A Game of Death

Director Robert Wise shows what he can do with Connell's classic story, THE MOST DANGEROUS GAME.

Big game hunter, Don Rainsford (John Loder) finds himself on a mysterious island after surviving a shipwreck. He soon becomes a guest at the fortress-like mansion of Erich Kreiger (Edgar Barrier), who also happens to be a hunter.

As Rainsford begins talking to other "guests" of Kreiger, he discovers a sinister plan to hunt the ultimate quarry.

Though I personally prefer the original 1932 version, and Leslie Banks' Zaroff over Barrier's Kreiger, Wise adds some nice touches and upgrades here and there. The inside of the mansion is impressive, and the "trophy room" is far more ghoulish!

This movie is reminiscent of Wise's work with Val Lewton. The suspense builds perfectly to the inevitable climax.

Highly recommended...

It's been a couple of years since I watched the 1932 "Most Dangerous Game", but from what I recall this "Game Of Death" is an almost shot-for-shot remake at times. That means that there are few surprises for those who have seen the original; on the other hand, the remake is made competently (by the director of some future megahits Robert Wise). Edgar Barrier makes for a suitably hissable villain (in keeping with the new time period, he is now German and hates "weaklings"). **1/2 out of 4.

Utilizing many shots from the original The Most Dangerous Game and that RKO jungle set that so many classics like King Kong was shot on, RKO made a perfectly acceptable remake of that film now entitled A Game Of Death. Stepping into the leads that were previously done by Joel McCrea, Fay Wray and Leslie Banks are John Loder, Audrey Long, and Edgar Barrier respectively. All are suited to the parts they play, especially Barrier who is a wonderful Teutonic villain. In 1945 every other film had a Germanic type villain, they were so easy to hate.

The major change is from Robert Armstrong to Russell Wade as the brother of the leading lady. Armstrong certainly was far more entertaining as the dissolute drunken playboy. But Wade was certainly more of a challenge to the hunting skills of Barrier.

As we know the game that Barrier hunts for sport is man. Barrier is excited to find that one of the shipwrecked who visit the island is a noted Frank Buck type hunter in Loder. Like the original Loder proves to have just the right stuff.

If you liked the original, you'll find A Game Of Death suited to your taste.

Game of Death, A (1945)

** (out of 4)

Robert Wise directed this RKO remake of their 1932 classic THE MOST DANGEROUS GAME. This time out, world-known hunter Don Rainsford (John Loder) washes ashore on a strange island where he learns that its owner Erich Kreiger (Edgar Barrier) likes to hunt humans for sport. You know it's never a good sign when a remake borrows footage from the original film but that's not even the start of the problem with this film. You certainly can't blame the studio for trying their hand at another version of the story but there was so much set against this film from the word go. For starters, that 1932 film is a flat-out classic and one of the greatest and most gruesome action pictures you're ever going to see. With the Hayes Office in full force by 1945 that meant the story had to be toned down and this really kills a lot because you haven't a shot at building up any atmosphere and even worse is that this remake doesn't contain that creepy and raw energy of the original. It also doesn't help but Wise seems to be all wrong for this material. Even though the subject matter had to be toned down that's not a reason for everything to be so lifeless. There's really no chemistry between the cast and when the final hunt does happen it's more boring than anything else. There's not an ounce of energy to be found anywhere and that's a real shame because the story itself is so good that it really shouldn't take too much to get it on the screen. Of course, another major problem is that the 1932 film had such a wonderful cast that it would be nearly impossible to try and match it. I thought Loder was pretty good in the lead but the screenplay really doesn't give him too much to do in terms of acting. Barrier isn't nearly as perverted or creepy as Leslie Banks but he has a few interesting bits. Audrey Long is pretty bland as the female on the island and Russell Wade doesn't do much as her weak brother. At just 72-minutes the film goes by at a rather good pace but the entire time you're just sitting there wishing that you were watching the original.

When I saw this unobtainable remake on one of the cable channels, I was immediately drawn in, which was the opposite of what I was expecting. Credit the director for this, as it may not have been possible if it had been by a less than skilled professional. He got the most out of the actors, and and the sets were believable. I give this movie high marks for production value and telling the story again, but just as compelling a way.