Jack Holt returns to North Africa. The men working the site think he's returned to retake control of the oil production he spent years building. In truth, he's done with the oil business. He has returned to take Fay Wray with him. There are two problems. The lesser one is she's married to Donald Cook, whom he put in control of the works. The greater one is that the operation is falling to pieces, with the depredation of rebel general Noah Beery.
Holt was Columbia's biggest stars, one of the few actors Columbia had under contract, and he was their go-to lead for tough guy roles. Yet director Irving Cummings has his DP, under-rated Benjamin Kline, shoot the scenes -- almost none of which take place outside a studio set --to favor Miss Wray, a gauzy look in which shes often lounging on a day bed and looking swell. The story certainly favors Holt, who plays a straight-talking tough guy, and the gradual revelation f his character makes this a good movie. Also, the scenes with Beery are very funny.
Holt was Columbia's biggest stars, one of the few actors Columbia had under contract, and he was their go-to lead for tough guy roles. Yet director Irving Cummings has his DP, under-rated Benjamin Kline, shoot the scenes -- almost none of which take place outside a studio set --to favor Miss Wray, a gauzy look in which shes often lounging on a day bed and looking swell. The story certainly favors Holt, who plays a straight-talking tough guy, and the gradual revelation f his character makes this a good movie. Also, the scenes with Beery are very funny.