King of the Khyber Rifles

Sweeping, exciting spectacle, though on a bit lesser scale than usual. Power is a mixed-race (half British/half Indian) British officer in India battling the British class system on one side, the Indian caste system on the other side, racism from both sides, and rampaging, rebellious natives on all sides. Although he lacked the dynamism and ebullient personality of fellow swashbuckler Errol Flynn, Power nevertheless handled these kinds of action roles well, and was a good enough actor to pull them off believably. Terry Moore is, as always, miscast--she has the sunny demeanor of a USC cheerleader rather than the demure, dignified charm one would expect of the daughter of a senior, upper-class British officer. Michael Rennie's lip is properly stiff as the British commander, and Guy Rolfe is thoroughly effective as Power's megalomaniacal, menacing half-brother who is the leader of the rebels. Several extremely well staged action scenes--particularly at the climax--some very tense moments, crisp and beautiful Technicolor photography and Power's not-inconsiderable presence and charm make this a must-see for adventure fans--if they can ever find the damn thing. As mentioned previously, it hardly ever shows up on television and it's not out--legitimately, at least--on video or DVD yet.

This film is an excellent adventure film. Tyrone Power was a good actor - always entertaining and full of charm. Sadly this film is NEVER shown on TV and is not available on video - this is nothing short of being a scandal!!! Although this is not Power at his best, it is worth seeing, and certainly worthy of a place in my video collection. Smarten up 20th Century Fox and find this film before it decays to dust - or has this happened already?

Henry King directed Tyrone Power in ll pictures (This one was number nine) beginning with "Lloyds of London," which first shot the young actor to stardom...

King directed many of Power's best pictures including "In Old Chicago," "Alexander's Ragtime Band," "Jesse James," "The Black Rose," "Captain From Castile" and "Prince of Foxes"...

Power was a great actor able to star in everything from Musicals and Westerns to historical epics and swashbucklers... He was originally meant to do the first CinemaScope film, "The Robe" in 1953, but ended up with "The King of the Khyber Rifles" instead.

Power gives adequate performance as Alan King, a half-caste British army captain charging around the hills of India with courage and pride...

He crushes a rebel uprising led by a boyhood friend, and engages in a fight-to-the-death... He struggles up and down rocky cliffs of the Himalayan Mountain Ranges and romances his commanding officer's daughter... all against the backdrop of a legendary Indian Mutiny (also called Sepoy Mutiny)

Michael Rennie is cast as the tall Brigadier General Maitland who judges King (Tyrone Power) by his special qualifications, appointing him commander of the Khyber Riflemen...

Rennie's pretty daughter Susan (Terry Moore) finds herself attracted to the handsome captain, causing a rivalry between King and Lieutenant Heath (John Justin), the officer who spread the news about King's mixed racial descent...

Guy Rolfe is the ruthless Karram Khan, a rebel who tries to end the British rule... He warns King: "Last night you spare my life, now I return the gesture. But we will meet again and when we do, there will be no hesitation."

The most dramatic moment of the motion picture is the spearing to death of four helpless British captives tied to a long wooden mast, waiting in fear to be executed by Khan's men... Power is also fastened, expecting the same fate, to be thrust in the chest by a deadly weapon...

The film, spectacularly directed by a sure-handed craftsman, is sufficiently picturesque with bright and shining landscapes, very entertaining with an alarming storm and a rousing climax in which Power leads a furious assault filling the giant CinemaScope screen with impressive action sequences...

I agree with a few other reviewers here - why the hell does this never show up on TV, cable or even old video warehouses? I have seen it but once, in London the week of its initial release almost 50 years ago. I was 7. Thing is, I remember it perfectly, way better than SHOWTIME and I only saw THAT yesterday!

Top desert caper that was all audiences wanted to see in the 50's. No-one swashbuckled better than Tyrone Power during this period and KING OF THE KHYBER RIFLES was a handsome production, especially on the gigantic CINEMASCOPE screen. Directed by action-specialist Henry King, who worked with Power in almost a dozen movies, the story was that of half-caste British soldier Alan King (Power) who had to battle not only Army etiquette but a rampaging uprising around the Khyber Pass! The well remembered image from this flick was the spearing of the helpless British soldiers at the stake. Power of course, gaining a last minute reprieve so he could complete the movie, take down the villains and win the girl.

Good supporting cast, Michael Rennie in particular cutting an impressive figure as Brigadier Maitland whose stiff upper lip was stiffer than most!

Good companion piece to this was ZARAK (Also reviewed somewhere!)

Previously filmed by John Ford in 1929 with Victor McLaglen as 'The Black Watch'. This handsome-looking Empire film set in 1857 is actually a far more sombre, character-driven film than the swashbuckler the title suggests - with an atmospheric score by Bernard Herrmann - in which Tyrone Power's swarthy complexion here sees him play a haste caste romancing a pert young Terry Moore playing the daughter of General Michael Rennie and caught between the Regiment and a very saturnine Guy Rolfe as his brother.