THE WHITE ORCHID

US, 1954, 81 minutes, Colour.
William Lundigan, Peggy Castle, Armando Silvestre.
Directed by Reginald Le Borg.

This is one of those many dramas from the 1950s, small-budget, that need not appear on anyone’s “must see� list. The film was directed by Reginald Le Borg, a rather prolific director of small-budget films, especially the Joe Palooka series. William Lundigan is rather stolid as an archaeologist exploring Mexico, Peggy Castle, acting something like a femme fatale, though not, as a photographer. Armando Silvestre, who had a long career in Mexican film and television, appears as a local property owner.

The archaeologist is seen at work, reacting badly at being sent a female photographer, their clashes. However, he wants to go south to explore the descendants of an ancient civilisation. He needs the aid of the property owner who is attracted to the photographer and agrees to lead the expedition. There are some complications with relationships, rather unbelievably the photographer falling in love with the archaeologist whereas the property owner seems far more credible!

While the dialogue is fairly basic, as are the performances, the film looks as if it had been mainly shot in a studio and, perhaps, with some desert sequences just outside Los Angeles. However, there is a re-creations of the ancient civilisation and its temples. The Ballet Moderne of Mexico has a lavish musical sequence.

While nothing particularly strange happens, there is an ultimate confrontation with the Mexicans, the chief being accidentally killed, the photographer taken and set up to be a sacrificial offering, the two men in prison, getting free, setting their prison on fire, saving the girl, her opting for the archaeologist and the property owner sacrificing himself so that they can escape.

And that’s it.