Four Frightened People (1934)

 

Four Frightened People - 1934

Coming up next we have 1934's "Four Frightened People", the story of four strangers who find themselves relying upon one another when they have to fight their way through the Malay jungle.  Wild animals, hostile natives, and their own tempers work against them as they struggle to survive.

The film's cast includes Claudette Colbert, Herbert Marshall, Mary Boland, William Gargan, Leo Carrillo, Nella Walker, and Ethel Griffies.

The film opens on a steamer headed along the Malay coast.  Four people aboard can think of nothing but returning to the United States on time to return to their usual existence.

We meet our assorted characters right away.  They are a cocky adventurer, a ditzy society dame, a shy scientist, and an unassuming schoolteacher.

These four people leave the steamer using a life raft.  They decide they must get off the ship because of an outbreak of plague.

However, the Malayan island and village they happen upon is no safer.  The natives tell them that there is an outbreak of cholera.

A native named Montague, who is the self-appointed "most English man in this place", is taken on as their guide to get them through the dangerous jungle to a place where they can arrange for transportation home.

Right away they set out and face the harsh jungle conditions.  Mrs. Mardick tries to make the best of the situation by keeping things light-hearted.  "Curious, no crocodiles," she observes as she looks around the water they are wading through.  She also mentions how the place is "like the botanical gardens and the zoo at the same time."  It's hilarious to listen to her observations.  At one point she screams then gives a nervous giggle.  "Just a little snake," she says.  At another place she addresses fellow castaway Stewart Corder, "Oh, Mr. Corder, there's something on your shirt...with a lot of legs."

The jungle threatens their lives at every moment.  Dangerous animals and reptiles, curious chimpanzees, and hostile jungle natives make the journey all the more arduous.

And they begin to get on each other's nerves.  Judy tries to work out the island's geography.  "Malay Peninsula is bounded on the north by Siam, on the south by the Strait of Singapore, on the east by the China Sea, on the west by the Strait of Malacca," she says.  Arnold just rolls his eyes and says sarcastically, "Water, water everywhere, and not a drop to drink."

Mrs. Mardick is taken hostage by a tribe in order that the rest might have safe passage through the jungle.  Don't be concerned about her.  She soon whips that tribe into shape and is soon extolling the merits of birth control to the tribeswomen, which makes the men very angry.  She makes sure they tow the line and behave themselves.

Soon enough, Arnold and Judy are drawn to one another.  Both are misunderstood in life.  His wife and her mother have basically beaten down and trampled on him, and Judy is feeling the same way about life in general.  They are drawn to one another, and they fall in love.

Eventually, they are all rescued and return to their previous existences.  Arnold goes back home and finds himself continually browbeaten by his wife and mother-in-law.  Unable to stand it any longer, he walks out and boards a train.

Both Stewart and Mrs. Mardick have found a calling detailing their experiences in Malaya for radio audiences.

Judy has returned to teaching in Chicago.  During class, she is both surprised and pleased when Arnold walks through the door.  He approaches her desk and takes her hand.  They leave the classroom together to the bewilderment of the students.

Cast rundown:

   Claudette Colbert............................Judy Jones

   Herbert Marshall.............................Arnold Ainger

   Mary Boland...................................Mrs. Mardick

   William Gargan...............................Stewart Corder

   Leo Carrillo.....................................Montague

   Nella Walker....................................Grace Ainger

   Ethel Griffies...................................Mrs. Ainger's Mother

And that's all for Four Frightened People.  The movie suffered many delays during its filming in Hawaii.  These included a noisy camera, a broken mechanical cobra, the illness of Claudette Colbert, and Mary Boland's temperamental behavior.  Claudette Colbert suffered from appendicitis and Cecil B. DeMille considered replacing her with Gloria Swanson at one time.

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