Verrat im Dschungel

A few years earlier, Gary Cooper starred in the very entertaining LIVES OF A BENGAL LANCER--an adventure film about an uprising in Afghanistan and the actions of the British army to crush this rebellion. In this case, the film cast made some sense, as Gary Cooper's accent could be explained away by his being a Canadian. But here, we once again have him playing a very similar role as a soldier in the American army but he is surrounded by British actors. They never really explained how the very-British Reginald Owen and David Niven were American soldiers! But, despite this silly casting, the film is highly entertaining and worth seeing--provided you ignore the strange accents. In addition, like LIVES OF A BENGAL LANCER, there was a local tribal insurrection that must be eliminated by training loyal locals to fight to ensure the peace. In the case of this film, it is set in the Philippines and based on the very brief Moro uprising towards the beginning of the 20th century. It's the sort of adventure film you can enjoy provided you have only modest expectations--in other words, this isn't deep or philosophical, but more like a traditional Cowboy and Indian movie set in a tropical setting.

I had long been curious about this film as it took place in my parents' homeland of the Philippines during the years of the early 20th century when the U.S. had occupied it with some Army posts there for the purpose of teaching the natives to defend themselves against invading Moros. Though the disclaimer at the end says the movie is entirely fictional, it's safe to assume that the part of many of the country's citizens suffering from cholera has some basis in fact as that disease is common in many Asian countries. Anyway, Gary Cooper plays a military doctor who is in charge of treating many of the natives during the American occupation but decides to help many of them prepare for the eventual battle despite his captain's orders not to bother. Also on hand to offer support are fellow officers played by David Niven and Broderick Crawford who provide some amusing turns before things turn serious for both of them and Andrea Leeds who is charming as the leading lady who provides the buffer between Cooper and her stubborn captain father played by Reginald Owen. And leave it to veteran director Henry Hathaway to provide the rousing finish one usually expects from many of these '30s adventure movies. So on that note, The Real Glory is recommended.

With the American troops retreating from the Philippines due to the strength of the Moro uprising and leaving the locals open to massacre, they leave a few men including Gary Cooper, David Niven and Broderick Crawford behind to train the natives how to defend themselves. The Moro are though determined to lure everyone to the jungle where they can attack them.

Like many gung ho adventures created largely for propaganda purposes in thirties and forties this plays fast and loose with the truth generally in favour of the Americans. Interesting the film was banned in 1942 given that it showed the Moro as blood thirty savages who became allies in WWII.

All this aside, this is a stirring quite brutal gung ho adventure with plenty of high drama, a cholera epidemic, a frightened commanding officer and a number of impressive action packed set pieces. This and Cooper, Niven and Crawford our fearless go getters out to save the locals and battle the blood thirsty savages, what more could one ask for.

Adventure and military movie set after the US capture of the Philippine Island during the Spanish-American War (1898) , set in 1906 the Island of Mindanao, there takes place an uprising of Moro tribesmen spreading terror and massacre . After most of islands are evacuated only a small group of Army officers is left to lead the Filipino soldiers against rebels . Along the way a sympathetic trumvirate : Gary Cooper , Broderick Crawford , David Niven attempt to save Philippine patriots from savage insurgents at a fort . Love and danger, the two strongest challenges to a soldier's heart . With the savage rhythm of jungle drums beating in his brain , a devil-may-care soldier faces the crises of his life beside the girl he loves. Always outnumbered never outfought . With the screen's most romantic adventurer ¡.

An overwhelming and adventurous movie with mighty thrills and particularly fine interpretation from Gary Cooper and Broderick Crawford. Henry Hathaway and producers attempted to make a similar film to "Lives of a Bengal Lancer" 1935 but set in Philippines , copying likeness elements as terror of the fanatic Muslims to be wrapped in pig skin , and equally starred by a trío of brave soldiers . It includes an enjoyable relationship among three protagonists : Gary Cooper/David Niven/Broderick Crawford Including an exciting and breathtaking finale when Cooper comes to rescue of the heavily besieged fort . Gary Cooper is nice , as always, as a heroic doctor called Bill Canavan who is not afraid to fight . Support cast is frankly good such as : Andrea Leeds , Vladimir Sokoloff, Reginald Owen , Kay Johnson, Russell Hicks, among others. This moving and patriotic film was initially titled Revolt of Manilla, Black of Manilla, and The Last Frontier. It was shot on various locations in California : Chatworth, Kernville, Point Magu and Hunt Salto Canyon.

The picture released thru United Artists was well directed with dash by Henry Hathaway. He was a good professional with a long career of spendour in Hollywood , as he directed all kinds of genres with penchant for Western : "When West was young, Man of the Forest, Go West Young Man, Brigham Young, Gundown ,North to Alaska, Sony of Kathy Elder, How the West was won, Nevada Smith, Five Card Stud, True Grit, Shoot out" and Adventure movie : " The lives of a Bengal Lancer, Souls at Sea , The Racers , Legend of the Lost , Sundown, Spawn of the North, Prince Valiant, Circus World, The Last Safari and this The Real Glory" . The yarn will appeal to adventure films enthusiasts and Gary Cooper fans .

I had never even heard of this movie until I viewed it today. Thank God for the library's VHS collection. The plot, five US Army officers are tasked to be military advisors in the establishment of the Phillipine constabulary in 1906. Despite the colonel's plea, the war Department has decided US troops will no longer be responsible for protecting the local people because they will never learn to do it themselves if the US Army does it all. Sound familiar to anyone? The enemy are the Moro insurgents, who just happen to be Muslim. They are bent on establishing a Muslim state and are not too particular about how they do it. The movie points out that not all Moros are bad, not all agree with the radicals and some are quite helpful to the advisors. The plot cautions us however not to take everyone at face value. There are traitors in their midst.

I find the lead (Cooper's) character solutions to winning hearts and minds to be fantastic. The guy could have been a role model for counter insurgency. Perhaps he was the first Green Beret. I won't go into his methods, watch them yourself and then think IRAQ. Of course with 24/7 news cycles and instant communication blended with micro-management it is hard to see this happening today. If we had those things back then, well, the course of history in the Phillipines would have been very different.

All in all, an excellent movie with a great cast highlighting an interesting period of US History that is all but forgotten today. It is interesting to think that people who actually participated in the Phillipine Insurrection were still around when it debuted in 1939.