UNDER TWO FLAGS

US, 1936, 111 minutes, Black and white.
Ronald Colman, Claudette Colbert, Rosalind Russell, Victor Mc Laglen, J. Edward Bromberg, Nigel Bruce, Gregory Ratoff, C. Henry Gordon, John Carradine, Onslow Stevens.
Directed by Frank Lloyd.

Under Two Flags is the archetypal Foreign Legion story. It was written by novelist Ouida as an adventure in North Africa as well as romance. It was directed by Frank Lloyd, popular director of the '30s who won an Oscar for Cavalcade. It stars Ronald Colman as a debonair Foreign Legionnaire with Victor Mc Laglen as his support. Claudette Colbert is the dancing girl of the town contrasting with Rosalind Russell as a prim aristocrat visiting North Africa. There are the usual confrontations in the town, sadistic training of the legionnaires as well as clashes with Arab leaders. Undemanding entertainment - that was typical of the time (Beau Geste) and influenced a number of desert operas during succeeding decades.

1. The entertainment value of the film? Hollywood hokum about the French Foreign Legion? The popularity in earlier decades of Ouida's novel?

2. The film styles of the early 130s: black and white photography, desert locations, the Hollywood idea of North Africa and the forts? Spectacular battle sequences? Musical score? The stars?

3. The familiarity of the plot (becoming almost a cliche)? Audience enjoyment of the conventions? North Africa, the desert, the status of the Foreign Legion, its isolation, the outposts, the wars with the Arabs, power of European governments in North Africa, dangers, the Arab tribes. the battles? The dominance of the French? The refugees from all countries of Europe who wanted to be anonymous? The later influence of this kind of plot for many Hollywood films?

4. North Africa: the troops, the style of the Foreign Legion, drill and training, danger, missions, battles, death?

5. The town: cafe, the raucous style, Cigarette and her style, Doyle and his presence there, Victor? Challenges, fights? Doyle and little finger? Rivalling of Victor - racing, jealousy of Venetia? Warning? Death?

6. Ronald Colman's suave style as Victor? The encounter with Cigarette, the background in England, fight, on the mission? Venetia and the carving of the horse? The cloud over his past? Going with Doyle on the mission? Heroics?

7. Doyle as tough, gruff? Love for Cigarette? Vengeance?

8. Venetia as the lady, the carving, the contrast with Cigarette. the English aristocrat, the English visitors? The carving of the horse and the story of Victor?

9. The men in the Legion - lifestyle, raucous, heroics? The training, the sadism of going without water, the marches through the desert?

10. A blend of action and romance?