Gunga Din (1939)

This big, boisterous adventure is more inspired by than based on Rudyard Kipling's famous poem. Legendary screenwriters Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur have fashioned a rousing Hollywood movie full of high adventure, knockabout comedy, and old-fashioned male bonding. And old-fashioned it is: the trio of British officers and best friends who form the core of the film are a 19th-century three musketeers in India, threatened by the interventions of a woman who means to marry the dashing Ballantine (Douglas Fairbanks Jr.). Blustery commander MacChesney (Victor McLaglen) schemes to keep Ballantine in the army while his second in command, the treasure-hunting Cutter (Cary Grant in a hopelessly mugging comic performance), continues searching for his elusive mother lode, but all their plans are thrown into chaos when the rise of the bloodthirsty Thugs threaten Britannia's soldiers. Sam Jaffe takes up the rear guard in turban, loin, and full-body make-up as the titular Gunga Din, the loyal water carrier who dreams of becoming a soldier. Bombastically chauvinist and naively imperialist, the film is bound to rub some people wrong, but Stevens creates a thrilling spectacle in the grand Hollywood mold, a handsome, exciting classic comic adventure that helped make 1939 Hollywood's grandest year. --Sean Axmaker Amazon.com

Gunga Din

When people remember old-fashioned adventure films with nostalgia, this is probably what they're thinking of. It has three charismatic stars in the shape of Cary Grant, Douglas Fairbanks Jr, and Victor McLaglen. It has humor, beautiful locations, terrific music, action from beginning to end, and some of that old-fashioned colonial racism.

The story is set during a Thuggee uprising in India in the late 19th century. Three British army sergeants get themselves into hot water on the frontier, with the help of their native water-carrier, Din, and come into conflict with the guru of a murderous cult. Southeastern California, setting of endless Westerns, stands in for India. Unusual for classic Hollywood, the romantic subplot doesn't get in the way of the fun. July 19, 2008

Shows its age

This was probably a good movie when it was first released, but it definitely shows its age. June 18, 2008

Very entertaining!

Excellent movie. I've seen it many times and never get tired of it. One of Cary Grant's best movies. April 7, 2008

Gunga-Din

I'm Very disapointed in the Product.

On playing:-
(1) Stops & Starts
(2) Have cleaned & tried replaying it several Time
(3) no luck at all

Dave April 1, 2008

Great Movie, but no Mel Blanc

This is a great movie, but I can't figure out why they list Mel Blanc as a cast member in the Amazon ad. March 26, 2008

More reviews at Amazon.com ...