Alpha have given us quite an acceptable 8/10 print of Beau Ideal (1931) which, partly thanks to Loretta Young, contrives to be one of the worst films ever made. Well, at least for the first 20 minutes or so.
If you're watching this, fast-forward immediately after the credits past the scene with the chained prisoners (it's repeated later in the movie) and all the terrible stuff with a group of the worst child actors ever assembled, and all the tripe with Loretta Young (she is absolutely dreadful - and is photographed most unattractively to boot).
Commence watching as soon as the Foreign Legion scenes appear. They may seem rather dull and over-familiar at first, but they do build up to a splendid all-action climax.
Alas, director Herbert Brenon, a master of visual excitements, proves an almost total loss with his leads. Admittedly, given his ropey dialogue, Lester Vail is not too bad, but Ralph Forbes proves even more insufferable than Miss Young. And that's saying something!
If you're watching this, fast-forward immediately after the credits past the scene with the chained prisoners (it's repeated later in the movie) and all the terrible stuff with a group of the worst child actors ever assembled, and all the tripe with Loretta Young (she is absolutely dreadful - and is photographed most unattractively to boot).
Commence watching as soon as the Foreign Legion scenes appear. They may seem rather dull and over-familiar at first, but they do build up to a splendid all-action climax.
Alas, director Herbert Brenon, a master of visual excitements, proves an almost total loss with his leads. Admittedly, given his ropey dialogue, Lester Vail is not too bad, but Ralph Forbes proves even more insufferable than Miss Young. And that's saying something!