Item: Rango
Rating: 5.9
Author: Archivist John

Alright, so we're talking about Rango from 1927. If you’re into really old films, especially ones that try to blend a story with genuine wild animal footage, then yeah, this one’s a curious watch. For pretty much anyone else expecting a modern movie experience or even a clear, strong plot, you’ll probably find it a bit of a slog. It’s a very specific kind of film for a very specific kind of viewer. 🐒

The whole thing kicks off with this kind of academic voiceover – well, intertitle – about orangutans being 'men of the forest.' It feels a little like a school filmstrip at first. Then we’re dropped into Sumatra with Ali and his son, Bin, who are trying to hunt tigers.

Their big problem? A pair of orangutans, Tua and her baby, Rango. These two keep messing up Ali’s plans, which, you know, is probably what real wild animals do. There's this one moment where the baby Rango almost gets snagged by a tiger, and you actually feel a little tension. For a silent film from almost a century ago, that's pretty good.

Then comes the scene where the orangutans absolutely _demolish_ Ali’s hut. Dozens of them just swarm in and trash the place, eating everything. It’s chaotic, almost funny, but also a stark reminder of who’s really in charge out there. Ali, being a human, reacts by catching Rango and putting him on a chain. That felt a bit rough to watch, honestly.
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Later, Ali actually saves Tua from a black panther. It’s one of those moments where the film leans into the idea of a strange alliance, or maybe just survival instinct kicking in. The animals are the real stars here, even when the humans are trying to drive the plot.

The night tiger attack, where Rango warns Bin, is another standout. It makes Rango feel like more than just an animal prop. He’s got some agency, some smarts. Bin shoots into the air, and the tiger just… runs off. It feels a little too easy for a tiger, but hey, it’s 1927.

The film kind of loses its way a bit after that. There’s a scene with Bin and water buffaloes. Then a tiger kills a deer, and all the orangutans start screaming and fleeing. It’s loud, even without sound, if that makes sense. You can almost feel the panic.

The final chase scene, with two male tigers after Bin, Rango, and Tua, feels pretty intense. And then, bam, Rango just dies. It’s sudden. Like, one minute he’s running, the next he’s gone. It’s a harsh reminder of the jungle's realities, but it also felt a little bit like the filmmakers just needed a quick dramatic ending. It's a jolt, for sure.

But the true hero, in a weird way, turns out to be a water buffalo. This buffalo goes head-to-head with a tiger and kills it. It's an unexpected climax. You don't often see a water buffalo getting its hero moment. It felt like the movie was trying to show who the real heavyweights of the jungle are.

Honestly, Rango is less a gripping story and more a collection of remarkable, sometimes staged, wildlife moments strung together. The human plot feels thin around the edges, mostly there to give us a reason to watch the animals. It's a document of a time, both in filmmaking and in how we viewed nature. Not a masterpiece, but definitely something.