Hollywood had a long infatuation with the British Raj. From Gunga Din to
Khartoum to Zulu they depicted the heroism of the Empire in bringing civilization
to non-white natives thousands of miles away often through war. Some of these
are wonderful films but it is hard to watch them now without thinking to
yourself - should I be rooting for the British imperialists against the freedom
fighters? I can't even imagine that a film of this sort could be made today
without a lot of modifications. I think this is one of the earliest efforts
out of Hollywood and it is directed by John Ford. It was in fact his first
film with sound. Ford already had directed close to 60 films, the vast
majority of them Westerns. A few things about him were clear - he liked themes
of masculinity and courage with women often taking a back seat. He also shows
in this one his love of military pageantry, parades and the male bonding
that takes place within that world. This is fairly decent until it runs smack
into some dreadful dialogue and poor delivery late in the film. But until
then it was carried along by basic patriotism, bravery, sacrifice and songs.
And some great cinematography.
World War I is beginning and the Scottish regiment of the Black Watch is
preparing to ship out to France. The men are sitting around a table toasting
the King and singing sweet Scottish songs. Captain King is called in to see
his superior and given a secret assignment in India because of his background
there where he grew up and speaks all the dialects. Maybe he should have
tried those because his English was rather clumsy at times. He can not tell
the rest of his men why and they assume he is trying to get out of going
to France and is a coward. His assignment is to stop a Muslim Holy War that
will come out of the lands along the north west frontier and around he Khyber
Pass. The British army is depleted there as most have gone to Europe or Turkey.
This Holy War is to be led by a woman who is considered a Goddess and will
be obeyed by all her men. Well of curse she is a Goddess. She is played by
Myra Loy, in one of her many exotic or vamp roles at the time.
She has only one weakness - big white men - and King fits that well. Because
he is played by Victor McLaglen - an actor that Ford used many times - but
in my mind never the type that a Goddess would fall for. But she is no mere
Goddess, she is an ancestor of Alexander the Great and the prophecy says
she needs to marry a white man to rule India. Ok. White men finally come
in handy. Where I might ask was Ronald Colman or Fairbanks or a very young
Cary Grant. Loy looks fabulous in her get-ups and close-ups - but they have
her speaking very very slowly in pidgin English and McLaglen doesn't do much
better. Their dialogue to one another is like watching a slow motion crash
of uncontrolled row boats. And the scripted dialogue doesn't do them any
favors. This probably would have made a better silent film. The sets of her
abode in Peshawar and then on the other side of the Khyber Pass are well
designed and very cool. Oh, she also has a crystal ball and shows King what
he is missing in France - I could be there in the trenches or here next to
a Goddess who very much wants to sleep with me. Tough choice. Basically
you want to luxuriate in the presence of Myrna Loy. No speaking allowed though.
