Lives of a Bengal Lancer (1935)

Lt. McGregor (Gary Cooper) is a salty old cuss with very little respect for authority. This attitude comes from his Scotch-Canadian heritage. McGregor is stationed on the Northwest frontier of India, with the 41st Bengal Lancers, the pride of the British Army in India. Commanding is Col. Stone (Sir Guy Standing) a martinet and ramrod combined in one. At least, that's the way McGregor sees it.

McGregor is ordered to go to the train station to pick up new replacements, a pair of young lieutenants, Forsythe and Stone. It turns out Stone (Richard Cromwell) is the son of old Ramrod, himself. Lt. Stone is fresh out of Sandhurst, Britain's answer to West Point. Accompanying him is Lt. Forsythe (Franchot Tone) a member of the English nobility and former member of the Blues, a famous regiment. The three have a slow start, with Forsythe making the humorless McGregor the butt of innumerable jokes. The tables are turned when, to irritate McGregor, Forsythe buys a snake charmer's flute and plays it incessantly in their quarters. Unbeknownst to him, the cobra comes too, at no additional charge. When Forsythe looks up from his "practice," the snake is before him waving to the music. McGregor watches Forsythe and offers advice. Afraid to stop playing but panicking, it is very humorous to watch the fearful expression on the normally unflappable Forsythe's face. Finally, McGregor puts him out of his misery by shooting the snake. From that point on, the three are fast friends.

The main plot of the film involves a shipment of 2,000,000 rounds of ammunition to a friendly rajah. British intelligence indicates the ammo has been requested to allow rebels to hijack it, thus supplying them with ammunition. Coupled with stern Col. Stone's rejection of his son, this provides the fuel for the remainder of the movie.

"We have ways of making men talk," the evil rebel chieftain Mohammed Khan tells the three, now captive. He proves it by torturing them in a memorable scene. After days of lying in Khan's dungeon, the ammunition arrives. How the three prisoners foil the evil Khan's plot and save their regiment is a textbook case of film heroism that the whole family will enjoy.

Gary Cooper and Franchot Tone were excellent in their roles as young British officers in India. Richard Cromwell was a decent player, while the supporting cast was stellar: Douglas Dumbrille as the evil Khan, Akim Tamiroff, J. Carroll Naish, Sir Guy Standing, and C. Aubrey Smith. Kathleen Burke provided a lovely feminine presence as the Khan's spy, Tania.

Henry Hathaway directed Lives of a Bengal Lancer with style and humor. Hathaway and Ernest B. Schoedsack shot the British India scenes over a five-year period. These location shots were woven seamlessly into the Hollywood footage to make a film that appeared to be shot on location - very impressive. Charles Lang was responsible for the photography. Sets and costuming were first class, with every button in place on the impressive Bengal Lancer uniforms.

Lives of a Bengal Lancer is a little bit of history, depicting the way a few men controlled the destiny of 300 million people in the British colonial days. Everyone will want to see this film, whether they crave adventure, humor, mysterious exotic locations, or just plain good entertainment this one's for you.

Other films concerning the British during colonial days I recommend are Gunga Din, The Man Who Would Be King, Khartoum, and Zulu.


Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: VHS
Video Occasion: Fit for Friday Evening