1951s BEHAVE YOURSELF! was quickly followed by Lon Chaneys second return to Universal since HOUSE OF DRACULA, in a colorful Middle Eastern Western titled FLAME OF ARABY, filmed Apr 27-late May. Universals latest action star was 32 year old Jeff Chandler, here taking second billing after Maureen OHara, just prior to John Fords THE QUIET MAN, the coveted prize of both Barbarossa brothers, played by Lon Chaney and Buddy Baer (brother of Max, uncle of Max Jr.). Mostly shot outdoors like an actual Western though set in Tunis, a throwback to the kind of escapist fare exemplified by Rudolph Valentino, with Chandler the Bedouin sheik fighting for his woman, mainly involving the capture of a wild black stallion fast enough to defeat the brothers in the climactic horse race. As the heavily bearded Lord Borka Barbarossa, Chaneys appearance is very similar to Buddy Baers, and in fact the interchangeable roles could have been switched without anyone noticing. Hes only present in the palace introduction and racing finale, and assuming a stunt double rode for him, garnered less than 8 minutes screen time, entering at the 12 minute mark. Best of all is sultry Susan Cabot, a diminutive dynamo who drives men wild, proving fatal for knife wielding beau Henry Brandon, no match for Chandlers unerring slingshot. Next up THIEF OF DAMASCUS.
Posted on: Wed, 10 Sep 2014 19:21:34 +0000
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