La dea verde

A small plane is forced down somewhere near the Himalayas. On board are an English major, his young wife and their doctor friend. The plane lands in the tiny Princedom of Rukh, ostensibly under the British Viceroy, but actually ruled by a curiously deranged old Raja. The three visitors find themselves at the mercy of the Raja and are caught up in his lustful plots & plans.

This very early talkie is an interesting little curio and still fun to watch. George Arliss is a fascinatingly sardonic Raja. His every word & gesture entertain the imagination. Mr. Arliss was a very important & distinguished English actor working in Hollywood in the 1930's, although now he's sadly neglected. This was his first talkie - (but was released after DISRAELI). All of his Warner Brothers movies are very entertaining, if you can find them.

In the supporting cast are Ralph Forbes as the heroic doctor; H.B. Warner & Alice Joyce as the callous Major & his estranged wife; gaunt Nigel de Brulier as a suspicious temple priest; and Ivan Simpson as the Raja's wicked butler.

"The Green Goddess" is a dated piece of colonialist exotica--one of those old-time melodramas hyper-concerned with the purity of white women in the face of lascivious racial others. Its saving grace is the performance by George Arliss as the Raja. Besides acting circles around the rest of the cast--seemingly being the only one here capable of a wry expression or sly mugging for the camera--the cunning he brings to his character seems to extend to a lack of earnestness to the ridiculous role and scenario. He plays a monarch of a fictional kingdom in the Himalayas who affects English manners, while in truth the English actor is affecting an Eastern stereotype. Because Arliss makes light of the melodramatics and doesn't shy away from hamming it up, this creaky early talkie may be enjoyed as something of a guilty pleasure. The Academy wasn't wrong to honor this talent; although he's usually ascribed for having won the Best Actor Oscar for "Disraeli" (1929), he was doubly nominated that season for this film, too, and I think it his better.

Unfortunately or fortunately, depending on one's taste for being amused by others' incompetence, nobody else in "The Green Goddess" appears to be in on the joke. Ivan F. Simpson, despite, like Arliss, reprising the same role from stage, to the 1923 silent-film version and here, is unremarkable. The zealots in bald caps look preposterous. Alice Joyce, returning from the 1923 film, as well, along with the other two British colonialists are atrocious. They merely read their stupid lines and feign earnestness. The married couple's climactic dialogue is laughably bad. Compare it to Arliss's sardonic quips. Some credit, I suppose, deserves to go to those behind the camera for allowing Arliss to play his part, but given that nobody else on screen comes along suggests he's the sole talent in this one. Indeed, the rest of "The Green Goddess" is utter rubbish, but Arliss is a delight.

For the historically challenged it may come as a surprise that once upon a time England (Great Britain) was the foremost power in the World. The Empire which 'The Sun Never Sets On'. Two (2) World Wars and the break-up of that Empire has reduced it too its former colonies Eastern outpost and unsinkable Aircraft Carrier.

THE GREEN GODDESS (1930) is a remake of its silent predecessor, '1923' which was inspired by its stage origin, '1921'. All three featured early 20th Century Stage and Screen Star, George Arliss. Mr. Arliss had a habit of playing eccentric and/or historical characters, first for Warner Brothers then later at 20th Century Fox. This was not the first nor last time that Mr. Arliss would successfully either transfer a stage triumph or remake the silent version for the Silver Screen.

'THE NUTS'; A forced landing of three (3) British subjects in a Kingdom north of India are held hostage by 'The Raja of Rukh' (ARLISS). The price of their freedom, the release of his three (3) murderous half-brothers condemned to death. If not released they will forfeit their lives too the Raja's rather blood thirsty subjects. Who curiously seem to resent the 'British Raj' running of their country, go figure? How does it end just requires that you watch it for it is interesting viewing, nuff said.

The film is unusual for its time for showing the resentment that the indigenous peoples had for their British Over-Lords. Most Hollywood films payed homage to the Empire so they would get wide release and profits from their product. Opponents too 'the Empire' were portrayed as fanatical 'nuts' or worse. Though Mr. Arliss's acting style seems stage bound by todays conventions he is still a commanding presence and recommend not only this film but others he did for viewing.

On a last note, fret not England. Another former empire is our Western outpost and Aircraft Carrier. A former Naval pupil of yours, called Japan. So you are in good company.

I was nine years old when I saw this movie. I have re-read your synopsis and it validates every item in my memory. I characterized George Arliss in this role as the 'poobah' of his kingdom.

When the British warships' longboats pull away toward their ship, George is on a promontory overlooking the scene. He had just unsuccessfully bargained for keeping the girl and giving the pilot and the Dr. back to the Brits.

With a final sigh, I recall the movie's closing line as he states, "Well, she probably would have been a lot of trouble anyway."

Even a nine year old could appreciate that line and the resignation with which he delivered it. That line has been a friend for my entire life and I am now about to be 89. I learned from your summary that George died on Feb. 5, my birthday. I also learned to appreciate British character actors.

If one's movie life started in 'talkies' with Al Jolson (Sonny Boy), George Arliss, Charlie Chaplin (silent), or even Douglas Fairbanks, it is very difficult to get interested in contemporary films.

Production values and keen intelligence were low in many pre-war British flicks, but come on! At the beginning a small plane crash lands, carrying a pilot and two passengers, one a woman. The two men stay in the plane for some time, anxious to make sure the woman is all right, though she has not been hurt at all, until finally one of the men remarks that they ought to get out, as the plane might catch fire! So they leave--and then what do they do? Stand next to the plane chatting for several minutes! You couldn't make it up.

It seems they have come down in a remote Himalayan kingdom, which one of them recalls having read about recently. So he walks away from the isolated temple and a few gaping villagers to get a newspaper! As if remote Himalayan kingdoms were routinely supplied with newsstands! And, sure enough, he comes back in a few minutes with what looks like a copy of the Times--unfortunately, two days old. Well, out in the back of beyond, what can you expect?

I was watching this movie for George Arliss, who plays the Rajah, but when he appeared, in jeweled brocade but otherwise his old self--no accent, no change of speech, no darkened skin--I gave up on the green goddess. I think she makes a better salad dressing than a movie.