High Treason

Ther actor Basil Gill was famous in his time for his fine voice. He was an accomplished stage actor before starting work in the early cinema. There were numerous press reviews of his performances that commented on his voice, and those that accompanied the release of this film, the talking version, in 1928, were no exception. "Basil Gill as President Stephen Deane has far and away the best recording voice we have heard, a lesson to everyone in clearness and beautiful quality." What a shame that the sound is no longer audible. However, his voice can still be heard in such films as "Knight without Armour", "Rembrandt", "St Martin's Lane" and "Wings of the Morning".

The landmark British sci fi film made in 1936 by Korda had many prophecies about a world war which would commence in 1940.This film,made in 1929 was forecasting a war between Europe and the USA based,somewhat oddly on a border incident.Itforecast war in 1950 and mass destruction by bombers.so I wonder if either H.G.Wells or Korda saw this film and were influenced by it.The sets and the costumes are very stylish and also very art deco.In reality in 1950 it would be austerity.This film was made on the cusp of sound.The version I saw was silent so I wonder if a sound version exists.The fact that there are a lot of explanatory sub titles indicates that it was probably filmed as a talkie with silent copies issued to cinemas who had not installed sound equipment.In any event by 1930 the silent film was to all intents and purposes dead.This is therefore a real curiosity.

HIGH TREASON was originally issued in both sound and silent versions, but for many years, only the silent version was known to survive. A few years ago, a copy of the abbreviated sound version, issued by Tiffany in the US was discovered and restored. However, it is still difficult to see, and so this review is based on the silent version.

The year is 1950 -- a popular year for science-fiction films in the 1920s -- and tensions are rising between the Federated States of Europe and the Atlantic States. A car carrying liquor breaks through a border guard and is shot down; the Atlantic States send an ultimatum to Europe, whose President, Basil Gill, wants war; although he is not implicated, arms manufacturers are shown bribing people. Only the World League of Peace, led by Humberstone Wright, and his daughter, Benita Hume, stand in the way of war. Miss Hume's boy friend is Jameson Thomas, an officer of Europe, ready to carry out his orders. Thus the conflict is not only a matter of the world and politics and money, but of love.

Visually, the movie is an Art Deco feast, pitched halfway between METROPOLIS and THINGS TO COME (Raymond Massey, who starred in the latter, has a small but prominent role and can be clearly seen at about the 30-minute mark). Clothes follows the sleek design, with a lot of shiny fabric and hats midway between cloches and skullcaps. Neither does Elvey neglect the technological touches, with autogyros and biplanes flying about London, television broadcasts, sliding doors and the other paraphernalia beloved of screen sf. Percy Strong's camerawork is limber, with many a tracking shot to focus the audience's attention, and a couple of moving crane shots. British film-making may have long been considered a backwater of the industry, but British Gaumont had the resources and will to make this spectacular.

The weaknesses of this movie are twofold. First, it is very talky for a silent picture, with a lot of title cards of dialogue, doubtless reproducing speech in the sound version. Second is the rather clunky utopianism of the plot, reducing the issues of politics and economics in a theoretical world to melodrama, where singing a song can stop a military action, and national leaders can be isolated from their guards. In my rather cynical view, Realpolitik guides the powerful, who are isolated and protected from the consequences of their follies.

Still, that's no way to make popular entertainment now, and was less so in 1929; and while this movies shows flaws that an examination of the sound version might more fully explain, it remains visually quite beautiful, with the lovely 23-year-old Miss Hume a high point.

Produced Simultaneously as a "Sound" and "Silent" Film, this Highly-Stylized War-Anti-War Film, is an Arresting, Awesome, Audacious Movie Made at the Precise Moment America and Britain were Contemplating, Not Only the Future of Film-Making but the "Future" of War, Technology, Creature Comforts, and the "Roles" of Men and Women in Daily-Life.

The Movie Only Existed in a Silent Version Until Very Recently when a "Talkie" Print Emerged from the Rubble of Time.

"Lost-Media" Hopefuls, Once Again, are Given Proof-Positive, that Adapting a "Positive" Attitude that there May Be Found, "Cross-Fingers", an Existing Print of All Things "Media" Thought Lost is "Not".

"High Treason" is Surely a Powerful Treat for the Eyes with its Stunning Art-Deco Images and its Imaginative World-Building that is Elaborately Executed and Shown to be Both Awe-Inspiring and Clunky.

For an Example of said Clunky, Awkward is the Display of a Dance-Hall where the "Guys and Gals" are Stepping Staccato (start & stop) to a Band of Instruments On-Stage.

A Band of Instruments Playing Without Humans Involved.

It's sort of a "Goldberg" Kinda Thing with Wires and Other Hardware Forcing Air into the Woodwinds with Levers and Such Plucking Others. It's One of the More Ridiculous Displays.

The Things Most Impressive are the Communication Devices (Skype-Like), and a Stab at Cars, Aircraft, and Transportation.

At its Heart is its Pacifistic Foundation.

Women with More of a Role in Society and Government, but its also Not Above being Playfully Erotic at Times.

An Odd, Surreal Look at the Future that can Boggle-the-Mind and Spirit with its Wonderfully Poetic Visuals that Dominate the Feature.

The Acting, as Expected is Dated, as are some of its Attitudes about Almost Everything, but Not that Absurd if You Think About it.

"High Treason" is a Daring "Hidden Gem" that can be Placed, with Certitude, Along-Side other Pre-1950 Extravaganzas of Science-Fiction such as...

"Metropolis" (1925)..."Just Imagine" (1930), "Things to Come" (1936).

Must-See for Film-Historians, Sci-Fi Fans, and those Seeking Spectacle.

Or Anyone Wanting to be "Blown Away" by the Art of Movie-Making with Accent on "Art".

With a Dollop of Social Commentary, Prognostication, as Pure Entertainment...

It's a WOW.

THE STORY & GENRE -- Munitions scumbags start war with agitprop and false flags, peaceniks block aerodrome & shoot hawk President. Not the most sophisticated film but provides plenty of food for thought. Futuristic sets (cities, travel, Chunnel) & technology (war, communications, household).

THE VERDICT -- Having seen both the silent and sound versions, I recommend you should watch the silent, by far the better experience. Maurice Elvey's frantic direction suffers too much from the weak technicals and dialogue delivery in the sound version.

FREE ONLINE, the Gaumont print at 75 minutes, which may be just a fast running of the 82-minute IMDB duration.