THE WHITE ORCHID (1954) *1/2 An American, a Mexican, and a totem blonde go on a treasure hunt.no that's not a joke, but the film is. Just not a funny one. There are two great scenes though: the early scene where the bartender guffaws really loudly, and the very late one where the American kicks an Indian a glancing blow on his knee thereby knocking him out. That's pretty much the quality you're looking for, neh? Despite their obvious limitations the writers, at least, did have high ambitions at one point. They depicted the blonde as a courageous and competent proto-feminist, and when the boys both get interested in her she picks the Mexican. He is the right choice, you see, despite the clear but unmentioned fact that he has dedicated his life to reading and imitating the worst poetry ever; you can tell this from his mawkish efforts at romantic statement. The American archaeologist is just another self-indulged putz. Apparently terrified at their own courage, the writers then have the blonde dump the Mexican about halfway through the film and get mad at him, despite the fact that it is the idiocy of the American that's just put all of their lives in danger. In danger, that is, of being eaten (or worse!) by the descendants of the proud and ancient Mayan/Toltec/Aztec tribes.whose descendants it must be said now resemble nothing more than overgrown Oompa-Loompas. Oh well.
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