The Arab (1924 film)
| The Arab | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Rex Ingram |
| Produced by | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
| Written by |
Edgar Selwyn (play) Rex Ingram (scenario) |
| Starring |
Ramon Novarro Alice Terry |
| Distributed by | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
Release dates |
|
| Country | United States |
| Language |
Silent film English intertitles |
The Arab (1924) is a silent film starring Ramon Novarro and Alice Terry, written and directed by Rex Ingram, based on a 1911 play by Edgar Selwyn.
Plot
Jamil (Ramon Novarro) is a soldier in the Bedouin defence forces during a war between Syria and Turkey, who has deserted his regiment. In a remote village, he encounters an orphan asylum run by American missionaries Dr. Hilbert (Jerrold Robertshaw) and his daughter Mary (Alice Terry). The village is attacked by the Turks, and its ruler, eager to placate the invaders, intends to hand over the children for slaughter; he disguises his intents under a move to Damascus for their safety.
The Bedouins arrive at the scene, and reveal that Jamil is the son of the tribal leader. With his father's revealed death, Jamil's he becomes the new leader of the tribe, which endows him with a sense of responsibility. Risking his own life, he proceeds to save the children, defeating the Turks and the local leader in the process (and winning the girl).
Cast
- Ramon Novarro - Jamil Abdullah Azam
- Alice Terry - Mary Hilbert
- Max Maxudian - The Governor
- Jean de Limur - Hossein
- Paul Vermoyal - Iphraim
- Adelqui Migliar - Abdullah
- Alexandresco - Oulad Nile
- Justa Uribe - Myrza
- Jerrold Robertshaw - Dr. Hilbert
- Paul Franceschi - Marmount
- Giuseppe di Campo - Selim
Production background
The movie was filmed in North Africa just before the MGM merger, and edited under the new regime. Ingram reacted negatively to the supervision of studio bosses Mayer and Thalberg. He was backed by the New York powers of Marcus Loew and Nicholas Schenck and moved to the French Riviera, where all his subsequent films were made.[1]
Preservation status
This is one of 12 surviving films of Terry. Copies are housed at both the Czechoslovakian Archive and the Russian archive Gosfilmofond in Moscow.[2]
Remake
The film was remade as The Barbarian (1933) again with Novarro and co-starring Myrna Loy.
Citations
- ↑ Eames, John Douglas (1981). "The MGM Story", p 12
- ↑ The Arab at silentera.com database
External links
- The Arab at the Internet Movie Database
- The Arab at AllMovie