Customer Reviews

White Cargo [VHS]

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There's only one reason why I'm even rating this basically forgotten movie, which is VERY dated, and really not any better than an old "Jungle Jim" episode. It would probably be of interest only to old movie buffs, and, as one of those dying creatures, I feel the old flicks are worthy of preservation and viewing. But, the only obvious reason to watch this film is Hedy LaMarr. She (in my opinion) was never really a great actress, but was known for her flawless beauty. Louie B. Mayer imported Hedwig Keisler from Austria, after she literally created a splash in the then unheard of famous nude swim scene in "Ecstasy", in the early 1930's. She was married at one time to a wealthy industrialist, socialized with the likes of Hitler, and had adventures right out of the most imaginative fiction. She also co-invented a device which was used for tracking enemy German subs during World War Two, a fact which only recently came to light. Though most of her films in her Hollywood career were un-distinguished, she became a top star in the M.G.M. pantheon, simply by virtue of her screen image, and received top billing with the likes of Gable and Spencer Tracy. Her career waned in the 1950's, with even less distinguished roles, and, save for the occasional snippet of various semi-scandalous news in the papers, she dissapeared. In this film, she is so lushly, outrageously, ridiculously gorgeous, that she makes even someone like Liz Taylor in, for example, Cleopatra, look like a plain Jane. She is the ultimate "femme fatale", a role she basically never escaped. When I saw this movie as a kid... when Hedy comes out of the jungle and says "I am Tondeleyo", well... I think that's the moment when puberty kicked in, because I started shaking at the vision of this impossibly gorgeous, exotic dark bird of paradise. She is the epitome of the glamorous, other worldy mystique that stars such as Garbo and Dietrich projected in 1930's and '40's Hollywood, and Hedy in this film rivals even them. Hedy died just a few years ago, in relative obscurity, in a small Florida town. This little old lady was reportedly a good neighbor and friend to the few people she entrusted, who apparently were aware that their very elderly, sweet friend was, long...long ago, one of the legends of the Silver Screen. A real-life "Norma Desmond", though Hedy was, by all accounts, a happy lady in her final years, looked after by her loyal and protective friends. I can't honestly recommend buying this film for any reason other than viewing the raven haired, shimmering vision of un-equaled beauty that was Hedy LaMarr.

Okay, so it's not the greatest flick, but it's interesting for two main reasons: 1) It has some serious racial overtones in that the Hedy character is supposedly not good enough to marry a white man (according to the Pidgeon character), so watching that play out is interesting and 2) Hedy Lamarr is very gorgeous in the role, with her skin color darkened to look like someone who's been kissed by the sun for years. My only complaint about her character is that she's played as some gold-digging simpleton who wants nothing but beads and baubles, instead of a more complex character in love with and trying to manipulate the Pidgeon character. The movie would have been much more interesting if they had played out the obvious physical attraction between Hedy and Pidgeon, with him realizing his love for her, despite her race, instead of his bullying her and trying to protect the white guy who married her. Also watch for the scene with Hedy traipsing about with whip in hand--PRICELESS!

The setting is a West African rubber plantation circa 1942. The war has cut off the rubber supply from Malaya, and there is a push to produce more on West African plantations. That is easier said than done. There are four white men on the station, the overseer, his assistant, the surgeon, and the missionary. Intercourse with native women is discouraged. A river boat brings supplies and mail up the river once every three months. They are otherwise cut off from civilization, and easily get on each other's nerves.

The film was notable for Hedy Lamarr playing a half-wild, half-native vamp who wants men to buy her pretty things. She had enticed the overseer at some time in the past and he has banned her from the station. Now she is sneaking back to seduce his new assistant.

It is not a great motion picture, as such things go, but it is an interesting story The scenes are somewhat tame by modern standards - nothing sexually explicit in motion pictures of that era.

Were it not for the presence of Hedy Lamarr, this film would have been lost in the passing of time. Other players merely were there to support the latest "sex symbol"

Let's be honest: this is not a good film. Hedy Lamar is beautiful as ever and great at slinking and pouting around the tropical set. But, unfortunately for Hedy and for Walter Pidgeon, none of the characters or the plot are complex or compelling. Hedy's character is banal and evil. The young Brit is just an unsympathetic fool. Walter Pidgeon is given a little more to work with, but it doesn't save the film. The film is worth seeing, by the way, for the vision of Hedy in skin-revealing attire. Just don't pay much for the privilege.