UNHOLY GARDEN

US, 1931, 75 minutes, Black and White.
Ronald Colman, Fay Wray.
Directed by George Fitzmaurice.

Unholy Garden seems an unlikely title for a thriller set in the desert. This is a very brief early talkie. It was one of many star vehicles for Ronald Colman, making, his transition from silent star to star of the talkies, a change which he was able to effect because of his fine voice. He was on the verge of a significant career with excellent films in the '30s and '40s, culminating with his Oscar for A Double Life in 1947.

He has as his leading lady Fay Wray who was about to become entangled with King Kong. The film is slight - Colman is a thief in the desert. In quick succession there is murder, action, robberies - and, of course, romance. The film relies very much on the personality of Colman for its entertainment value. It is quite forgettable - but is an interesting example of a star building his reputation and his career.