At the Hindale-Clark circus, two of the stars, likeable trapeze artist Warren Hull and beefy, blustery animal trainer Barton MacLane, are buddies. MacLane is obsessed with taming Satan, a man-eating Bengal tiger. One night after the two have had a few drinks, the tiger escapes. MacLane gets him back in his cage, but when his assistant (Paul Graetz) warns him about interacting with the animals when he's drunk, MacLane gets mad and deliberately provokes Satan, leading to an attack that leaves Graetz dead and MacLane with only one leg. After he recovers, MacLane discovers that Graetz's daughter (June Travis) has turned to crime (we assume prostitution) to survive, so he takes her in, sets her up in her own house, and eventually proposes, acknowledging that even though she doesn't love him romantically, he'll be able to take care of her (and redeem himself for his role in her father's death). She accepts but soon finds herself falling in love with Hull. Hull decides to leave the show, but when MacLane catches him kissing Travis, MacLane plots to toss Hull in Satan's cage. This B-melodrama is too predictable (and, near the end, too rushed) to be effective. I like character actor MacLane in small doses (THE MALTESE FALCON, TREASURE OF THE SIERRA MADRE) but he's too one-note for a starring role. However, with Hull and Travis making a fairly bland couple, MacLane gives this movie the only oomph it has, except for Satan, the tiger. The wedding banquet thrown by the circus performers for MacLane and Travis seems like a sly homage to the similar scene in 1932’s FREAKS. Not essential viewing. Pictured at left is Hill on the trapeze. [TCM]
Friday, June 14, 2019
BENGAL TIGER (1936)
At the Hindale-Clark circus, two of the stars, likeable trapeze artist Warren Hull and beefy, blustery animal trainer Barton MacLane, are buddies. MacLane is obsessed with taming Satan, a man-eating Bengal tiger. One night after the two have had a few drinks, the tiger escapes. MacLane gets him back in his cage, but when his assistant (Paul Graetz) warns him about interacting with the animals when he's drunk, MacLane gets mad and deliberately provokes Satan, leading to an attack that leaves Graetz dead and MacLane with only one leg. After he recovers, MacLane discovers that Graetz's daughter (June Travis) has turned to crime (we assume prostitution) to survive, so he takes her in, sets her up in her own house, and eventually proposes, acknowledging that even though she doesn't love him romantically, he'll be able to take care of her (and redeem himself for his role in her father's death). She accepts but soon finds herself falling in love with Hull. Hull decides to leave the show, but when MacLane catches him kissing Travis, MacLane plots to toss Hull in Satan's cage. This B-melodrama is too predictable (and, near the end, too rushed) to be effective. I like character actor MacLane in small doses (THE MALTESE FALCON, TREASURE OF THE SIERRA MADRE) but he's too one-note for a starring role. However, with Hull and Travis making a fairly bland couple, MacLane gives this movie the only oomph it has, except for Satan, the tiger. The wedding banquet thrown by the circus performers for MacLane and Travis seems like a sly homage to the similar scene in 1932’s FREAKS. Not essential viewing. Pictured at left is Hill on the trapeze. [TCM]
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