This is a very enjoyable silent film but it's short on believability and seems almost like a multi-chapter movie serial squeezed into a full-length film. Things move too quickly and the action is quite improbable, but the overall effort isn't bad for a silent of this era.
The film begins in Australia (Amos Burden--played by Rod La Rocque). An uncouth sheep-man decides to travel to see his uncle who lives on the Riviera (they never say whether it's the French or Italian Riviera or even Monaco, but you assume it's French due to the police costumes). There, he is about as welcome as a boil, as he doesn't fit in to the uncle's society friends. However, inexplicably, the Russian princess (Jetta Goudal as Princess Nadia Ramiroff) is quite taken by Amos and instantly falls in love with him. This is a serious shortcoming in the film, as her infatuation makes no sense--they have nothing in common, they barely know each other and he's a bit of a bumpkin and she's a well-mannered lady.
Unfortunately, a crazy mug named Garcia (Noah Beery, Sr.) feels that Princess Ramiroff is his property--and he's very, very jealous of any man who she falls for--going so far as to arrange accidents to kill them!! When she realizes this, she spurns Amos' affections--as she cares too much for him to see him killed. Eventually, Garcia has her kidnapped and taken to his castle--which is equipped with crazy trap doors that look like they are taken right out of a serial. Amos gives chase and eventually the two men have a showdown--that leads to a wonderfully fitting end.
Overall, a wonderfully entertaining film--in a low-brow sort of way. However, the plot really makes little sense and is one you need to accept despite its limitations. Fun....but also contrived and a bit silly.
The film begins in Australia (Amos Burden--played by Rod La Rocque). An uncouth sheep-man decides to travel to see his uncle who lives on the Riviera (they never say whether it's the French or Italian Riviera or even Monaco, but you assume it's French due to the police costumes). There, he is about as welcome as a boil, as he doesn't fit in to the uncle's society friends. However, inexplicably, the Russian princess (Jetta Goudal as Princess Nadia Ramiroff) is quite taken by Amos and instantly falls in love with him. This is a serious shortcoming in the film, as her infatuation makes no sense--they have nothing in common, they barely know each other and he's a bit of a bumpkin and she's a well-mannered lady.
Unfortunately, a crazy mug named Garcia (Noah Beery, Sr.) feels that Princess Ramiroff is his property--and he's very, very jealous of any man who she falls for--going so far as to arrange accidents to kill them!! When she realizes this, she spurns Amos' affections--as she cares too much for him to see him killed. Eventually, Garcia has her kidnapped and taken to his castle--which is equipped with crazy trap doors that look like they are taken right out of a serial. Amos gives chase and eventually the two men have a showdown--that leads to a wonderfully fitting end.
Overall, a wonderfully entertaining film--in a low-brow sort of way. However, the plot really makes little sense and is one you need to accept despite its limitations. Fun....but also contrived and a bit silly.