The Green Goddess

:"This article is about two American films. For other uses, see Green Goddess (disambiguation)."Infobox Film
name = The Green Goddess (1930)


producer = Walter Morosco
director = Alfred E. Green
writer = Julien Josephson
based on the play by
William Archer
starring = George Arliss
Ralph Forbes
H.B. Warner
Alice Joyce
music = Louis Silvers
cinematography = James Van Trees
editing = James Gibbon
distributor = Warner Bros.
released = February 13, 1930
budget =
country = USA
runtime = 73 min.
language = English
imdb_id = 0020938|

"The Green Goddess" is the name of two American motion pictures, the first made in 1923 and the second in 1930.

The 1923 silent film was adapted for the screen by Forrest Halsey from the William Archer stage play also called "The Green Goddess" and directed by Sidney Olcott. It starred George Arliss, Alice Joyce, David Powell, Jetta Goudal and Harry T. Morey. It tells the story of three English people who crash land in an Indian kingdom in which the Raja threatens to execute them if the British execute his half-brothers.

The 1930 remake was done by Warner Brothers using their new Vitaphone sound system. In the 1930 version George Arliss and Alice Joyce reprised their roles which also starred Ralph Forbes, H.B. Warner, Ivan F. Simpson and Reginald Sheffield. It was adapted by Julien Josephson and was directed by Alfred E. Green.

George Arliss received a nomination for an Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in the 1930 film.

Production

George Arliss was nominated for an Oscar in 1930 for the category "Best Actor in a Leading Role" for his role in this film. "The Green Goddess" was filmed in 1929 and completed before "Disraeli" (1929), but was held out of release until later at the request of George Arliss because he felt the other film was a better vehicle for his talkie debut.

Plot

A small plane carrying three British citizens -- Major Crespin, his wife Lucille, and Dr. Trahernis -- is forced down somewhere near the Himalayas. The plane lands in the tiny Princedom of Rukh, ostensibly under the British Viceroy, but actually ruled by a curiously deranged old Raja. The three visitors find themselves at the mercy of the Raja and are caught up in his lustful plots & plans. The Rajah holds them prisoner because the British are about to execute his three half-brothers in neighboring India. His subjects believe that their Green Goddess has given them the lives of the three Brits as payment for the lives of the Rajah's brothers. They will execute them when the brothers are executed. Trahern and the Crespins must figure a way to use the Rajah's radio to call India for help...

Preservation

The film survives complete.

Trivia

Green goddess dressing, first made at the Palace Hotel in San Francisco, was named in honor of the stage play.

External links

*imdb title|id= 0014100|title=The Green Goddess (1923)
*imdb title|id= 0020938|title=The Green Goddess (1930)