THE MOST DANGEROUS GAME

US, 1932, 62 minutes, Black and white.
Joel Mc Crea, Fay Wray, Robert Armstrong, Leslie Banks, Noble Johnson.
Directed by Ernest Schoedsack and Irving Pichel.

The Most Dangerous Game is based on a popular short story by Richard Connell. This was made in the early 1930s but shows a great sophistication for early sound film-making. In fact, it is quite gripping even now, audiences making allowances for the limitations and techniques of the period. It was co-directed by Irving Pichel who made a number of films, especially religious films such as The Great Commandment, Martin Luther, Day of Triumph. He also made many popular films ranging from The Moon is Down to The Pied Piper.

The team that made the film are those who next made the classic King Kong. The jungle scenes are reminiscent of that film.

The film shows a boat crashing on a reef in the Pacific – and audiences will be amazed at the mansion found on this particular remote island. However, that is not the point. Joel Mc Crea, a famous hunter, is the only survivor and finds a Russian count, Zaroff, in residence in the mansion. He has a mute giant-like servant as well as a Tartar servant. He explains that many people have been shipwrecked in a similar manner and a brother and sister are his guests at the time.

As Zaroff explains his love of hunting, his being bored with animals, it emerges that he shipwrecks people in order to hunt them.

The brother, played by Robert Armstrong, is an alcoholic who is sent out and pursued and brought back dead. The new stranger on the island, Joel Mc Crea, and the sister, Fay Wray, confront Zaroff. He explains his passion for hunting humans – and offers McCrea? the opportunity to hunt with him. When this is resisted, he gives Mc Crea a time limit and the hunt begins. The sister decides to go with the stranger.

There are some very good sequences in the hunt, the attempts to trap Zaroff, the confrontation with his hounds, clifftop sequences – and a final surprise twist and comeuppance for the count.

Joel Mc Crea was becoming a steady leading man in films and was popular for many decades. Fay Wray was to be the girl in King Kong. British Leslie Banks is quite striking as Zaroff, perhaps overacting or chewing up the scenery, but memorable nonetheless.

1. The impact of the film? A film of the 30s? The early sound techniques? Its impact later?

2. The popularity of the story, this version, the many versions and variations of a madman hunting humans?

3. The black and white photography, the sound stages, the miniatures for the shipwreck? The blend of realism for the special effects? Max Steiner’s score?

4. The title, hunting, humans being hunted by humans?

5. The opening, the ship, the discussion about hunting, the characters on board? The captain and his hesitation? The reefs? Bob the expert? The discussion with the passengers? The discussion about hunting, the nature of hunting? The hunters and their thrills? The proposal by Bob that they should think what it was like to be hunted? And the animals enjoying the hunt and eluding being captured?

6. The shipwreck, the shark, the deaths of the passengers? Bob surviving, going ashore?

7. The mansion – and the use of the doorknob as a sinister prop during the credits? Ivan standing behind the door, Bob confronting him, his being mute? Imposing and frightening? Zaroff and his explanations?

8. The character of Zaroff, his Russian background, bringing Ivan with him, the Tartar? His household? The mansion, a castle, every comfort? The piano and his piano-playing? His urbane manner? His accent?

9. Martin and Eve, the shipwreck, Zaroff’s explanation? The disappearance of the other passengers? Eve and her fright, confiding in Bob?

10. Martin, his drinking, going with Zaroff – and his being brought back dead? The confrontation of Bob and Eve with Zaroff, his explanations?

11. Zaroff, his boredom with animals, hunting humans? His trophies? His inviting Bob to hunt with him? Bob’s refusal?

12. Zaroff’s challenge, Eve deciding to go with Bob? Their going out into the jungle? Zaroff and his keeping time?

13. The pursuit? Bob and Eve, their ingenuity, Eve’s fears? The traps? The cliffs? Zaroff eluding the traps? Ivan and his being impaled? The Tartar and his fighting with Bob? Zaroff setting the hounds on Bob? The fights, wounded, his pushing the dogs over the cliff? Zaroff getting closer, the arrows, Bob and the hound falling over the cliff? Zaroff and his sense of achievement? Taking Eve?

14. Zaroff in his room? Bob’s arrival? The turning of the tables, Zaroff and his concession, getting his gun? The fights, the arrows? The Tartar and his death?

15. The pursuit of Zaroff, the boat, Eve and Bob escaping, Zaroff wanting to fire the arrow, his collapse, his falling into the sea? Poetic justice?

16. An effective and thrilling film from the early 30s? In its themes of hunting and being hunted?