The Cossack count, a matinée villain, is a form of one of the tropes that dominated the popular narrations for half a century, the colorful exotic villain. 'The Most Dangerous
' is an exciting, lively, dynamic, very likable movie, and a true classic, (ancestor, as style, of, e.g., some Zombie comedies from the '40s), with most of the (small, but distinguished) cast going for the funny, almost comic book, style; because the humor is mostly in the performances, with a bit of sitcom in the interplay of the Cossack and the drunken brother, who refuses to acknowledge the menace of the host, which humiliates the threatening hunter. What does one enjoy most in this movie? The rhythm, the sets, in the _faux stylish, _faux classy taste of the early '30s, the reshaped Gothic, the gusto and liveliness of the scenes and interplays of the characters, the performances, perhaps especially Leslie Banks as Zaroff, momentarily upset by his drunken guest's insouciance; I felt a sure quality in the role of the Cossack killer. The story is done, is rendered as a comedy, an actually zestful genre of the '30s was the humorous drama, the comic drama, the alternation of comedy and drama in a storyline, as here, in balanced proportions. As this genre was outmoded, the code itself became liable to misinterpretations, with people having an anachronistic standpoint and being either annoyed by the comedy, or unable/unwilling to read it as such; yet from the '30s standpoint, the genuine one, both comedy and drama were played. The 2nd half of the movie, with the trophies cellar and then the chase, is straight adventure. As a matter of fact, the whole show was nicely directed for what it was meant to be: an adventure drama played with a goofy knack.
Another reason to see the movie would be the actress, who got 2nd billing on the credits, and was then at the height of her career; in this she seems cordially at ease with her role, in fact in the long scene of the arrival at the fortress all the performers seem to have a good time, and Zaroff is funnily overbore by Eve's drunken brother, a case when a victim is unimpressed by the villain's whims and unconsciously ignores his threats and menacing persona, and as such we see the Cossack a little disconcerted, annoyed by his unsuspecting guest. To enjoy the movie, one must be aware of its nature. Because this classic is certainly enjoyable; I have seen it one Saturday evening, from 9.20 to 10 ¾, with a break from 9.47 to 10.10.
Another reason to see the movie would be the actress, who got 2nd billing on the credits, and was then at the height of her career; in this she seems cordially at ease with her role, in fact in the long scene of the arrival at the fortress all the performers seem to have a good time, and Zaroff is funnily overbore by Eve's drunken brother, a case when a victim is unimpressed by the villain's whims and unconsciously ignores his threats and menacing persona, and as such we see the Cossack a little disconcerted, annoyed by his unsuspecting guest. To enjoy the movie, one must be aware of its nature. Because this classic is certainly enjoyable; I have seen it one Saturday evening, from 9.20 to 10 ¾, with a break from 9.47 to 10.10.