Renegades ** (1930, Warner Baxter, Myrna Loy, Bela Lugosi, Noah Beery Sr, C Henry Gordon, Gregory Gaye, George Cooper) – Classic Movie Review 11,550

Director Victor Fleming’s 1930 desert adventure film Renegades stars Warner Baxter as Jean Deucalion, Myrna Loy as Eleanore, Noah Beery as Thurman Machwurth, Gregory Gaye as Dmitri Vologuine, George Cooper as Harry A. Biloxi, Bela Lugosi as The Marabout, Sheik Muhammed Halid, and C Henry Gordon as Captain Mordiconi.

It is a creaky tale of bravery in the North African desert with Jean Deucalion (Warner Baxter)’s French Foreign Legionnaires battling Moroccan villains and sexy secret agent Eleanore (Myrna Loy), who betrays four legionnaires.

Good on-form stars, a strong support cast and a significant director make it an interesting antique curio, and help a low-key, muddled and over-extended story, even at just 84 minutes, with a depressing, body-strewn climax.

Jules Furthman’s screenplay is based on the novel Le Renégat by André Armandy.

Also in the cast are Colin Chase, Victor Jory, Noah Beery Jr, Fred Kohler Jr, Maurice Black, Edwards Davis, Claire Du Brey, Noble Johnson, and Frank Lackteen.

Renegades is directed by Victor Fleming, runs 84 minutes, is made and released by Fox, is written by Jules Furthman, is shot in black and white by L William O’Connell, is produced by William Fox (presenter) and Victor Fleming, scored by Arthur Kay, and designed by William S Darling.

It is the film debut of Victor Jory (as Officer Belonge).

Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 11,550

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