White Man (1924) B.P Schulberg Productions. Director: Louis Gasnier. Scenario: Olga Printzlau, Eve Unsell. Photography: Karl Struss. Cast: Kenneth Harlan, Alice Joyce, Walter Long, Clark Gable, Stanton Heck. 7 reels, 6,337 ft. This film appears to be LOST
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| Thanks to Derek Boothroyd for these scans Click on the thumbnails for a larger views |  |
"White Man"
B.P. Schulberg Offers Story of Romance and Adventure Against a South African Background
Reviewed by C.S. Sewell.
"White Man," a Preferred picture distributed by B.P. Schulberg Productions, Inc., and directed by Gasnier, is a South African story of adventure and romance. The plot hinges on the situation of a young woman who, to escape marriage to a man she does not love, persuades an unknown aviator to take her away in his machine.
This situation, while implausible, opens the way to sequences which are interesting and contain considerable drama. This man, who hides his identity and is known only as "White Man," takes the girl to his jungle home where he is surrounded by black natives. Despite a certain ruthlessness of manner, he treats her with respect and love comes to them. They both realize it when another white man, an opera singer who is a fugitive from justice, kidnaps her and White Man rescues her. But even then she will not give in, and it is only after he has taken her back to civilization and she learns who he really is that she confesses her love.
The jungle atmosphere is well reproduced and there is a fascination to this part of the picture that is enhanced by excellent photography, especially some night shots with excellent light effects. The conflict between these two and the mystery surrounding the man holds the attention. There is a good fight scene and a thrilling climax in which the hero in his aeroplane crashes through the roof of the villain's hut at the exact moment to rescue her.
Alice Joyce gives a good performance as the heroine, with Kenneth Harlan capably cast as the hero. Walter Long shows to advantage as the villain.
Mr. Gasnier has given the picture good direction, although some of the points in the story are not clearly brought out; for instance, as to just why the hero has gone to the jungle It should prove a pleasing attraction to patrons who like romance and adventure even when probability is stretched. The dramatic value of the story is strengthened by the concentration of the action in the hands of only three players, hero, heroine and villain; all of the others are of exceedingly minor importance.
Cast.| Lady Andrea Pellor | Alice Joyce |
| White Man | Kenneth Harlan |
| River Thief | Walter Long |
| Mark Hammer | Stanton Beck |
Story by George Agnew Chamberlain.
Scenario by Olga Printzlau and Eve Unsell.
Photographed by Karl Struss
Length, 6,370 feet.
Story
About to be married to a wealth South African mine owner whom she does not love, Lady Andrea Pellor rebels after she gets her bridal gown on, and seeing an aeroplane of the beach begs the aviator to take her away. He consents and takes her to his home in the jungle, where she is force to stay, as the henchmen of his enemy the River Pirate have splintered the propeller and it takes weeks to send for a new one. The hero is a disappointed, disillusioned man seeking to forget and is only known as White Man. He respects her but treats he with a touch of brutality. Lady Andrea contracts jungle fever and her nurses her back to health, and they love each other but her training makes her hide it. The River Pirate pays them a visit and after a fight kidnaps Lady Andrea. White Man goes in his aeroplane, crashes through the roof of the house and rescues her. He then takes her back to civilization. He follows and turns out to be her brother's war buddy. Finally she confesses her love as he is about to return to the jungle.
WHITE MAN - B.P. Schulberg
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Last revised August 4, 2011