Desert Nights (also known as Thirst) is a 1929 American synchronized soundadventure/romantic drama film starring John Gilbert, Ernest Torrence, and Mary Nolan.[1][2] While the film has no audible dialog, it was released with a synchronized musical score with sound effects using both the sound-on-disc and sound-on-film process. Directed by William Nigh, the film was the last film without audible dialogue featuring John Gilbert.
A gang of thieves rob an African diamond company of diamonds worth $500,000, with two of its members posing as Lord and Lady Stonehill (who are expected to pay a visit). They kidnap its manager, Hugh Rand, and head into the "Calahari" Desert. After a few days in the sweltering heat, three of the crooks decide to take their chances in Cape Town instead and demand their share of the loot. Steve ("Lord Stonehill") gives them worthless glass.
He and Diana ("Lady Stonehill") keep going, taking Hugh with them. When their native porters desert, however, the thieves are forced to rely on Hugh to guide them. He gains the upper hand as they trek through the hostile desert with very little water. Later, one of the other crooks returns and tells them that the other two died from drinking from a poisoned waterhole, before succumbing himself. Steve reveals he poisoned the water to deter pursuit. Hugh keeps tensions high by romancing Diana, infuriating Steve. As they get thirstier and thirstier, a parched Diana offers Hugh first the diamonds, then herself, in exchange for some of the water. When he rejects both, she even offers to be his slave, but with the same result. Eventually, they reach a safe waterhole.
However, Hugh has been leading them in a circle, and they finally end up back at the diamond company office. Steve is first introduced to the real Lord and Lady Stonehill, before being taken away. Diana's fate is left in Hugh's hands. He tells her she is free, except that she will have to report to him every day for the rest of her life. Then he embraces her.
Claude King as the real Lord Stonehill (uncredited)
Receptionedit
Mordaunt Hall, critic for The New York Times, gave the film a favorable review, writing that "incredible though this adventure may be, it happens to be one that holds the interest." Nolan "gives a good performance", Gilbert "gives an earnest showing as Rand" and "Mr. Torrance is capital as Steve."[3]
Statusedit
Desert Nights survives and is available for download or DVD purchase from The Warner Bros. Archives collection site.[4]
desert, nights, also, known, thirst, 1929, american, synchronized, sound, adventure, romantic, drama, film, starring, john, gilbert, ernest, torrence, mary, nolan, while, film, audible, dialog, released, with, synchronized, musical, score, with, sound, effects. Desert Nights also known as Thirst is a 1929 American synchronized sound adventure romantic drama film starring John Gilbert Ernest Torrence and Mary Nolan 1 2 While the film has no audible dialog it was released with a synchronized musical score with sound effects using both the sound on disc and sound on film process Directed by William Nigh the film was the last film without audible dialogue featuring John Gilbert Desert NightsDirected byWilliam NighWritten byWillis Goldbeck treatment Endre Bohem adaptation Marian Ainslee titles Ruth Cummings titles Lenore J Coffee continuity Story byJohn T NevilleDale Van EveryProduced byWilliam NighStarringJohn GilbertErnest TorrenceMary NolanCinematographyJames Wong HoweEdited byHarry ReynoldsMusic byWilliam Axt uncredited Distributed byMetro Goldwyn MayerRelease dateMarch 29 1929 1929 03 29 United States Running time62 mins CountryUnited StatesLanguagesSound Synchronized English Intertitles Contents 1 Plot 2 Cast 3 Reception 4 Status 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksPlot editA gang of thieves rob an African diamond company of diamonds worth 500 000 with two of its members posing as Lord and Lady Stonehill who are expected to pay a visit They kidnap its manager Hugh Rand and head into the Calahari Desert After a few days in the sweltering heat three of the crooks decide to take their chances in Cape Town instead and demand their share of the loot Steve Lord Stonehill gives them worthless glass He and Diana Lady Stonehill keep going taking Hugh with them When their native porters desert however the thieves are forced to rely on Hugh to guide them He gains the upper hand as they trek through the hostile desert with very little water Later one of the other crooks returns and tells them that the other two died from drinking from a poisoned waterhole before succumbing himself Steve reveals he poisoned the water to deter pursuit Hugh keeps tensions high by romancing Diana infuriating Steve As they get thirstier and thirstier a parched Diana offers Hugh first the diamonds then herself in exchange for some of the water When he rejects both she even offers to be his slave but with the same result Eventually they reach a safe waterhole However Hugh has been leading them in a circle and they finally end up back at the diamond company office Steve is first introduced to the real Lord and Lady Stonehill before being taken away Diana s fate is left in Hugh s hands He tells her she is free except that she will have to report to him every day for the rest of her life Then he embraces her Cast editJohn Gilbert as Hugh Rand Ernest Torrence as Steve Lord Stonehill Mary Nolan as Lady Diana Stonehill Claude King as the real Lord Stonehill uncredited Reception editMordaunt Hall critic for The New York Times gave the film a favorable review writing that incredible though this adventure may be it happens to be one that holds the interest Nolan gives a good performance Gilbert gives an earnest showing as Rand and Mr Torrance is capital as Steve 3 Status editDesert Nights survives and is available for download or DVD purchase from The Warner Bros Archives collection site 4 See also editList of early sound feature films 1926 1929 References edit Variety film review May 8 1929 page 24 Harrison s Reports film review May 11 1929 page 75 Mordaunt Hall May 6 1929 The Screen Louise Dresser An Alpine Tragedy Thirst and Greed The New York Times Desert Nights at silentera comExternal links editDesert Nights at IMDb nbsp Desert Nights at the TCM Movie Database Desert Nights at AllMovie Desert Nights at the American Film Institute Catalog Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Desert Nights amp oldid 1198922198, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
