"The Lives of a Bengal Lancer" (1935) is a massive adventure film that Paramount planned for a long time before finally getting it done in 1935. The film, which boasts five credited writers for the screenplay with three un-credited ones, takes its title and location from a book by Francis Yeats-Brown, though not much else remains. It was directed by Henry Hathaway and puts his outdoors-kind of style to good use. This here is a very masculine tale of heroism, bromance and the call of duty. It also paints a highly flattering portrait of British imperialism in India, due to which it was a massive hit in The United Kingdom.
Let's talk about the bad sides first, that being the historical context and the problematic way it is presented here. The film starts almost directly from a battle. The Bengal Lancers are British troops fighting (evil) Muslims in the northern regions of India. From today's perspective, "the natives" of this film are resistance fighters, people who are trying to liberate their land. The opening almost turned me away, because it gives no reason for the British to be in India. It sort of assumes that the audience is in agreement, that it is the right of the British to be there, and to give the Indians a taste of their military might. The natives are presented as either simple, or evil and it's not a good look for the film. Hitler himself was a fan of the picture, according to Wikipedia, because it presents the white race as superior to the Indian natives. This aspect of the film has not aged well at all, but then again you must remember that 1935 was a long time ago. And if you are willing to put aside the glorification of imperialism, you will get a very good action adventure film in return.
Gary Cooper plays a Scottish Canadian officer in the Bengal Lancers. He is rough and tough, but also a kind of idealist, who often gets in trouble with superior officers when they do not agree about something. Two new soldier arrive, those being the jovial Franchot Tone and the wet-behind-the-ears Richard Cromwell. The film then becomes a story of their blossoming bromance and a highly entertaining one at that. Gradually, more dramatic things, including a villain, take hold of the narrative. At that point, we are so well acquainted with our main trio, that the character build-up makes their adventures more interesting.
Though most of this was filmed nowhere near India, it has a sense of exotism to it. The plot-line is good and improves towards the ending. Mostly though, the charm of the film lies in the characters. Cooper has a part that fits him very well, he is super masculine and a born leader for his buddies. Cromwell's youthful presence is a good contrast to this, and he has a nice arc in the film. But it is Franchot Tone who walks away with the film. Tone is so likable in this, sort of a British every-man. The scene with the cobra alone makes this film a winner. Tone had a knockout year in 1935, beginning the year with this film, and closing it with "Mutiny on the Bounty".
All in all, I would recommend this to fans of classic Hollywood who can look past the racist depiction of certain people and institutions, if the film is good enough.
Let's talk about the bad sides first, that being the historical context and the problematic way it is presented here. The film starts almost directly from a battle. The Bengal Lancers are British troops fighting (evil) Muslims in the northern regions of India. From today's perspective, "the natives" of this film are resistance fighters, people who are trying to liberate their land. The opening almost turned me away, because it gives no reason for the British to be in India. It sort of assumes that the audience is in agreement, that it is the right of the British to be there, and to give the Indians a taste of their military might. The natives are presented as either simple, or evil and it's not a good look for the film. Hitler himself was a fan of the picture, according to Wikipedia, because it presents the white race as superior to the Indian natives. This aspect of the film has not aged well at all, but then again you must remember that 1935 was a long time ago. And if you are willing to put aside the glorification of imperialism, you will get a very good action adventure film in return.
Gary Cooper plays a Scottish Canadian officer in the Bengal Lancers. He is rough and tough, but also a kind of idealist, who often gets in trouble with superior officers when they do not agree about something. Two new soldier arrive, those being the jovial Franchot Tone and the wet-behind-the-ears Richard Cromwell. The film then becomes a story of their blossoming bromance and a highly entertaining one at that. Gradually, more dramatic things, including a villain, take hold of the narrative. At that point, we are so well acquainted with our main trio, that the character build-up makes their adventures more interesting.
Though most of this was filmed nowhere near India, it has a sense of exotism to it. The plot-line is good and improves towards the ending. Mostly though, the charm of the film lies in the characters. Cooper has a part that fits him very well, he is super masculine and a born leader for his buddies. Cromwell's youthful presence is a good contrast to this, and he has a nice arc in the film. But it is Franchot Tone who walks away with the film. Tone is so likable in this, sort of a British every-man. The scene with the cobra alone makes this film a winner. Tone had a knockout year in 1935, beginning the year with this film, and closing it with "Mutiny on the Bounty".
All in all, I would recommend this to fans of classic Hollywood who can look past the racist depiction of certain people and institutions, if the film is good enough.