Friday, June 1, 2012

The Young Rajah (1922)

Paramount Pictures
Directed by Phil Rosen
My rating: 2.5 stars out of 4
IMDb
(DVD, Flicker Alley)

Rudolph Valentino is an orphan raised in America after being sent from India for mysterious reasons. He also brought valuable jewels from India which allow him to become a gentleman and go to Harvard. He meets pretty Sarah Judd, all-American gal and daughter of a judge. They fall in love, despite her initial prejudices about his heritage. Eventually his past catches up to him when an assassin is sent from India. However, friendly Indians save him and bring him home where he becomes a prince. He is soon missing Sarah, will she join him? Flicker Alley has reconstructed this film which only survives in fragments. The beginning is a bit choppy, attempting to introduce too many characters, but the middle and end survive mostly intact.  The basic love story is enhanced by exotic Indian touches such as seeing into the future and references to Krishna and the Baghavad Gita.

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