Call Her Savage

I must have had this film at least three years before I finally watched it. Films of the 1930s seem so dated, and I read where Clara Bow was the "It" girl more than anything.

It's hard to know where to begin with this film, but no discussion is going to be complete without talking about its racism. It's pretty insidious stuff too, because aside from the depiction of Native Americans as savages bent on massacring white folks in the first five minutes, something pretty common out of Hollywood in this period and for decades afterwards, the film equates having "Indian blood" in descendants with impulse and anger issues.

Based on a sprawling novel by Tiffany Thayer, which shows in the way characters throughout wander in and out - starting with Fred Kohler and Russell Simpson on a covered wagon trail - before abruptly bounding thirty years in just ten minutes screentime to Clara Bow's dramatic entrance in jodhpurs and riding boots killing a rattlesnake with a bullwhip.She then uses the bullwhip on Gilbert Roland, has a catfight with Thelma Todd before thereafter modelling a variety of glamorous thirties gowns, and there's the usual preCode quota of casual racism and flamboyant homosexuality.

I might have passed on this film, but I happened to notice Clara Bow's name in the credits. I never saw any of her films before, and for starters, you might call this one a knockout.

Call Her Savage (1932)** 1/2 (out of 4) "It" girl Clara Bow made her comeback with this at times raunchy Pre-Code that features the actress turning up the sex level. In the film she plays a wild child who goes through various up and downs throughout her life.

Clara Bow (Nasa) is dangerous. Watch the film and find out why.

I am in love. Well, it's a little late.

The reason to "Call Her Savage" is made clear, in a well-produced opening. Clara Bow (as Nasa Springer) was born unto generations of sinners.

Nasa "Dynamite" Springer (Clara Bow) is a free-wheeling, head-strong Texas girl with a violent temper. This film follws her life over the course of many years.