The Most Dangerous Game (1932)

 I was so stoked that The Most Dangerous Game (1932) was being shown on Turner Classics, giving me the opportunity to follow up with it while going through horror films that came out the year of 1932 for my top films list upcoming for the blog. I have already revisited Doctor X (1932) again thanks to Turner Classics, so I was holding out hope more films from this particular year would get a spot on one of my personal favorite channels. I appreciated this film even more this time than the last, certainly raving about the casting of Joel McCrea as the American lone survivor whose boat crashes into rocks thanks to a psychotic human hunter with a forehead scar living in a Portuguese castle on an island with Cossack servants and a pack of Great Danes played by Leslie Banks. Banks often caresses the scar as it reminds him of an injury due to his supposed carelessness, seemingly fueling him to always succeed. But McCrea is a hunter by trade and has even written books about his adventures, so he's Banks' equal, perhaps even better as the film will eventually reveal. Of course, being the horror buff that I am, Faye Wray's casting in the film -- and the cool link to the great Ernest B. Schoedsack and Merian C. Cooper's 1933 King Kong makes The Most Dangerous Game especially a fascinating watch -- only enhanced the entire experience. I love the Pre-Code feel of The Most Dangerous Game and the sex appeal of Wray is capitalized on by the filmmakers. That Irving Pichel connection -- he's such a pivotal reason why I love Dracula's Daughter (1936) -- as director, McCrea getting the chance to outsmart and outlast Banks' weapons (such as bow and arrows, hunting rifle, men, and dogs) with ripped shirt and Wray at his side, Banks' scenery chewing, Armstrong's drunken buffoonery (he plays Wray's brother, their ship also lured into rocks), a gnarly ship wreck with crew drowning, getting attacked by sharks, and perishing by explosion, and the amazing jungle sets and waterfall complete this accumulation of riches in a tight, compact running time. There is a human trophy room behind an iron door (footage of human heads and bodies stuffed and mounted lost would be gold to horror buffs) with a severed head, Banks surprised McCrea isn't more willing to join him in his hunts, Wray in a gown that has an opening at her neck to get as much of her shoulders and chest without nudity, and McCrea sets up a series of traps Banks narrowly avoids. I particularly love this scene where McCrea and Wray must climb this massive tree and get away as Banks, his men and dogs, close in. 5/5

1932 is an amazing year. It does rival 1931, and that says something.