Gunga Din

Rating:
Summary: Rollicking Adventure in Late Nineteenth Century India
Review: GUNGA DIN is a great story about British army life in India in the late nineteenth century. It contains plenty of military action reminiscent of BEAU GESTE and a lot of humor.

Victor McLaglen, Cary Grant and Douglas Fairbanks Jr. are superb as they play three veteran non-coms. The supporting cast of Sam Jaffe, Edwardo Ciannelli, Joan Fontaine, Montagu Love and Robert Coote is excellent. Jaffe excells as the native water carrier and Ciannelli gives a memorable performance as the crazed leader of a group of rebel religious fanatics.

The film received no Oscars mainly because the 1939 Academy Awards competition was dominated by GONE WITH THE WIND and THE WIZARD OF OZ.

George Stevens is also remembered for his fine work as director of SHANE, GIANT and A PLACE IN THE SUN. He received Oscars for the latter two movies.

Rating:
Summary: They don't make 'em like this anymore.
Review: Gunga Din is one of my all time favorite movies, a combination of Indiana Jones and the Three Musketeers. The relationship between the three protagonists is humorous and touching at the same time, and the much parodied ending where Jaffe appears in the uniform of a British soldier after sacrificing his life to save the others, it really gets you where you live. Action, humor, romance, exotic locales, and on top of it all, Cary Grant, the main man. It's almost impossible to find even for rent, and it is a perfect candidate for preservation and transfer to DVD. If anyone in Hollywood is listening, why don't you remake a movie that's worth remaking? (hint, hint)

Rating:
Summary: Gunga Din: The Best of the Pre-Politically Correct Movies
Review: GUNGA DIN is the kind of rollicking, enormously entertaining film that most movie lovers have seen many times. The first time that they see it is likely to result in a nearly two hour fun-filled escape into a land filled with varying degrees of adventure, humor, male bonding, spectacle, terror, heroism, and warped history. Further viewings may lead the viewer to see the 1930s as an unfortunate period in racial stereotyping that did not mind subtly tearing down one dark race before elevating one member of that race into the spheres of heroism.
The plot seems simple, but the film's many layered subtexts suggest that the heroism that is most often genetically linked to the British may be found in other races too. Three British sergeants McChesney (Victor McLaughlin), Ballantine (Douglas Fairbanks Jr.) and Cutter (Cary Grant) are stationed in mid-19th century India, and each dreams of locating gold and riches that they are sure lurk hidden, just waiting to be found by adventurers like themselves. And adventurers they are. Despite their constant bickering, they bond strongly on many levels: they watch each others' backs; they close circles against selected competing sergeants (the spiked drink scene with Sgt. Higgenbottom is a classic); they mask their basic heroic selves with petty personal disputes. There is a very minor subplot with Ballantine's wish to marry Joan Fontaine, who does little more than act as a symbolic lure to induce him to resign from the army. The basic plot is one based on greed. The three sergeants hear of a vast amount of treasure hidden in a temple run by a killing sect of stranglers called Thuggees and they determine to sneak in, steal the treasure, and in Cutter's words, open a bar 'bigger than the Crystal Palace.' As they pursue this goal, director George Stevens interjects the politically incorrect but probably the then widespread belief that Indians were a thoroughly untrustworthy lot, totally unable to overcome a British soldier in any one-on-one encounter. Stevens emphasizes this racially prejudiced notion as he shows Cutter, with sprightly music emphasizing a non-threatening aspect, single-handedly punching out a gang of swarthy turbaned Thuggs while McChesney sees this but is in no hurry to help since he is quite sure no help is needed. Along the way, they bring along the regimental bhisti Gunga Din (Sam Jaffi) as a guide. Toward the end of the film, the dramatic center shifts from the three sergeants to Din and to the leader of the Thugs, the Guru, played superbly by Eduardo Cianelli. Both Din and the Guru are equally impressive, though in quite different ways. Din's bravery is astonishing, given his earlier build up as a rather clownish character. But it falls to the Guru to provide one of the most impressive monologues in this or any other film. He finds himself an unexpected captive of the three sergeants, so he takes the time to explain his rationale behind his wish to unite India under his rule. As he describes his notion of honor and battlefield wisdom, he can see that his captors look at him as if he had snakes coming out of his head. Up till this point, he had been speaking in the calm and soothing cadences of one who knows that victory is within his grasp. Their looks anger him for the first time, so he shouts, 'I can see it in your eyes. Who is this little man (himself) to snarl so loudly at the British lion and pull its tail?' When he describes the onrushing torrent of a Thuggee revolution that is punctuated by a rising crescendo of music, he clearly establishes himself as far more than the deranged native the sergeants truly see him as. Din proves that bravery can reside even in a non-heroic setting. The Guru similarly proves that bravery and bloody fanaticism can also co-exist in unlikely looking settings.
GUNGA DIN is still eminently watchable as a tremendously enjoyable film. It has something for nearly everyone, and the various strands of humor, adventure, and spectacle are so seamlessly woven that the audience can be forgiven for overlooking the brutal historical truth behind the movie that many innocent people on both sides died needlessly to fight a war that ought never have occurred in the first place.

