Mrs. Mardick: “It’s not the heat really, it’s the humidity.”
Nestled between two of Cecil B. DeMille’s massively successful historical epics (that he is so well known for), namely The Sign of the Cross (1932) and Cleopatra (1934), he directed two box office failures, This Day and Age (1933) and the movie reviewed here today, Four Frightened People (1934).
Released just prior to the end of the Pre-Code era, DeMille’s early dramatic jungle adventure was reworked on the fly – which is partially why it is one of the iconic director’s middling efforts. Originally running ninety-six minutes, after an initial screening that didn’t jive with the audience, he cut it down to an hour and eighteen minutes, simplifying the beginning and changing who knows what else – it has long been rumoured that some edgy material would have been trimmed due to the coming Hays Code, but judging by what sultry touches remain, that is no guarantee (sadly, the original cut was never seen again and it seems to be long lost to time).
Despite feeling abridged upon its rushed opening, we immediately find four passengers and a local fleeing a plague-ridden ship upon a lifeboat. Led by the boldly brash famed newspaper writer Stewart Corder (William Gargan – Keep `Em Flying; Who Done It?), followed by reserved married British rubber scientist Arnold Ainger (Herbert Marshall – The Fly), chatty, dog carrying and frequently married socialite Mrs. Mardick (Mary Boland), as well as meek geography teacher Judy Jones (Claudette Colbert – Torch Singer; It Happened One Night). . . she was actually brought along due to the noisy attention she made upon seeing the others sneaking away from the main boat.
Landing on a British Malayan island (current day Malaysia) which is also overrun by the plague, their only way off the island and back to civilization is to travel through the jungle to the other side of the island to catch another ship. Led by the proudly English speaking local Montague (Leo Carrillo) – he even wears a tie on his bare chest to claim that he is an Englishman, it will be a dangerous three day trek if all goes well.
With the two men continuously harping on about the seemingly weak link of the team – the school teacher, she receives most of their wrath as the trek goes further off track. Surrounded by danger at every turn, the group will face wild animals, thick jungles that are easy to get lost in, less than hospitable natives who don’t speak English, as well as having to search for food and water. As their civilized attitudes slowly become less so, will they be able to reach the end of their lush jungle journey? If their escape drags long, could the two men change their minds about the only young woman in the group? Or can they even make it out alive?
The two things that pop out the most about this feature are that they actually shot the exterior scenes in Hawaii (giving a most realistic aspect to the setting) as well as the dynamic character development. Though a touch too melodramatic overall, Colbert’s transformation is the truly transcendent centrepiece of the picture. . . from a bespectacled nerdy teacher into a true leader and jungle warrior (much like a teenager transforming into a grown woman). Each other person has their own turn, like Gargan’s Corder becoming less of a leader but still just as much of a storyteller about his past as the time ticks away, while Boland’s Mardick finds herself given an unexpected detour.
Also, like most Pre-Code features, this one brings some edgy dialogue and visuals. Not only does Colbert appear washing under a waterfall in the nude (herself frontally, a body double from behind), but there are also some memorable moments of violence – mostly with bows and arrows. Add in some sly dialogue, like when the island is described as practically virgin country, to which Mrs. Mardick responds, “Perhaps that’s why Mr. Corder doesn’t like it!” – not so subtly implying as to why writer Stewart isn’t interested in maidenly Judy. It is also worth noting that a romantic storyline starts to bubble between the married Arnold and ingénue Judy, something quite controversial at this time.
Based upon E. Arnot Robertson’s novel of the same name, Four Frightened People is at its best thanks to the evolution, and sometimes devolution, of the characters. Though at times perhaps a touch too silly (after all, this stranded team somehow builds a camp in the forest that could rival the Gilligan’s Island or Swiss Family Robinson huts in just a few short days), its realistic setting, Pre-Code sultriness, and many touches of comedy (especially coming from Mary Boland’s progressive performance and Leo Carrillo’s dated personality) make for a memorable enough movie. So, journey into the jungle to find this little known early adventure feature, you might find your true self within.