Film Review: She

"She" *** (out of ****)

Man has always tried to find a way to stop death. As far as I know, there is no cure to stop the aging process. It has been the subject of several films, few have been as notorious as this adaptation of "She" (1935).

This 1935 version of H. Rider Haggard's novel was the seventh and final screen adaptation. The first dates back to 1899 and was directed by George Melies (probably best known for the film "A Trip to the Moon" (1902) under the title "La Colonne de feu".

RKO studios and producer Merian C. Cooper were just coming off the success of "King Kong" (1933). Seeking another hit they turned to Haggard's novel (who also wrote "King Solomon's Mines"). And one can clearly see the comparisons. A group of white people travel to an unchartered land where the mysterious happens. They run into an ancient civilization. While there is no giant monkey in "She" we are still dealing with the bizarre.

In the end the film proved to be a flop upon initial release. It was re-released to greater attention and today, thanks to KINO has gained a third life on DVD where younger fans, if they are hip enough, can seek it out and enjoy it. The KINO print not only has additional lost footage but also has a colorized version, which was suppose to be how the film was intended to be released. But to cut back on the budget RKO changed their plans to Cooper's disappointment.

Before I saw "She", just looking at the DVD cover, I always wondered what the heck could this film be about? It was on my mind for a long time. Should I see it or shouldn't I? Then I took the leap.

"She" has Randolph Scott as Leo Vincey. A young man who learns from his dying uncle of a family secret. It seems 500 years ago one of Leo's relatives had discovered the eternal flame of youth. He found it in the frozen Russian arctic in a place known as Kor. His uncle, a man of science, was at first skeptical. But after years of research with a family friend, Holly (Nigel Bruce) now believes the stories to be true. It is now up to Leo to travel with Holly to discover this mythical land. If it is true, they will have made the greatest discovery known to mankind. A way to stop death. To be young forever.

On this journey the two men meet Tanya (Helen Mack) a young women with an abusive and opportunistic father. Believing the two men may be on to something big he offers to help the men find their way, with help from natives, if they will include him in on what they are looking for. It become clear however that an attraction has started between Tanya and Leo.

And now we are on our adventure as the group must face the elements and the savage beast they encounter. They discovered a frozen sabre-tooth tiger.

When they arrive in Kor they meet the ruler of the land, the queen. Simply known as "She" (Helen Gahagan). She has been waiting for a stranger to arrive. A man she loved hundred of years ago whom she is sure will return to her.

"She" suffers from problems a few films from the era suffer from. The dialogue is pretty bad. It is over dramatic and simplistic. It doesn't sound realistic. Randolph Scott in the lead didn't seem right to me. He seems uncomfortable to me. He could play a tough guy but I think you needed someone who had more of a balance to them. Who could be the action star and handle the serious moments in the film. Scott never struck me as an actor who could do that. On the other hand Nigel Bruce is perfectly casted as the side-kick, since he played one of the most famous side-kick ever, Dr. Watson to Basil Rathbone's Sherlock Holmes. Helen Mack is OK. She is not a great talent. I haven't seen her in much. She did appear in a Harold Lloyd comedy "The Milky Way".

The real star of "She" though is Helen Gahagan. This was her only on-screen appearance. She was a stage actress. She eventually enter politics where she ran for U.S. Senate in 1950 and lost to Richard Nixon. She is the one who coined the phrase "tricky dick".

Helen Gahagan is a little over dramatic here but does probably give the best performance in the film. It is without doubt the most memorable in the film. Her impact in the film was so strong that it has been suggested she was the inspiration for the Evil Queen character in Disney's "Snow White" (1937).

"She" is flooded with lavish, expensive costumes and sets. This is the kind of film Cecil B. DeMille or D.W. Griffith with "Intolerance" (1917) would have been proud of. Directors Lansing C. Holden (his only directing credit) and Irving Pichel ("The Most Dangerous Game" (1932) know how to fill the frame with lots of eye candy. Though that doesn't translate into a great film.

"She" has a few plot holes in it, especially at the end, but it also has moments that are suspenseful and adventurous. It's not up to par with Frank Capra's "Lost Horizon" (1937) with Ronald Coleman but it has its own charms. Movie buffs and especially those who enjoy cinema from the 1930s will enjoy this.