Rating:
Summary: A classic adventure movie...
Review: Gunga Din is truly a classic adventure movie. Furthermore, in addition to being very exciting, it is quite humorous and is perhaps the original "buddy" movie. Often imitated but never surpassed, Gunga Din is essentially the story of three British Army men stationed in India who get involved with an evil cult known as the Thugees (I'm not quite sure on the spelling), which worships their god, Kali, by strangling people.

The movie features many exciting and funny scenes - and it also has spendid black-and-white cinematography. And it is well acted: Cary Grant is hilarious as the clownish Sgt. Cutter, and Victor McLagen and Douglas Fairbanks Jr. are very good as his brave companions. The other actors give good performances as well, especially the actors playing Gunga Din himself and the evil leader of the cult.

My only complaint about this movie is that it condones, if not totally supports, British Imperialism in India and to some extent presents the natives as savages. Although this view is not totally surprising given that the movie was made in 1938 - before the days of politically correct movies - it is somewhat irritating to see the British Imperialists portrayed so heroically.

Nevertheless, the sheer entertainment value of Gunga Din balances out its Imperialist tendencies and political incorrectness. It is a fun adventure movie the whole family can watch and enjoy!

Rating:
Summary: "Oh it's Din, Din, Din!"
Review: I must have been only six or seven the first time my dad woke me in the middle of the night (back in the good old days before video tapes and VCR timers) to see a badly butchered version of this classic tale of male adventure under the British Raj. As I sat there, watching the tiny uniformed figures doing battle on the flickering black and white screen (between the commercials for used cars and power tools) a closet Imperialist was born.

What a hell of a movie! GUNGA DIN is well-written (especially when you consider it's mostly based on a single poem by the sadly under-rated Rudyard Kipling), well-acted (brilliantly cast with dashing Douglas Fairbanks Jr. taking the romantic lead), flawlessly directed, and beautifully filmed.

Soldiers three, Cutter, Ballentine and MacChesney, set out to put down a flareup of a murderous Indian cult and along the way get mixed up in the hunt for a solid gold Indian temple. Sure, it's just good old-fashioned male fantasy, but combined with the powerful themes of courage, honor and friendship, this one stands the test of time.

Having trouble sleeping the other night, I popped GUNGA DIN into the VCR, and sure enough the magic worked. Before long I was grinning at the wisecracks in the face of incredible odds, swept up in the ageless battle of good against evil, of civilization against barbarity, and in the knowledge that one man can make a difference.

Rating:
Summary: THE greatest action adventure movie, PERIOD
Review: I remember when I first saw this movie. I was about five years old and I remember being in a state of awe and wonder at how well this movie was crafted. Most people have not seen this movie and I would recommend they see this. It has all the action you could want from a movie of this kind. The music in particular sets a tone in certain parts of the movie, whether it be foreboding, heroic, or comical. Cary Grant was, I believe, at his most comical in his role as Sergeant Cutter, always looking for gold, someway, somehow. It is unfortunate that this movie is out of print because I have been wanting a copy to replace the one my parents taped of AMC when the channel first started back in the '80's. All in all, this movie could put to rest all the moviegoers who think that what comes out in theaters today is original. Sorry, but this movie is the original buddy action movie. One question, however, was a soundtrack ever released for the movie? because I would love to have the music as well. Watch this movie, you won't regret it.

Rating:
Summary: Marvelous adventure yarn, deserves DVD release
Review: I saw this movie on TCM as it is unavailable on either VHS or DVD. This is a terrible shame since it is an absolutely classic adventure tale. I know that many people raise a stink about it being Imperialist but honestly, how can you expect a movie made over 60 years ago to forsee the values and opinions of US citizens circa 2000? Complaining about a 1939 movie with a mostly British cast being Imperialist is like complaining about an American movie made in 1942 being pro Ally, anti-Axis. The British Empire was certainly not wholly good but it also was not some sort of Nazi regime. Almost every Empire since Egypt started the trend has been part good, part bad with the mixture depending on who was in charge.

The villains of the film are the Thugee death cult, a group of nasties who strangled and robbed for supposedly religious reasons (more probably, they just wanted an excuse to rob and strangle). No one liked them, for rather obvious reasons. The film opens in the late 19th century and the Thugee cult is being reborn under the insane eyes of a new guru. He wants to annihilate the British in India so he can start up his own empire. Standing in his way are three British soldier, best of friends, and their amiable water-carrier, Gunga Din.

This movie combines action and comedy, more comedy than is usual. The funniest bits involve Douglas Fairbanks Jr.'s attempts to leave the army and get married. His two friends conspire to keep him there and use any means, fair or foul (mostly foul) to do it.

I greatly enjoyed this movie. (No, I am not an old Imperialist, I am 20 and love classic films) and I hope that it will be restored and released on DVD. It is a rousing yarn and can be enjoyed by one and all if any political leanings are forgotten. Just set your frame of mind to 1939 and have fun.

