Gunga Din (A- or 3.5/4 stars)
'Gunga Din' (loosely based on a Rudyard Kipling 1892 poem & directed by the great George Stevens, of Giant, Shane, The Diary of Anne Frank) is one of those great old fashioned Hollywood adventure movies that many films of today can owe a debt to for its combination of action & fun. It is a bit problematic today {what with its make-up used to darken characters & also its glorification of war}, but it still a high achievement in a year of high cinematic achievements ... 1939.
The adventure is set in the early 1890s & tells the story of 3 British soldiers + one native Indian water bearer who must fight a fanatical murderous cult. When we 1st meet this trio of boozy British sergeants, they are stationed in an army outpost in colonial India and, well, they're brawling: Archibald Cutter (Cary Grant), the handsome, devil-may-care rebel; 'Mac' McChesney (Victor McLaglen), the big, tough-as-nails vet; & 'Tommy' Ballantine (Douglas Fairbanks Jr.), level-headed & romantically-inclined. What are they fist-fighting about, you may ask? Love of country & adventure.
When Ballantine intends to break up the trio by marrying the prim-&-proper Emmy (Joan Fontaine) & going into the tea business ... his pals hatch some schemes to keep him in the army. Together, with the titular native water bearer, Gunga Din (Sam Jaffe), they take on hundreds of murderous Thugee cult members. All of this leads to one of cinema's great action climaxes that is still revered today. Deep in the ruins of the Thugee headquarters, surrounded by cult members, British troops encroach to help. Little do they know they're marching into a trap and, well, someone must be the sacrificial lamb to warn them before it is too late.
This film is a grand series of comic capers, well-choreographed fights, & said spectacular final battle with a scene included 1,500 extras, elephants & horses. The intense pacing & stunning violence influenced such great films as Indiana Jones & the Temple of Doom & The Mummy films; Steven Spielberg has said as much. The performances by all 3 leading men are sparkling. Grant is more comic relief than anything, with Fairbanks Jr. playing his role with fun + a suave flair.
Again, when viewed through today's lens, the movie is a bit problematic. Colonialists are viewed as peace-keepers who all called to restore India to its past glory while subduing natives who won't follow suit. There is an element of 'outdatedness' which glorifies ideals of imperialism. But political incorrectness aside, the nonsense that goes on in the script - taken at face value - it a lot of fun. The direction is sharp as a tack. The action is fantastic. Alfred Newman's music is rousing. And themes of loyalty & friendship prove strong. As a blueprint for many actioners to come, 'Gunga Din' thrives as a breezy, invigorating, escapist entertainment.
The adventure is set in the early 1890s & tells the story of 3 British soldiers + one native Indian water bearer who must fight a fanatical murderous cult. When we 1st meet this trio of boozy British sergeants, they are stationed in an army outpost in colonial India and, well, they're brawling: Archibald Cutter (Cary Grant), the handsome, devil-may-care rebel; 'Mac' McChesney (Victor McLaglen), the big, tough-as-nails vet; & 'Tommy' Ballantine (Douglas Fairbanks Jr.), level-headed & romantically-inclined. What are they fist-fighting about, you may ask? Love of country & adventure.
When Ballantine intends to break up the trio by marrying the prim-&-proper Emmy (Joan Fontaine) & going into the tea business ... his pals hatch some schemes to keep him in the army. Together, with the titular native water bearer, Gunga Din (Sam Jaffe), they take on hundreds of murderous Thugee cult members. All of this leads to one of cinema's great action climaxes that is still revered today. Deep in the ruins of the Thugee headquarters, surrounded by cult members, British troops encroach to help. Little do they know they're marching into a trap and, well, someone must be the sacrificial lamb to warn them before it is too late.
This film is a grand series of comic capers, well-choreographed fights, & said spectacular final battle with a scene included 1,500 extras, elephants & horses. The intense pacing & stunning violence influenced such great films as Indiana Jones & the Temple of Doom & The Mummy films; Steven Spielberg has said as much. The performances by all 3 leading men are sparkling. Grant is more comic relief than anything, with Fairbanks Jr. playing his role with fun + a suave flair.
Again, when viewed through today's lens, the movie is a bit problematic. Colonialists are viewed as peace-keepers who all called to restore India to its past glory while subduing natives who won't follow suit. There is an element of 'outdatedness' which glorifies ideals of imperialism. But political incorrectness aside, the nonsense that goes on in the script - taken at face value - it a lot of fun. The direction is sharp as a tack. The action is fantastic. Alfred Newman's music is rousing. And themes of loyalty & friendship prove strong. As a blueprint for many actioners to come, 'Gunga Din' thrives as a breezy, invigorating, escapist entertainment.