Kongo

Definitely unusual in the sense that it FEELS odd (rightly or wrongly) to see an old Hollywood film so utterly devoid of even a hint of glamour. Everything- even the romantic leads - looks grimy/ unpleasant. This doesn't change the fact that there's nothing resembling a compelling story here, just a nasty revenge tale waiting for a victim who takes the whole movie to show up. The climax also relies on the idiotic contrivance of completely biddable tribesmen abruptly becoming vengeful skeptics

If you're looking for what the best of politically incorrect Hollywood has to offer in the golden age look no further as this does not disappoint. Walter Huston is nearly unrecognizable here as the ruthless subject of this gritty pre-code film. The production is fairly good here if low budget and has a crackling script. Some may focus a bit too much on its stereotypes but they reveal an ugly truth about human nature. Recommended.

Some very nice pre-code jiggling titties.

Walter Huston plays a wheelchair-bound despot in the middle of the jungle, manipulating the natives into controlled docility by showing them magic tricks while hatching a plan to murder the grown daughter of his rival. It largely takes place in one hut with razorwire dialogue rebounding around as perfect flavoring to the twisted plot. Definitely fun to watch, if only to imagine the aghast gapes some of the more outlandish costumes must have drawn when the extras strolled across the MGM backlot.

No-holds-barred melodrama which never really exerts the right grip.

A sound remake of West of Zanzibar (1928) which starred Lon Chaney and Lionel Barrymore. And it's Walter Huston in Chaney old role and C. Henry Gordon in Barrymore's. Speaking of Lionel Barrymore, Conrad Nagel almost does a L. Barrymore impersonation here for his role as the drugged up Kingsland! It was like he was the spitting image of the guy. It's a dark and grotesque story no matter how you twist and turn things. It really is horror you're watching and Huston looks and acts the part.

The script is weak, but the Apocalypse Now vs Oldboy premise is intriguing and it manages to build to a good climax. I suspect that the idea that naive indigenous people can be awed into servitude by Western commodities and and corny magic tricks was probably already a cliche by 1932, but it's pretty effective at creating tension here, as skeptical locals are only temporarily satisfied and soon return expecting something more impressive.

it succeeds in being grim and dark, and huston gloriously succeeds as the nasty Flint. the script doesn't seemed too concerned with highlighting much else, and passage of days, weeks, months is glossed over very badly.