My Friend from India

This is a low budget but fun 1920s comedy. No real stars but many who would become familiar and loved character actors in the sound era. Just starting with the nominal star, Franklin Pangborn. The quintessential gay stereotype of the 1930s and 40s, sound added a great deal to his persona. Here, in a straight leading role, he comes off very comic in the style of a Harry Langdon. Audiences then probably didn't know he was gay and just found him funny. Although not funny enough to ever star in a film again! And this film maximizes his gay persona by even putting him in dresses and pretending to be a woman a number of times.

And other stereotypes abound too. After all isn't that what many early films are about. The "Hindoo", a rakish brother, and a social climbing aunt all make elements for breezy fun in this lightweight comedy. An interesting way to spend 70 minutes from DeMille's company.