East of Borneo

StarringCinematographyGeorge RobinsonEdited byArthur TavaresDistributed byUniversal Pictures77 minutesCountryUnited StatesLanguageEnglish

East of Borneo is a 1931 American Pre-Code adventure film directed by George Melford, co-written by Edwin H. Knopf and Dale Van Every, starring Rose Hobart, Charles Bickford, Georges Renavent, Lupita Tovar, and Noble Johnson, and released by Universal Studios.

In 1936, artist Joseph Cornell edited this feature film into his short experimental film Rose Hobart which runs about 19 minutes.^[1]

Plot

Linda Randolph looks for her husband on the island of Marado just east of Borneo. Although Linda is warned that Marado's jungles are "entirely too dangerous" for a white woman, she persists through dangerous raft rides and wild crocodiles. She discovers that her husband is now the personal physician to the island’s enigmatic prince. The prince lusts for Linda, and a love triangle ensues.

Cast

• Rose Hobart as Linda Randolph
• Charles Bickford as Dr. Allan Randolph
• Georges Renavent as Hashim, Prince of Marudu
• Lupita Tovar as Neila
• Noble Johnson as Osman
• Tetsu Komai as Hrang the Raftsman

Production

The film was shot largely at Universal Studios. Despite being essentially a B-picture, East of Borneo featured elaborate sets. Props and set dressing used in the film were reportedly valued at $100,000; this figure includes a large $25,000 Buddha statue, a very rare small white Buddha and a long mother-of-pearl inlaid bench, silver dinner utensils, and Oriental rugs and drapery.^[2]

References

External links

• East of Borneo at IMDb
• East of Borneo at AllMovie
• Hall, Mordaunt (September 26, 1931). "East of Borneo". The New York Times.
• East of Borneo website with synopsis and poster
• East of Borneo is available for free viewing and download at the Internet Archive