Movie Reviews for Gunga Din

Gunga Din

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Movie Reviews of Gunga Din

Movie Review: Dated but eminently watchable
Summary: 5 Stars

Haven't seen this movie for 30 years, and yes it's old, but still good fun. The story of a wanabe British soldier of the Raj whose sole claim to fame was that he carried water for the soldiers he so admired. Constantly reminded that he is not a soldier Gunga Din serves with enthusiasm, even when under fire and finally proves that he was the better man.
Sure the fight scenes are dated, but it's amazing what they managed to pull off without the benefit of modern technology and expertise built on the expertise of filmakers such as this.

Movie Review: "When it comes to slaughter, you will do your work on water."
Summary: 5 Stars

'Gunga Din' is an absolutely terrific 'oldie-goldie' inspired [very loosely] by Kipling's wonderful poem of he same name. Generally speaking, I can't stand to watch a film more than once but, 'Gunga Din' is an exception. I've watched it many times and still enjoy it. I'm reminded of a sailor I read about during WWII. He says that the ONLY film they had on their ship was 'Gunga Din.' I rather suspect that, despite its quality, the crewmen would have preferred a few other films, too.

The film is centered on three very good British Army friends, one of whom [Doug Fairbanks Jr.] wants to resign and take him a bride. His other two friends, one of whom is the comedic Cary Grant, decide to keep him in the army and single at any costs. Meanwhile, good old Gunga Din, the native regimental water boy, is seen at the periphery of this nonsense. It seems that Gunga Din wants to be a full-fledged soldier which the British friends find laughable.

The larger picture is that the area is being despoiled by the killer-cult of Kahli. Members of this sect, rather irrationally, feel that the road to godliness and Indian Independence is achieved by strangling people. The countryside is, therefore, a decidedly dangerous place.

Grant gets drunk and disorderly and is thrown into the calaboose. Gunga Din, using his elephant, collapses the jail to get Grant off. Together they ride into the countryside only to discover a temple of gold filled with...you got it...Kahli worshippers. Din, because of his Indian looks, escapes but Grant is captured and tortured.

Din returns and tries to convince the two remaining friends, and the garrison, that...there is a temple of gold, Grant is captured, and the place is filled with Kahli-killers. Din stutters and stumbles, and our Brit friends--racist and cynical--don't believe him. They decide to check things for themselves.

The climax is fabulous with the three friends and Din fighting for their lives and trying to signal the advancing British column that they are riding into an ambush. All three friends are shot and bayoneted to pieces while Din, the bravest of them all, is killed while bugling a warning to the British forces.

The film ends with Din's funeral ceremony in which the final lines of Kipling's poem are quoted"

Din, Din, Din
You Lazarushian leather, Gunga Din
Though I've beat you and I've flayed you
You're a better man than I am
Gunga Din.

Wonderful.

Ron Braithwaite author of novels--"Skull Rack" and "Hummingbird God"--on the Conquest of Mexico.

Movie Review: A George Stevens Classic
Summary: 5 Stars

A terrific action film based on a Kipling poem and starring Cary Grant, Douglas Fairbanks Jr, Victor Mclauglen and Sam Jaffe as the title character. Battles at the Kyber, a deadly ancient sect of killers, romance, it has it all. Released in probably the greatest year in movie history, 1939. A year that also saw the release of GONE WITH THE WIND, THE WIZARD OF OZ, ROARING TWENTIES, DODGE CITY, JESSE JAMES, THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES, DARK VICTORY, THE FOUR FEATHERS, STAGECOACH and too many others to name.

Movie Review: Gunga Din
Summary: 4 Stars

When people remember old-fashioned adventure films with nostalgia, this is probably what they're thinking of. It has three charismatic stars in the shape of Cary Grant, Douglas Fairbanks Jr, and Victor McLaglen. It has humor, beautiful locations, terrific music, action from beginning to end, and some of that old-fashioned colonial racism.

The story is set during a Thuggee uprising in India in the late 19th century. Three British army sergeants get themselves into hot water on the frontier, with the help of their native water-carrier, Din, and come into conflict with the guru of a murderous cult. Southeastern California, setting of endless Westerns, stands in for India. Unusual for classic Hollywood, the romantic subplot doesn't get in the way of the fun.

For a more modern look at the same period of British colonialism, watch "The Man Who Would be King". Also based on the work of Rudyard Kipling (a story in this case, rather than a poem), it is just as adventurous but much less forgiving of the Europeans' presence in India.