I was hoping this would be a different film from just reading the IMDB
blurb "An Afghan Outlaw finally saves a British Officer at the cost of his
own life." I thought it might have to do with one of the three times that
the British invaded Afghanistan - (1839–42; 1878–80; 1919) - all ending in
disaster. Talk about not learning lessons from history. Something we are
becoming familiar with. There is unfortunately a conceit within the Western
DNA to think they can defeat those from the East. But it is their country
- eventually we have to go home. This isn't that film and I couldn't
find any that were. The Raj films were enormously popular from the 1930s
through the 60s when attitudes began to change towards imperialism - perhaps
brought on by the Vietnam War. But I guess films about the Raj disasters
were not considered good box office. So this is basically a hip hip old boy
stiff upper lip Raj film of bringing law to the North West frontier of Afghanistan
and what was in the period (late 1800s I would guess) India - now Pakistan.
Just looking at it as one of those glorious gooey luscious Technicolor adventure
films it is fairly good. The action is mainly saved till the final 40 minutes
but it has a few large battles done quite well. Probably due to the great
stunt man Yakima Canutt, who is given the title of Assistant Director. The
director is Terence Young of future Bond fame. It has a bit of Hollywood
silliness though it is more British than American. In particular in the ravishing
but ridiculous dance numbers and the leading lady who looks like she just
walked out of Glamour Magazine. Not that I minded because she is wow stunning.
And be prepared for a lot of brown face by everyone not playing a Brit.
Zarak is the son of the village chief but he has goo-goo eyes for one of
the chief's wives. Not a good idea. He is played by the stone faced Victor
Mature who has the emotional range of a burnt stick but as a hunky Pathan
he is fine. The chief goes into his home to play with his favorite wife Salma
and we are gobsmacked by the stunning Swedish actress Anita Ekberg in pink
silks and cascades of blonde hair. Did she take a wrong turn at Stockholm?
I have seen her in a few films but never looking like a male fantasy pin-up
just short of being a Vargas Girl in terms of disrobing. Phyllis Dalton is
the costume director on this and was later to do the same for Lawrence of
Arabia, Lord Jim, Doctor Zhivago and The World of Suzie Wong and she does
a great job. Salma also has a thing for the hunky Pathan and when they are
caught smooching in the rocks she is sold to another man and Zarak is thrown
out of the tribe after a good whipping.
He naturally turns to thieving becoming a scourge on the community with his
gang of men. The British send Major Ingram (Michael Wilding) to deal with
him. They go back and forth and back and forth - setting traps for each other
but never able to deal the fatal blow. Zarak meets up with Salma who is now
a dancer at the local bistro and does a show three times a night, matinees
on Sunday that Vegas would hug. Of course, just like the Afghans did in olden
times. It is kind of fun, kind of stupid, looks fabulous in Technicolor with
the outside location shooting in Morocco. Appearing as another British officer
is Patrick McGoohan.
There was in fact a real Zarak Khan and there was a book written about him
by A.J. Beven. The real character had a fascinating life and lived in the
20th century. He was a bandit who fought the British on the North-West frontier.
When he was finally captured he was imprisoned in the Andaman Islands. Later
when the Japanese took it over he went to work with the British in Burma
and he showed extraordinary courage and came to an ending very similar to
the film. No mention of Salma. Too bad the filmmakers changed so much of
the story.
