★★★★-One of the movies I intended for my greatest years in film project. This from 1939.
If you've seen Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, you'll recognize this movie as an obvious inspiration. Same regrettable racial undertones, scene on a bridge, the Thuggees worshiping Kali, so forth. A lot of scenes are straight up lifted from this flick. Not the easiest film to revisit in 2023, but it's a hell of an adventure flick.
Gist is three British soldiers in India played by Cary Grant, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., and Victor McLaglen go on a a dangerous telegraph-repair mission. With their water carrier Gunga Din, played by white dude in body paint Sam Jaffe, they come across the mythic Thugge cult. At some point Gunga tells Cary Grant about a temple made of gold. While trying to claim it or whatever, Grant is captured, forcing the other soldiers to come rescue him.
The performances are pretty great. This is the kind of Cary Grant character that I love. Studly with comedic elements. Not outright comedic.
Solid action with huge set pieces and explosions. Throwing sticks of dynamite is not recommended but happens a lot in this movie. One Thuggee tries his luck but hilariously explodes. There is also a pit of the fakest snakes ever. You can see the strings wriggling them around.
Overall, though it doesn't feel like a cohesive movie, it was great entertainment. Solid action sequences, outstanding performances, decent amount of humor: it's a highly enjoyable watch.
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