1953's "Sabaka" was conceived as "Gunga Ram" before a title change to "The Hindu" to avoid being confused with the 1939 "Gunga Din," earning its final moniker on a very limited release after five months of location shooting in Mysore, India. The sole feature film from writer/director Frank Ferrin, expanding on his television collaboration with actor Nino Marcel from the series SMILIN' ED'S GANG, here starring as Gunga Ram, young mahout of Bakore, boasting a warm relationship with not only his elephant Tilah but also the Maharajah (Lou Krugman), in whose service his father had perished. It betrays its origins with a multitude of stock footage and barren sets behind its more distinguished performers, namely second billed Boris Karloff as General Pollegar (just over 7 1/2 minutes screen time), so disagreeable that one might believe him to be in league with the fire god worshippers of Sabaka, the high priestess (June Foray) holding villagers in the grip of fear by torching their homes and loved ones. This is how Gunga Ram stumbles upon them, his murdered sister leading him on the well worn path of vengeance despite doubts from the Maharajah and Pollegar's dismissals. Ferrin's focus on pageantry over suspense removes any tension that might have developed, the varied guest stars contributing little but name value. Victor Jory exits as soon as he arrives, Reginald Denny is also wasted, Vito Scotti a holdover from the small screen. Karloff never changes his tone in his few scenes, and after Sabaka is revealed as a fraud we see him merely wave a silent gesture, still seemingly unconvinced. He was so busy doing live television that his screen roles for the decade amounted to a meager total of just 9 features, its color photography marking it as only slightly less obscure than Italy's "The Island Monster."
Review of Sabaka
