DVD Review: Stingaree (1934)

Kino strikes again with another significant pre-code feature that is decidedly a lesser-known effort by director William Wellman. Richard Dix stars in the title role of a Robin Hood sort who assumes a composer’s identity at the opera, and falls for the leading singer’s servant.

Set in the 1870’s, “Stingaree” is a thrilling romantic drama with Richard Dix both charming and amusing as the leading man. Dix did some of his best work at RKO during the pre-code era (“Ace of Aces,” “Hell’s Highway,” etc) and “Stingaree” numbers among his finest performances. Irene Dunne seems somewhat miscast as an aspiring opera singer whom Stingaree promotes to great success, but she is excellent in the role. The supporting performances by Conway Terle and Andy Devine (breaking in his sidekick chops) help bolster the material, as do amusing small parts from Una O’Connor and Snub Pollard.

Wellman uses this setting to examine the privileged via a central character who smoothly steals from them. It is a departure for the director, best known for the grittiness of such dramas as “The Public Enemy,” “The Star Witness,” and “Heroes for Sale.” While the title character is an outlaw, he is not dangerous like Tom Powers or a victim like Tom Holmes. Stingaree is a smooth operator, and although the film is set in 1874 Australia (getting the film banned in that country), it resonated in Depression America.

It is important that this film has become available on blu ray. RKO sold the rights of this and some other films to Merian C. Cooper in a 1946 legal settlement. Until the rights were secured by Turner Entertainment in 2007, “Stingaree” had not been seen on any television broadcast, except once in the 1950s. Hence its rarity despite the top level cast and director.

Kino’s blu ray is characteristically beautiful, and the commentary by William Wellman jr. is exceptionally enlightening, offering several anecdotes about the film, its production, and its preservation.

The blu ray is available here.