Rating:
Summary: "Kill, Kill, Kill for the Love of Kali!"
Review: Just one of the lines that makes your hair stand on end in this best of all 1930s action films, "Gunga Din". I recently rediscovered this old classic in the New York Public Library while hunting for something to occupy my four-year nephew while I was going to baby-sit him. Since he loves Flynn's "Robin Hood", Power's "Mark of Zorro", and Wilcoxin's "The Crusades", I thought that the little guy would probably take to "Gunga Din" like a duck to water, and was I ever right! Not only that, but even I, Aunt TutorGal, bought my own used copy because I just had such a good time with it. As far as I know, this is Cary Grant's only true swashbuckler, and he and the gang are A-one!

Here we're back in Colonial India again, with three soldier comrades: Cary Grant, a Cockney always looking for hidden treasure; Victor McLaglin, a blustery two-fisted elephant lover; and Douglas Fairbanks, the most elegant of the three and the best swordsman of the lot. The crisis comes early when Fairbanks reluctantly announces to the other two that he's not going to renew his term with the British Army because he's going to marry Joan Fontaine and go into the tea business. Classic case of two angry friends trying to bust up a guy's romance or at least find a way to get Doug to re-enlist, even by tricks if necessary.

So who's Gunga Din? Why, he's the Indian water carrier of the regiment who longs to be a soldier-bugler himself. Unfortunately, he has to endure a lot of racist remarks from the prejudiced McLaglen, but at least Cary Grant takes a shine to him, though perhaps he's a little patronizing himself. Sam Jaffee, later Ben-Hur's father-in-law, does a creditable job as eponymous Din. Montague Love, erstwhile Bishop of the Black Canon from "Robin Hood", checks in as the commanding officer, and turns in a good job. Joan Fontaine, in an early role, hasn't much to do as Doug's fiancee, except be a figure of scorn for the other two buddies.

Kudos to Eduardo Cianelli as the evil Guru who has resurrected the devilish Tugghee cult. It's he who directs his swarms of shrouded followers to go out there and strangle as many British soldiers as possible, for the love of Kali, their blood goddess.

Every time The Nephew and I watch the movie, he always asks me in a very worried voice, "But the British are going to win, aren't they?" as though the ending might change while sitting in the video case. But rest assured, that "Gunga Din" satisfies its viewers with action, thrills, and even some tears for A Noble Sacrifice on one character's part. If you really want to have a rollicking good time, "Gunga Din"'s your man.

Rating:
Summary: Why isnt this Available??
Review: Ok ,I know hollywood isn't known,particularly in recent years ,for intelligence, but the present unavailability of this movie is the ultimate example of idiocy.This is on everyones list as one of the greatest movies ever made--in fact many believe it to be THE greatest adventure film ever made.So why isnt it available in DVD or VHS??I mean its been out of distribution for years now.What gives???

Rating:
Summary: The Template
Review: Possibly the best pure action film ever made and certainly the inspiration for many that have followed. Inspired by, rather than based on, a poem by Rudyard Kipling (who briefly appears as a character in the uncut version of the film in the guise of a journalist traveling with the British army) this tale of adventure, comedy, and action in 19th-century India under the British Raj has it all. Superb b&w cinematography (nominated for an Academy Award in Hollywood's greatest year). Perfect casting, with Cary "Archie" Grant as the cockney Sgt. Cutter, Victor McLaghlen as gruff Master Sgt. MacChesney, Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. as the dashing Sgt. Ballantine, Sam Jaffee (in full body makeup) as the humble water carrier Gunga Din, and the scene-stealing Eduardo Cianelli as a ferociously intelligent villain who is far more frightening than any '30's movie monster.

The setting, outside the small town of Lone Pine, in California's eastern Sierras, beautifully mirrors that of northwestern India. Filmed in 100 degree heat, the picture's sets and backgrounds have a look of sere authenticity rarely achieved by location filming in the '30's. The superb score borders on the operatic, with leitmotifs for characters as well as scenes.

I vividly remember thinking as a child, when I first saw a grainy print on our b&w tv, that this was the first time I had seen a non-white person in a film who was obviously smarter than the Caucasian heroes. Yes, Cianelli's guru is a fanatic at the head of a cult of ritual murderers, but his discourse on what makes a good officer ("Great generals, gentlemen, are not made of jeweled swords and mustache wax. They are made of what is here [touches hand to head] and here [touches hand to heart]!") has stayed with me ever since. Not to mention, before throwing himself into the cobra pit so that his soldiers will move against the British, that "India is my country, and I can die for my country as well as you for yours".

Of course, there is also his rousing speech in the temple to his devotees to "Kill for the love of Kali, kill as you yourselves would be killed, kill for the love of killing...kill, kill, kill!" that carries rather chilling relevance to all too many fanatical groups today (though not worshippers of poor slandered Kali, whose temple in Kolkata I have visited). And it's the bravery of a mistreated Hindu, Gunga Din, who saves the day, and British behinds.

This is a film that functions on many levels and inspired far more than the forgettable remake (SOLDIERS THREE). Its lack of availability on DVD in a fully restored version, together with the accompanying George Stevens, Jr. documentary footage on its making (including color film shot on the location), makes it the number one omission in the current DVD catalog.