TWO ARABIAN KNIGHTS-1927-Two soldiers,
Phelps (William Boyd) and O'Gaffney (Louis Wolhiem) during WW1 are
captured by the Germans and sent to a POW camp. Although at first
enemies, they team up and try to escape but it fails and they wind up
on a POW train headed for Turkey. They jump off the train and on to a
wagon full of hay. On a boat headed for Arabia (that's where the hay
was going) they save a woman from drowning who turns out to be Mirza,
a princess (Mary Astor). The duo both try to woo her as does the
lecherous pursuer (Boris Karloff) . When she returns to her father
they follow her and get into trouble with her fiancee (Ian Keith).
It's basically a comedy with serious overtones and despite no
dialogue the pair have some funny lines and get into a few comic
situations. There are some good gags like having to pawn an
assassin's knife so they can buy a meal. When it looks like an angry
mob and the army might get them they are saved when everything stops
for a daily prayer! Then after almost being killed twice they ride
away with Mirza.
This overlooked silent film was directed by Lewis
Milestone who a few years later hit the big time in talkies with ALL
QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT (also with Wolhiem). And of course it's great to see Karloff
in an early role.
Thanks for reading!
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