Gunga Din
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Movie Reviews of Gunga Din
Movie Review: Magnificent Classic Movie From the 1930's
Summary: 5 Stars
Gunga Din is an excellent example of 1930's cinema that exemplified the best that the studio system could produce. Like almost all other Hollywood movies made during the pre-World War II era, Gunga Din was made in Southern California. This was due not so much the expense, but the lack of reliable air transportation including cargo flights made it almost impossible to move the production units necessary for such an enterprise to far away overseas locations.
Gunga Din is based on a poem by Rudyard Kipling. It is about the
British Army in 19th Century India and its role in suppressing the Thuggee Revolt of 1840. The Thuggee cult, that worshipped Kali the Hindu goddess of destruction, was the bane of Indian life for six centuries, ritualistically strangling up to 30,000 victims a year. It is from the
word "Thuggee" that the modern word "thug" is derived.
The movie revolves around a trio of British Army sergeants: Archibald Cutter (Cary Grant), "Mac" MacChesney (Victor McLagen) and Thomas
Ballantine (Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.). Ballantine's great ambition in life is to leave the army when his enlistment expires, get married and become a tea merchant. The ambition of Cutter and MacChesney is to talk Ballantine out of such nonsense and get him to re-enlist and spend a
full career in the British Army in India. Eventually, they trick
Ballantine into a final mission where they face many of the rebels by themselves whilst the British Army is entering a trap.
The movie derives its name from the British Army water bearer,
"Gunga Din" (Sam Jaffe). Gunga Din is both remarkably loyal and
dependable. He also carries himself with a certain nobility. He is loyal to the British cause since he realizes that only under Western rule can folks like himself rise to a higher status in life than what would be possible in the pre-British feudal era of Indian life and civilization.
Gunga Din was made back when the actors themselves had to draw the audience into a movie without relying on fantastic special effects to carry a scene. This movie allows the the audience laugh at and with the sergeants during their harrowing escapades. In short, its a classic film that does not take itself too seriously. It is very well made
overall with strong acting, script, direction and cinematography.
Movie Review: Look in the dictionary under "rousing adventure"...
Summary: 5 Stars
...and it should say, "See 'Gunga Din'.
From that hallowed year of film, 1939, comes yet another indispensable classic, George Stevens' "Gunga Din", loosely based on the poem by Rudyard Kipling.
OK. So you know all that already.
What you might not know is that this film feels pretty fresh for being, like, 75 years old. The only elements that truly "date" it are the sped-up, undercranked action sequences. In fact, there are whole sequences and images from "Indiana Jones and The Temple of Doom" that are gleefully "borrowed" from this movie. Heck, the head bad guys could be twins!
The repartee between Cary Grant, Victor McLagen and Douglas Fairbanks Jr. is quick and witty. Grant's mugging only flirts with going over the top. Fairbanks' dashing good looks combined with his natural agility and amusing carping are a joy to watch. McLagen's character of McChesney (or as Fairbanks continually barks, "McCheesecake!") completes the perfect casting of the triumvirate of heroes.
Speaking of casting, Sam Jaffee...a Causcasian older guy...completely wins you over as the diminutive Indian Gunga Din. Apparently in the day, his casting was somewhat of a controversy...or what passed for controversy in 1939. Totally unheeded. He's terrific.
This movie is another one of those examples where you are conscious that there really were no special effects back then that current audiences are now used to...so the battle scenes and eye-popping set pieces are only that much more impressive.
The DVD features a sweet-looking print, a nice mini-doc featuring some of those still alive (at the time...it's a few years old...), and a few trailers. Given how wonderful the film is, it's a bargain at any price.
This is one of these great Saturday afternoon kind of movies...
Movie Review: Timeless classic
Summary: 5 Stars
Having seen "Gunga Din" last night for about the tenth time, what was amazing is how well its holds up over time. Released in 1939 the adventure classic at two million dollars was the most expensive movie produced at that time. Shockingly it didn't turn a profit until it was re-released.
The story revolves around the exploits of a triumverate of three sergeants serving in the British Army in colonial India. The adventuresome trio were lead by soft hearted brute Sgt. MacChesney played by Victor McLaglen. When his top associate Sgt. Ballantine played by Douglas Fairbanks Jr. threatened to leave the service and marrying, McLaglen and the junior member of the trio Sgt. Cutter played by a comedic Cary Grant schemed to change his plans.
A tale of a golden temple told to Grant by native water bearer Gunga Din played by Sam Jaffe, leads both Jaffe and Grant into the hands a murderous group of Thuggee's ensconsed in that very temple. The Thuggee's a fanatical band of stranglers led by the Guru played by Eduardo Ciannelli hoped to lure the British legion into an ambush after capturing McLaglen and Fairbanks in a rescue attempt.
A heroic act by Gunga Din help save the day and avert disaster as chronicled in the famous poemed concocted by jingoistic British war reporter Rudyard Kipling.
Filmed almost exclusively in California the movie featured an impressive array of sets and a cast of thousands. The acting of McLaglen, Grant and Fairbanks in this three musketeers relationship displayed a natural and smooth interaction between the characters.
Movie Review: they don't make 'em like this anymore
Summary: 5 Stars
ok first thing first tis is not political correct and if you want that kind of movie don't waste your time on this one. remember this was made in 1939 not 1989 so if it offends you leave it alone.
what we have here is the granddaddy of all action movies and the template for the indiana jones movies.the action is swift and the humor is broad, but it is the talent of all involved that makes this one of the top 5 action movies of all time.
director george stevens(a place in the sun,the diary of anne frank) guides a dream cast of cary grant,victor maclaglen,and douglas fairbanks jr. in this story of the british army in india near the turn of the century. chiefly it is the story of three long time friends sgt.'s cutter(grant in the comic relief department),macchesney(victor mclaglen as the bear with the heart of gold),and ballantine(douglas fairbanks jr.the lover of the group)and their atemps to save the army from a sneak attack from the deadly thuggee cult members(this cult did exist and is were we get the word thug from),and sam jaffe is cast as the title gunga din,the indian water carryer who longs to be a soldier.the cult is lead by eduardo ciannelli and his turn as the bad guy is one to be seen.
all in all this is the best way to spend a rainy,snowey,or just any day watching this story unfold. not to be missed
Movie Review: The Father Of Them All
Summary: 5 Stars
This is the father of all the action adventure movies. It stands the test of time, I love it as much today as I did when I first saw it as a kid. Grant, Fairbanks and McLaughlin are terrific as the British soldiers on the frontier who fight among themselves constantly, but never hesitate to come to the rescue of their friends. Possibly the very first buddy movie as well.
Set on the Indian northwest frontier, the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevadas makes a perfect match for the place, and the steady hand of the director provides just the right touch of farce and high adventure. I can still hear the pipes as the Scottish troops march into the fanatics trap, and hear Gunga Din blowing the bugle to save the regiment. I never read Kipling's poem (on which this movie was loosely based) until I was an adult, but I still remember the last line, "you're a better man than I am, Gunga Din". And Sam Jaffe gets the chance to show the lowly water carrier's true heroism in a way that is as touching as it is profound.
A great movie, and one that today's directors would do well to watch. Maybe then they'd realize there's more to a good movie than buckets of gore and blowing stuff up. Gunga Din is still a head and shoulders above the pack.