|
Post by manfromplanetx on Jul 19, 2023 3:22:35 GMT
The Blonde Captive (1931) Dir. Clinton Childs, Ralph P. King, Linus J. Wilson, and Paul Withington. A classic film curio that sensationalizes an anthropological expedition to Australia. The film opens in America at the "the explorers club". where a group of men retrace the evolution of mankind. The expedition hopes to travel across the South Seas to find the people on earth most related to the ancient Neanderthals. This film took previously released anthropological footage of native people in the Pacific and Australia and added an obscure storyline with a non-scientific narration. Under the guise of scientific documentary, the film was able to show much native nudity. With an overly enthusiastic emphasis on naked breasts, the men compare as they venture on the attractiveness of the native women they encounter. The contrived title alluding to a thrilling adventure is misleading as the blonde woman in question is not captive. A relic, thank goodness from a time now long passed, the sexist and derogatory narration is hilariously dated, although any humour is seriously cringeworthy. Banned down here in Australia the film was extremely controversial even in this early 1930s era for its racist and paternalistic approach to indigenous peoples. Comparing the attractiveness of various Polynesian peoples with the "grotesque" cannibalistic Australian Aboriginals, who the explorers declare are obviously descended from Neanderthal ancestors. These natives who behave like monkeys and practice "repulsively barbaric customs. "... "here is human life at its lowest form" declares Lowell Thomas in his closing narration.!! There is some interesting detail, along with some distressing sea creature autopsies, worth a look only for those with an interest in such things.... A somewhat disingenuous sensationalized promotional poster
|
|