BHOWANI JUNCTION
(M.G.M.) Y Cert. [F the John Masters novel Bhowani Junction is as good as it’s said to be, it must be much better than the film. I’m told they are, anyway, not much alike. A story of India towards the end of British rule, the film gives an impression of widespread unrest and, against this background, a few weeks in the lives of several Anglo-Indians, some Indians and a British colonel. The background, shot in Pakistan-crowd scenes, violence and sabotage, trains rushing to and from the junction, and so on-is the best part of the film-faint praise, I suppose, and meant to be. The villains are the Communists, and even the passive resisters are shown as at least misguided. As a slice of history it can’t be taken very seriously. As personal drama it’s even less satisfactory. It draws attention to the dilemma of those who are neither English nor Indian, but its way out of the dilemma for its main character, Victoria Jones (Ava Gardner) is to marry her off to an arrogant English colonel (Stewart Granger), while her Anglo-Indian lover (Bill is killed-heroically, since he’s a good guy. Miss Gardner is as beautiful as ever, but her playing is hardly inspired; and Mr Granger is typically unimpressive. Mr Travers does rather better, and some smaller parts (including one filled by Freda Jackson) ate well done. From a weak script many other faults flower forth. The main love affair is allowed to develop in a most casual, unconvincing way, and even the scenes that should be high drama quite failed to move me, This unfortunate piece, I’m sorry to have to say, was directed by George Cukor.
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/periodicals/NZLIST19570329.2.29.1.3
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New Zealand Listener, Volume 36, Issue 920, 29 March 1957, Page 17
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280BHOWANI JUNCTION New Zealand Listener, Volume 36, Issue 920, 29 March 1957, Page 17
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