The Lives of a Bengal Lancer

In the very place where American and British troops are searching for Bin laden, the untamed Northwest frontier of modern Pakistan, the regiments of the Imperial British Raj ruled three hundred million with a hand full of men like Guy Standing and C. Aubrey Smith, who exemplified the very best of the military tradition. There are moments of this film that even transcend the story of outnumbered British soldiers, as when C. Aubrey Smith tells a hot headed Gary Cooper the meaning of honor and duty to the regiment. He explains that sometimes there may be a higher calling than fatherly love. Excellent portrayals by Gary Cooper and Franchot Tone and precise attention to detail ensure that this movie holds up nearly 70 years after it was made. This film should be required viewing for modern day Hollywood types, actors and directors alike who think they can make an action movie! This is one of the great films, I give it a 10!

You are unlikely to have heard of "The Lives of a Bengal Lancer." It has long been overshadowed by it's more popular contemporaries "Beau Geste" and "Gunga Din", though it is, in my humble opinion, a finer film then either of them. But I'm getting ahead of myself, let's start at the beginning.

"The Lives of a Bengal Lancer" is the story of a regiment of British soldiers in Imperial India. It's an adventure film first and foremost, but it is also an intimate drama about the life of a soldier in an age of Victorian honor, chivalry, and stiff upper lip stoicism. The characters are all interesting and complex and the dialogue is witty and literate.

The film holds up very well for a movie made in 1935, largely due to the lack of any melodramatic romantic subplots, which have permanently marred other adventure films of the period. This is a man's film about men in desperate situations, it's about being willing to die for your country or your friends at a moments notice. It's about a concept that most people consider outdated, honor. How many films have you seen recently about honor, loyalty, and true courage? Probably not many. The action scenes are exhilarating, and the film really does a wonderful job of establishing it's Indian setting.

The performances are all first rate, Gary Cooper stars as Lt. McGregor. I've always imagined Cooper as the quiet, serious, everyman characters he played later in his career. Here he gets to try his hand at comedy and complexity and gives arguably the most layered performance of his career. Franchot Tone is also perfectly cast, he won on Oscar the same year for his performance in Mutiny on the Bounty, but his performance in this film is equally deserving of acclaim. Tone was one of the best actors of the 1930's, though he never really hit it big as a leading man. He's wonderful here, his character exudes charm and wit, and he and Cooper bounce off each other wonderfully. Richard Cromwell is a little over the top, but he makes sense for the character. British stage actor Guy Standing plays Colonel Stone as being emotionless on the outside, and yet torn apart on the inside, having to make the impossible choice between loyalty to one's family and loyalty to one's country. It's a great performance for which he should have received an Oscar nomination. As for C. Aubrey Smith, he is wonderful as usual, the quintessential British officer, often imitated but never equaled, there is no one like the man himself. Douglas Dumbrille also gives a fine performance as the evil Muhammad Khan.

"The Lives of a Bengal Lancer" is a great film, that has been unfairly denied the classic status it so deserves. For years the only way to see it was on Turner Classic Movies, but recently it was released as one of the five films on the $25 "Gary Cooper Collection". Don't miss it.

10 out of 10

Also, though most people don't know it, this is the film in which the now famous line "We have ways of making men talk" is first uttered.

Based in Northwest India, Lt. McGregor : Gary Cooper is a seasoned frontier fighter in the Bengals Lancers who befriends new officer Lt Forsythe : Franchot Tone . Also new to regiment is Donald Stone : Richard Cromwell , the son of current commanding General : Sir Guy Standing . All three will soon test their courage when the Brits encounter a vicious local revolution against colonial rule . They are gallant heroes , the Bengal Lancers , hamdsome stalwarts , often out-numbered , never out-fought . The thrill of a Kiss, the joy of combat... , these , they fought for .. dangerously , recklessly , madly ! . Night find them in the warm arms of love .. or the cold clutch of death !

One of Hollywood's greatest rousing adventures including noisy action , comradeship , heroism and spectacular final battle . A sweet plot in which predominates a sensitive friendship , great comraderie and brave feats . Being based on the novel written by Major Francis Yeats Brown and interesting script from John Balderston , Waldemar Young and Grover Jones , being remade in 1939 .Trio of protagonists : Gary Cooper , Franchot Tone , Richard Cromwell are pretty good . Well accompanied by a large and notorious support cast, such as : Guy Standing , C Aubrey Smith, Kathleen Burke , Douglas Dumbrille , Monte Blue , J. Carrol Naish , Akim Tamiroff , among others . It was shot by cameraman Charles Lang with exteriors from Lone Pine , California , and spectacular settings , in fact some sets were taken for The Crusades 1935 by Cecil B DeMille . And some years earlier, filmmaker Ernest B. Schoedsack filmed scenes on location in India that were subsequently used.

The motion picture was stunningly directed by Henry Hathaway. He was an expert on Western , such as : "Brighham Young Frontiersman" , "The Shepherd of the Hill" , "Rawhide" or "Desperate Siege" , "From Hell to Texas" , "5 Card Stud", "True Grit" and Adventure , such as : "The Black Rose" , "White Witch Doctor" , "Legend of the Lost" , "Circus World" , among others . Rating : 7/10 . Essential and fundamental seeing for classic Hollywood enthusiasts anf Gary Cooper fans .

THE LIVES OF A BENGAL LANCER can take its place among the best of the Hollywood version of Colonial India during the 1800s where the danger and excitement is derived from tales similar to the more famous GUNGA DIN, where the British Army has its share of conflict with the Indians who think their country is being occupied.

And like GUNGA DIN, it revolves around a threesome of male buddies played by GARY COOPER, FRANCHOT TONE and RICHARD CROMWELL. Cooper is the strongest of the leads, a Lt. McGregor who has been sent to welcome two new soldiers to the military post. One of them (Cromwell) is the naively inexperienced son of the post's commander and prone to go astray without guidance from Cooper and Tone. The relationships are not without friction (usually with humorous episodes thrown in), and, of course, there's the requisite loyalty, courage and danger involved in all of their undertakings.

Much of it feels similar to other stories of courage beyond endurance and scenes of torture where the captive soldiers exhibit the bravery instilled in them by the military. GARY COOPER is at his most Gary Cooper-like persona (stoic and brave) in the role of the heroic McGregor and FRANCHOT TONE does extremely well as his humorous buddy. RICHARD CROMWELL tends to overact in melodramatic '30s style, the only weakness in the cast.

Good support from a cast including DOUGLAS DUMBRILLE, J. CARROL NAISH, NOBLE JOHNSON and AKIM TAMIROFF.

Fans of GUNGA DIN should love this one.

Pretty good film. Surprisingly complex characters and plot elements for such an old film. Good action sequences and direction. The only criticism I can think of that I had on viewing this movie isn't even really fair, that the cobra didn't look real. I guess their computer graphics lab wasn't quite up to snuff! If you like old films, this one is worth a look.