she's also there on  a secret mission? Herbert Lom is responsible for everything bad? What does King Louis  XIV think?

Wilde has a rapey relationship with his love interest Jean Wallace. We don't see why they fall in love other than they should. She's got no character to play.

The story takes too long to get going. Wilde should be off and running in 15 minutes but it takes half an hour. There's too much hanging around the castle. Too much repetition - Wilde is captured and escaped and captured. There's no dramatic build.

Also Arthur Lubin, whose films can be bright and colorful, isn't a fantastic action director.

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