During the 1930s film makers would often make 2 versions of a film.this one was made in English and French.so they would first film the English version and then the French.This was before the days of dubbing which came into wide use in the 50s.Elissa Landi plays a Ruritanian aristocrat who is forced into an arranged marriage with a Grand Duke,played by Allen Jeyes.She makes it quite clear that it is a marriage of convenience and there will be no consummation.The Duke who is many years older than her initially accepts the bargain.However after a time he can stand it no longer and wants to have his way with her.she refuses and as a result he accepts an offer from the Kaiser to go on a mission to Africa.Now here is where the plot starts to creak.His brother,John lodge,wants the Duchy for himself,so instead of waiting for his brother to go away,he assassinates him and for some strange reason leaves his body in a tower instead of disposing of it.He then assumes power.A double is sent to Africa who is then killed.So Landi believes that her husband died in Africa.Lodge gets a new young French tutor for his son.the tutor falls for Landi.The tutor finds the concealed entrance to the tower and the body.It is identifiable by virtue of a locket with Landis picture.Landi eventually confronts Lodge and he commits suicide.There are other strands of the plot which ,as they are rather silly,i have glossed over.there is absolutely no sense of period.Anachronisms abound.Landi's hair styles and clothes come straight from the fashion salons of the 1930s.She drives a convertible sports car which any self respecting film star of the period would be proud to own.It really is a strange combination.Incidentally Frank Vosper who appears in this film was to die in mysterious circumstances a couple of years later in falling overboard from a ship.
Review of Crimson Dynasty
