A lot appealed to me when 'Mandalay' was recommended here to me, in the more like this section. That it was directed by a great director in Michael Curtiz got my interest and seeing the names in the cast interested me further. Do like Kay Francis a lot, though she was often better than her material, Ricardo Cortez always makes for a good villain and Lyle Talbot is good when the role is interesting. The story did sound interesting but was worried about how the melodrama would fare.
'Mandalay' is by no means one of Curtiz's best films, consider it more a little above average minor work. All have done better, but nobody actually is disgraced. It is a great looking film and the performances are good. What is less successful is the story, which starts off good and ends surprisingly but too much of the second half is silly melodramatic soap that lacks surprises and is not as interesting. So 'Mandalay' is a slight mixed bag, with a little more good than bad.
Visually, 'Mandalay' looks wonderful. There is a lot of beautiful photography throughout, there is nothing cheap about the locations and Francis' wardrobe has the wow factor. The music fits the atmosphere well, and the song is a lovely one (the number of times it was used was not necessary though). The script in the first half has snap, bite and fun with a daring edge, while the story was absorbing in the first half. The ending is as has been said very surprising and not what one expects.
Curtiz directs with good skill visually and dramatically, though he didn't seem as engaged once the second half started before the spark came back towards the end. Francis is alluring and sensual, her role is perfect for playing to her strengths and she has no trouble commanding the screen. Talbot is good as a character not near as interesting, he is hardly bland. Cortez is typecast, but it was a character he played very well indeed, which he acts with a sinister touch, and it was clear the studio knew that. Warner Oland also does well and doesn't overdo his part, grate or feels out of place.
On the other hand, the second half isn't as strong. It loses momentum, from a little too much padding, and the dialogue loses its snap, becomes stilted and gets at its worst pretty stupid. The story also gets very soap-operatic and in pure over-heated melodrama fashion and creaks badly, it was like watching another film.
The supporting cast has some interesting names, but only Oland and Ruth Donnelly rise above their material. Everybody else struggles to register as characters that are never really fleshed out and feel like plot devices instead. As said, as lovely as the song is it is too repetitively used.
Concluding, starts well and ends surprisingly but loses its way generally in the second half. Worth seeing for the production values and the three leads. 6/10
