This could be the silliest in a long line of silly Marco Polo films.... firstly, casting Gary Cooper as an Italian of any century, let alone the 13th century, ranks with casting Katharine Hepburn as a Chinese peasant. (in Dragon Seed) In the opening scenes the Venetians are planning to open China to their ships (by what route is a mystery, since Columbus was still looking for a sea route to the east in 1492.) Marco arrives in a China that never was...its imposing 1930's art deco buildings and interiors bearing no resemblance whatsoever to actual Chinese architecture or decor of any century. Altogether, this is an annoying film and only has the wonderful Basil Rathbone's gleefully vicious and totally fictitious role to recommend it. Of all the Polo treatments I think probably the Ken Marshall TV series version may be the best. Of all the actor's playing the role, surprisingly Rory Calhoun both looked and acted the part most convincingly. The Horst Bucholz "Kublai Khan" film is fairly good in some respects but just as goofy as this one in others. I for one am still awaiting a film treatment that does his fascinating story justice...it might be a future project for Mel Gibson, who seems to have a good feel for historical screen epics.
Review of The Adventures of Marco Polo
The Adventures of Marco Polo
(1938)
Could be the silliest in a long line of silly Marco Polo films....
28 December 2006