A decent adventure movie set in 19th Century India filmed in glorious 'Technicolor' and 'Cinemascope' with a splendid percussive score by Bernard Hermann. There are themes of colonialism and racial prejudice but these are not evidenced in a heavy handed way. The action scenes are well staged with California doubling plausibly for India, and doesn't shy away from more violent moments. Perhaps Tyrone Power as Captain King and Terry Moore as Susan were miscast but sterling support was given by Michael Rennie, Guy Rolfe and John Justin. Veteran Henry King directs in his usual professional manner.
The film is based on a story by Harry Kleiner vaguely based on the 1916 novel by Talbot Mundy, which is a shame as Mundy's work is really exciting and if the filmmakers had stuck to the original source it would have been a more interesting movie. The novel is well worth reading.
The film is based on a story by Harry Kleiner vaguely based on the 1916 novel by Talbot Mundy, which is a shame as Mundy's work is really exciting and if the filmmakers had stuck to the original source it would have been a more interesting movie. The novel is well worth reading.