The Most Dangerous Game

The Most Dangerous Game is actually what my group of friends call our late-night, hardcore Scrabble sessions. Many have been injured, a few have even died. Heck, most of the time I even wear full football pads. But actually, the Most Dangerous Game is a sadistic big game hunt orchestrated by a borderline-vampire Russian count by the name of Zoroff on a desolate island--and he's hunting shipwrecked MEN. (It's never a good thing to be shipwrecked in Hollywood. You either become the prey of killer shrews and crazy Russians, or you end up with only Gilligan for company). You decide which is more entertaining! In any event, this DVD by Legend Films is probably the best extant version of The Most Dangerous Game, in terms of both quality and features. Released in 1932, the film has subsequently become public domain, which has the effect of ensuring no entity had reason to update and preserve it, until now. Working again with legendary special effects guy Ray Harryhausen, Legend has fully re-mastered (in the George Lucas sense) the original black and white and imbued it with their trademark color, though they are always sure to include the original black and white on the same DVD has the color version. And, unheard of for most `30s era releases, Legend has imbued this DVD with loads of extras and special features, including classic theatrical trailers and short subject films highlighting the importance of film scores, the career of legendary producer Merian Cooper and the work of composer Max Steiner. Though geared to the hardcore movie fan, these extras can provide an illuminating glimpse inside the industry for the rest of us schmucks.

Movie: ***** DVD Quality: ****1/2 DVD Extras: N/A The year before they appeared together in the immortal "King Kong", Fay Wray and Robert Armstrong were cast as brother and sister in this suspenseful thriller produced by David O. Selznick for RKO Radio. Leading man Joel McCrea plays a big game hunter whose yacht is shipwrecked off an isolated island. After sharks make quick (and bloody) work of his fellow survivors, McCrea swims to shore and discovers the rehabilitated ruins of an ancient fortress where the urbane but menacing Leslie Banks (as Dr. Zaroff) is playing host to two castaways from an earlier wreck (Wray and Armstrong). Soon enough it becomes apparent that Banks is deliberately causing vessels to sink so that he may use the hapless survivors as human prey for his own hunting pleasures on this private island, and the plot boils down to a tense game of McCrea and Wray using their wits and wiles to try and stay one step ahead of the heavily armed and maniacally crafty Banks. All this action is crammed into a very fast-paced and engrossing 63 minutes, leaving no time for the audience to get bored (or to examine the plot too closely). The film is genuinely well-produced with great special effects (including the shipwreck and the attack of the sharks); eye-popping art direction and set decorations (some of the jungle sets appear to have been used again in "Kong"); and lavish, sparkling black and white cinematography. The actors, too, give uniformly excellent performances all the way around. Banks offers a minor tour de force in his role, and McCrea and Wray make a startlingly beautiful couple. Previous experiences with DVDs released by Alpha Video have led me to be somewhat wary about purchasing their products, but in the case of "The Most Dangerous Game", I can offer a hearty recommendation without any reservations whatsoever. The audio is crisp and clear and perfectly balanced; the video transfer is razor sharp with beautiful contrast throughout. The source print was also very clean, and was plagued with none of the cuts, jumps, or splices that are so typical of most public domain films. Here's a great transfer of a great film at a great price, one that you'll enjoy watching over and over again.

The Most Dangerous Game is a superb early horror film. It is a really creepy, chilling film with great atmosphere. I always prefer this sort of moody horror to more modern films in the genre that depend on shocks and gore. The Most Dangerous Game can really get under your skin with its central theme of a manhunt. I had always thought, until watching the movie, that the `Game' of the title was referring to a game like Poker or Baseball, but really it is game in the sense of big game, lions and tigers and such. It is man who is `the most dangerous game.' For humans with their intellect are more of a threat to the hunter. This idea of a hunter matching his wits against a fellow human being is a deeply disturbing idea.The film has a really fine cast. Leslie Banks plays the villain Zaroff and is suitably sinister without using histrionics. Joel McCrea shows why he would remain a leading man for the next thirty years and more. He had real star quality and a quiet acting ability similar to that of Gary Cooper. Fay Wray is delightful in a role which gives her more to do than just scream. The Criterion DVD is very good indeed. The print is superb. There is some occasional damage, but it is hardly noticeable. The images are nearly always clear and sharp and show off the black and white photography very well. Best of all however is the sound quality. Many early talkies have terrible sound with indistinct dialogue and lots of background noise. This DVD has great sound and Criterion should really be congratulated. The DVD also has an audio commentary track by film historian Bruce Eder. His commentary is worth listening to as he is obviously enthusiastic and well informed about The Most Dangerous Game.

There has been some debate by previous reviewers of 'The Most Dangerous Game' about the quality of the digital transfer on to DVD. My own view is that the picture quality is outstanding. You do occasionally catch sight of objects shimmering, but the effect is negliable. What really hits you is the incredible sharpness and clarity of the print. This isn't limited to the picture either - the sound quality is equally as impressive. For a movie 70 years old you simply could not hope for better. The only extra feature is a very good commentary by Bruce Eder, whose knowledge of 'The Most Dangerous Game' seems limitless. This guy really knows his stuff and what's more, he delivers it in a very relaxed and friendly manner. The film itself is an action packed 63 minutes that is enlivened by a luscious Fay Wray with great support from Leslie Banks and Joel McCrea. The relatively short running time actually helps maintain a high level of suspense and interest - it feels like an 80 minute movie but with all the boring stuff cut out! To label 'The Most Dangerous Game' as a classic is an exaggeration. It is still a well-made, exciting movie that has stood the test of time exceptionally well. The film itself deserves 4 stars, but the great picture quality, sound and commentary make this DVD worthy of a 5 star rating.

Most film viewers are familar with the great horror movies of the early 1930's: Dracula, Frankenstein, Bride of Frankenstein, The Mummy, King Kong, etc. This title belongs in this group! The Most Dangerous Game has a great cast (Joel McCrea as big game hunter Sanger Rainsford; Fay Wray as the beautiful Eve; and Leslie Banks as the sinister General Zaroff); compelling plot (General Zaroff hunts humans on his private island); energetic pacing (the movie runs approximately 62 minutes); high production values (many exterior scenes were filmed from same set as King Kong); and a memorable music score (Max Steiner). What is so amazing about this movie is that all of the above elements came together in a movie that was shot in about 30 days with a limited budget.The Criterion print of The Most Dangerous Game is excellent - the best print I have ever seen of the movie. Most of the prints available previously on inexpensive videotapes are very poor. In addition, the critic commentary by film historian Bruce Kawin is an added bonus to the Criterion offering.