Produced Simultaneously as a "Sound" and "Silent" Film, this Highly-Stylized War-Anti-War Film, is an Arresting, Awesome, Audacious Movie Made at the Precise Moment America and Britain were Contemplating, Not Only the Future of Film-Making but the "Future" of War, Technology, Creature Comforts, and the "Roles" of Men and Women in Daily-Life.
The Movie Only Existed in a Silent Version Until Very Recently when a "Talkie" Print Emerged from the Rubble of Time.
"Lost-Media" Hopefuls, Once Again, are Given Proof-Positive, that Adapting a "Positive" Attitude that there May Be Found, "Cross-Fingers", an Existing Print of All Things "Media" Thought Lost is "Not".
"High Treason" is Surely a Powerful Treat for the Eyes with its Stunning Art-Deco Images and its Imaginative World-Building that is Elaborately Executed and Shown to be Both Awe-Inspiring and Clunky.
For an Example of said Clunky, Awkward is the Display of a Dance-Hall where the "Guys and Gals" are Stepping Staccato (start & stop) to a Band of Instruments On-Stage.
A Band of Instruments Playing Without Humans Involved.
It's sort of a "Goldberg" Kinda Thing with Wires and Other Hardware Forcing Air into the Woodwinds with Levers and Such Plucking Others. It's One of the More Ridiculous Displays.
The Things Most Impressive are the Communication Devices (Skype-Like), and a Stab at Cars, Aircraft, and Transportation.
At its Heart is its Pacifistic Foundation.
Women with More of a Role in Society and Government, but its also Not Above being Playfully Erotic at Times.
An Odd, Surreal Look at the Future that can Boggle-the-Mind and Spirit with its Wonderfully Poetic Visuals that Dominate the Feature.
The Acting, as Expected is Dated, as are some of its Attitudes about Almost Everything, but Not that Absurd if You Think About it.
"High Treason" is a Daring "Hidden Gem" that can be Placed, with Certitude, Along-Side other Pre-1950 Extravaganzas of Science-Fiction such as...
"Metropolis" (1925)..."Just Imagine" (1930), "Things to Come" (1936).
Must-See for Film-Historians, Sci-Fi Fans, and those Seeking Spectacle.
Or Anyone Wanting to be "Blown Away" by the Art of Movie-Making with Accent on "Art".
With a Dollop of Social Commentary, Prognostication, as Pure Entertainment...
It's a WOW.
