Wednesday, April 06, 2022

Movie review - "Sudan" (1945) *** (re-watching)

 I'd be curious to know the development of this script. It starts out like a more stock Jon Hall-Maria Montez romance, with Montez as a queen sold into slavery by evil George Zucco. She is rescued by Jon Hall and Andy Devine, and I assume Devine was standing in for Sabu.

But then along comes Turhan Bey, who rescues Montex from some attackers... and Bey and Montex have this romance (It's implied they have sex).  Then Montez, Hall and Devine go back to the palace, Zucco leads a coup... and it's Hall who is tortured, and escapes and helps rescue Montez. And they get Bey.

There's a genuine love triangle because Hall loves Montez... but Bey is heroic too. And at the end Bey goes off with Montez - and she seems quite happy about it. Yet Hall gets a lot of sympathy (and second billing).  Bey is a bit wet to be an action hero - that careful enunciation is better suited for lounges.

Zucco offers expert villainy the sets and photography are fantastic. There's some impressive spectacle. Some dances and action.

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