The film has a really fine cast. Leslie Banks plays the villain Zaroff and is suitably sinister without using histrionics. Joel McCrea shows why he would remain a leading man for the next thirty years and more. He had real star quality and a quiet acting ability similar to that of Gary Cooper. Fay Wray is delightful in a role which gives her more to do than just scream.

The Criterion DVD is very good indeed. The print is superb. There is some occasional damage, but it is hardly noticeable. The images are nearly always clear and sharp and show off the black and white photography very well. Best of all however is the sound quality. Many early talkies have terrible sound with indistinct dialogue and lots of background noise. This DVD has great sound and Criterion should really be congratulated. The DVD also has an audio commentary track by film historian Bruce Eder. His commentary is worth listening to as he is obviously enthusiastic and well informed about The Most Dangerous Game.


Excellent (and Underappreciated) 1930's Era Horror Movie   January 16, 2000
 21 out of 23 found this review helpful

Most film viewers are familar with the great horror movies of the early 1930's: Dracula, Frankenstein, Bride of Frankenstein, The Mummy, King Kong, etc. This title belongs in this group! The Most Dangerous Game has a great cast (Joel McCrea as big game hunter Sanger Rainsford; Fay Wray as the beautiful Eve; and Leslie Banks as the sinister General Zaroff); compelling plot (General Zaroff hunts humans on his private island); energetic pacing (the movie runs approximately 62 minutes); high production values (many exterior scenes were filmed from same set as King Kong); and a memorable music score (Max Steiner). What is so amazing about this movie is that all of the above elements came together in a movie that was shot in about 30 days with a limited budget.

The Criterion print of The Most Dangerous Game is excellent - the best print I have ever seen of the movie. Most of the prints available previously on inexpensive videotapes are very poor. In addition, the critic commentary by film historian Bruce Kawin is an added bonus to the Criterion offering.


Don't let it's age fool you.   October 7, 1999
 19 out of 23 found this review helpful

This may have been made 67 years ago but it is still very cool and quite atmospheric. It was also the first movie in which humans are hunted for sport (the title has 2 meanings).

Joel McCrea is the typically dashing, 1930's Erroll Flynn-type hero, Fay Wray (who is, incredibly, still alive) is the Damsel in distress (much like her role in King Kong) and Robert Armstrong is the drunken idiot who is lead astray by the evil Count Zaroff (Leslie Banks), a man who is so bored with hunting Lions and Tiger that he wants something who can use as much cunning as he. And what better prey than Robert Rainsford, a big game hunter who washes up on the Count's island when his boat sinks in the Pacific.

If you think you recognize some of the sets then you probably do. It was filmed at the same time as King Kong and used the same sets. They are used to full advantage among the many hunting scenes. Originally the movie was supposed to be made for $250, 000 dollars and run over 85 minutes. But the budget was slashed to $100, 000 and several scenes had to be dropped, resulting in the running time being reduced to 62 minutes.

Yes, it's short, but it's great. Later remade as Run For The Sun in 1956, Hard Target in 1993 and Surviving the Game in 1994.

The DVD sports a slightly damaged but still good-looking 1.37:1 full-frame picture and decent Dolby Mono sound. A very good commentary is also included. Definitely get this one!


Most Excellent DVD   July 28, 2000
 11 out of 11 found this review helpful

There has been some debate by previous reviewers of 'The Most Dangerous Game' about the quality of the digital transfer on to DVD. My own view is that the picture quality is outstanding. You do occasionally catch sight of objects shimmering, but the effect is negliable. What really hits you is the incredible sharpness and clarity of the print. This isn't limited to the picture either - the sound quality is equally as impressive. For a movie 70 years old you simply could not hope for better. The only extra feature is a very good commentary by Bruce Eder, whose knowledge of 'The Most Dangerous Game' seems limitless. This guy really knows his stuff and what's more, he delivers it in a very relaxed and friendly manner. The film itself is an action packed 63 minutes that is enlivened by a luscious Fay Wray with great support from Leslie Banks and Joel McCrea. The relatively short running time actually helps maintain a high level of suspense and interest - it feels like an 80 minute movie but with all the boring stuff cut out! To label 'The Most Dangerous Game' as a classic is an exaggeration. It is still a well-made, exciting movie that has stood the test of time exceptionally well. The film itself deserves 4 stars, but the great picture quality, sound and commentary make this DVD worthy of a 5 star rating.


Reprints Reproof   March 6, 2006
 10 out of 15 found this review helpful

Horrifying, shocking and totally suspenseful! Not the story as much as the production values of this reprint. Kessinger.net says that they use the most advanced technology to reprint their titles....I say go back to ink-smudged scribes working in cloisters.

Missing letters, misspellings, arbitrary paragraph breaks, missing paragraph breaks (where dialogue from characters are all run together in one block) are just a few of the production horrors lurking between these pages.

I got the title to read to my son. The production problems made it a stilted, halting reading at best. I finally canceled the reading and went to mark up the text. I came back in 30 minutes and started again.

Avoid this publisher if you value reading comprehension.