An English explorer disturbed by the practices of an isolated tribe attempts to rescue a native girl he has become fascinated with. THE DEVIL DANCER was highly praised at time of release for its exquisite cinematography, especially in the use of light and shadow. The film received an Academy Award nomination in this category. Sadly, it is among the lost. No prints or negatives are known to survive.
Cinematography
Oscar-nominated chiaroscuro that critics raved about — now vapor.
Acting
Gilda Gray's 'shimmy' made her the IT girl of 1927.
Director
Fred Niblo
Gilda Gray
Takla (The Devil Dancer)
Clive Brook
Stephen Athelstan
Anne Schaefer
Tana (as Ann Schaeffer)
Michael Vavitch
Hassim
Sôjin Kamiyama
Sadik Lama (as Sojin)
Claire Du Brey
Audrey
Albert Conti
Arnold Guthrie
Anna May Wong
Sada
Martha Mattox
Isabel
Kalla Pasha
Toy
James B. Leong
The Grand Lama
William H. Tooker
Lathrop
Nora Cecil
Julia
Barbara Tennant
The White Woman
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The 'lost film' phenomenon: roughly 75% of all silent features are gone, including 80% of films from 1927-1929.
Gilda Gray invented the 'shimmy' and was so famous she played herself in talkies — yet this, her dramatic showcase, evaporated.
US
