By Frank Miller
The Delightful Rogue
Brief Synopsis
A modern-day pirate vies with a society playboy for the love of a dancer.
Cast & Crew
Read More
Lynn Shores
Director
Rod La Rocque
Lastro
Rita La Roy
Nydra
Charles Byer
Harry Beall
Ed Brady
MacDougal
Harry Semels
Hymie
Film Details
Genre
Romance
Adventure
Release Date
Sep
22,
1929
Premiere Information
not available
Production Company
RKO Productions
Country
United States
Screenplay Information
Based on the short story "A Woman Decides" by Wallace Smith in Cosmopolitan (publication date undetermined).
Technical Specs
Duration
1h 4m
Sound
Mono (RCA Photophone System)
Color
Black and White
Film Length
6,532ft
(7 reels)
Synopsis
Lastro, a languid Latin who prides himself on his villainy, seizes a yacht and turns pirate on the tropical seas. Wanted for murder, arson, and robbery, Lastro sails into Tapit, where he encounters Junipero, a native leader, and proffers a better photograph than the one on the handbill offering a reward for his capture. In a cafe he meets Nydra, an American dancer sought after by Harry Beall, scion of a wealthy family, and when Lastro becomes interested, his audacity amuses the girl; Lastro flings Beall aside in a skirmish and vanquishes Junipero and his police. Later, Lastro kidnaps Beall, and Nydra comes to plead for her lover's freedom. Lastro agrees but insists that she spend the night in his cabin, and behind locked doors they talk the night away. Beall's indignant attitude at her actions causes Nydra to leave him in disgust and sail away with the pirate.
Director
Lynn Shores
Director
Cast
Rod La Rocque
Lastro
Rita La Roy
Nydra
Charles Byer
Harry Beall
Ed Brady
MacDougal
Harry Semels
Hymie
Sam Blum
Junipero
Bert Moorehouse
Nielson
Crew
Film Details
Genre
Romance
Adventure
Release Date
Sep
22,
1929
Premiere Information
not available
Production Company
RKO Productions
Country
United States
Screenplay Information
Based on the short story "A Woman Decides" by Wallace Smith in Cosmopolitan (publication date undetermined).
Technical Specs
Duration
1h 4m
Sound
Mono (RCA Photophone System)
Color
Black and White
Film Length
6,532ft
(7 reels)
Articles
The Delightful Rogue -
In 1930, a leading lady like Rita Le Roy could sing "Gay love, with your heart I will play, love" with the audience never doubting that it was aimed at the male rivals for her heart, swashbuckling pirate Rod La Rocque and millionaire playboy Charles Byer. Sold with the tag line "The ruthless sea rogue and the titian-haired dancing girl in a throbbing tropic love duel," the picture marked silent star La Rocque's move into all-talking features in the type of role that had made him a silent-screen favorite. If it didn't quite put him over the top, that was more a sign of changing times than any failings on the film's part. The days of dashing rogues in exotic climes were coming to an end with the start of the Great Depression. La Rocque was adaptable enough to move into other roles, like Norma Shearer's ex- in Let Us Be Gay (1930), but left Hollywood for three years because his wife, Vilma Banky, was having a harder time adjusting to talkies. Although The Delightful Rogue, did not set the box office on fire, "Gay Love," with music by Oscar Levant, would live on as a recording by Bing Crosby.
By Frank Miller
By Frank Miller
The Delightful Rogue -
In 1930, a leading lady like Rita Le Roy could sing "Gay love, with your heart I will play, love" with the audience never doubting that it was aimed at the male rivals for her heart, swashbuckling pirate Rod La Rocque and millionaire playboy Charles Byer. Sold with the tag line "The ruthless sea rogue and the titian-haired dancing girl in a throbbing tropic love duel," the picture marked silent star La Rocque's move into all-talking features in the type of role that had made him a silent-screen favorite. If it didn't quite put him over the top, that was more a sign of changing times than any failings on the film's part. The days of dashing rogues in exotic climes were coming to an end with the start of the Great Depression. La Rocque was adaptable enough to move into other roles, like Norma Shearer's ex- in Let Us Be Gay (1930), but left Hollywood for three years because his wife, Vilma Banky, was having a harder time adjusting to talkies. Although The Delightful Rogue, did not set the box office on fire, "Gay Love," with music by Oscar Levant, would live on as a recording by Bing Crosby.
By Frank Miller
