More Dirty Work On The Frontier
["Storm Over Bengal." RepulslicB.E.F. Directed by Sidney Saikow. With Patric Knowles, Richard Cromwell, Rochelle Hudson. Release date indefinite.} RODUCER Armand Schaefer is a man who knows a good picture when he sees one. He apparently saw ""The Drum’ and ‘‘Lives of a Bengal Laneer’* before he made Republie’s big new release, "Storm Over Bengal." In this well-produced, not-unin-spired, and often exciting tribute from an American studio to British rule in India, use is again made of the North-west Frontier, which, if any credence is to be placed on the cinema, is kept in a constant state of ferment by sinister, Oxford-edu-cated native princes planning religious wars. We have seen it so often that we are almost coming to believe it; also that the certain fate of all British officers at some stage of their career in this troublous portion of the globe is to go out and get themselves surrounded, with their gatlings jammed and their ammuition running low. Nothing Omitted HOWEVER, familiarity with this type of melodrama need not necessarily breed contempt-and certainly not for the craftsmanlike way in which Producer Schaefer has ee COE
worked in enough lurid incident for a Pearl White serial, and omitted nothing which has made these frontier films sa successful in the past. He employs a cast which includes some of the most English accents and trimmest little military moustaches in Hollywood, together with a host of those hard-working extras who divide their screen time between playing cowboys and Indians and riding to their deaths with the ery of "Allah!" on their bearded lips. Kid Brother AMONG the stalwart British offieers who, in the manner of their cinematie kind, say "Right!" when they mean "Wrong!", and "Very good, sir!" when they mean "Things are in a helluva mess," are Patric Knowles, Richard Cromwell, Colin Tapley, Gilbert Emery, and Douglas Walton. The onty np me, one these: Without -a trim Httle
moustache on his stiff upper lip is Richard Cromwell, and that is posSibly because he is’a kid brother. Like all kid brothers on the North-west Frontier, it is his misfortune to fali in love with the beautiful but faithful fiancee of his big brother (in this case Patric Knowles), and become all tight-mouthed and cynical abou. it, and then redeem himself. in the finale by "getting the message through" which saves the ambushed garrison. Colin Tapley’s Part COLIN TAPLEY also dies for his country as heroically as ever he has in the past, and is allotted more footage than usual in which to do it. He has, in fact, quite a large part, being fifth on the cast list. Rochelle Hudson is the heroine who brings some -charming gowns (and an American accent) out from London in order to hecome a border bride, only to find that a native uprising has rather inconveniently been arranged for the same day as the wedding. Douglas Dumbrille is the admirably dirty dog in a bejewelled turban who incites the tribesmen to re-. volt, thereby causing the storm over Bengal. Tactfully, in view of recent embarrassing questions in the House of Commons, no reference is made to bombing-planes, though the story is modern enough for rebellious natives to Hsten to shortwave propaganda broadcasts. My real admiration, though, is for the stunt artists who come such
{ lovely croppers from their horses when, in the spectacular climax, they charge the British guns over rugged Californian countrysideIndian for the time being-which you may possibly recognise as having seen two or three Westerns ‘ago. For Ever England! HE final scene of this American production is an inspired piece of work. Married at last, hero and heroine are chatting things over on the balcony after tiffin. How sad for the kid brother to have died like that, so far from the England he loved so well, muses the heroine. Ah, yes," replies big brother, but let us not forget these immortal lines of Rupert Brooke. (Correct! Those are the ones.) Hero and heroine clasp hands as he recites, and kid brother’s ghostly hand materialises and blesses their union, while an unseen orchestra
delivers itself. of "Rule, Britannia." Truly an inspired finale-but just how much it was inspired hy the desire of Republic Pictures, an up-and-coming concern, to break into the British cinema market I ‘shouldn’t like to suggest!
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/periodicals/RADREC19390217.2.44.2
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Radio Record, Volume XII, Issue 36, 17 February 1939, Page 14
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722More Dirty Work On The Frontier Radio Record, Volume XII, Issue 36, 17 February 1939, Page 14
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