Cuarenta mil jinetes

This is quite a poignant take on a story of three young Australian lads who joined the Allied forces during the Great War and ended up serving in a Middle East replete with Bosch, scheming and plotting locals and a British high command that sadly wasn't as sharp as their lances. Yep, they were horse soldiers in a signals corp who actually still used signals. It's "Red" (Grant Taylor) who leads this band of irreverent and outwardly undisciplined "individuals" but as the lively vernacular gives way to some courageous and shrewd wartime activities, they soon prove to be more than a small thorn in the sides of their rather pompous and arrogant opponents who just assumed that these ex-con colonialists were a symbol of a British empire on it's knees and scraping the bottom of the barrel. The special effects, particularly the battles and the shelling, are really quite well directed and framed here, giving us a true sense of just how indiscriminate the attacking was and at just how perilous it was for these, and other, young men who had come to take part in a war for King and country that had precious little to do with the security or prosperity of their own nation. It's on that score that this is perhaps a little jingoistic. That's only to be expected, though, given it was made just as the Nazis were starting their own attempt to conquer Europe, but it's quite sophisticated in it's approach and not just a feel-good flag waving exercise. It portrays decent and ordinary men who were hard as nails when called for, but human and considerate of their colleagues when the chips were down. There is room for a soupçon of romance, courtesy of "Red" being rescued by the equally heroic "Juliet" (Betty Bryant), but it still manages to focus more on the spirit of those engaged here and in the end delivers predictably, but still quite effectively.

So-so WW1 drama.

The story of a unit of soldiers in the Australian Light Horse, fighting in the Sinai and Palestine in WW1. Given its historic context, it should be a decent war drama.

However, it is rather lacklustre and amateurish. First problem is that this was made in 1940, ie during World War 2, so is first and foremost a propaganda movie. The empty patriotism and manipulation is laid on thick. The Australians are all fantastic, likable, soldiers. The Germans are all evil and inept. (Some respect is shown for the Turks, but this may be because Turkey was neutral in WW2).

Then we have the random, out-of-place, lame speeches. Out of the blue some uneducated soldier from a country town starts pontificating on the meaning of life and war, etc.

To make things worse, the writers and director manage to throw in an unlikely romance (no, it doesn't involve a horse...), just to make things really silly.

Acting is fairly woeful, but that may be due to the script and direction.

On the plus side, the battle scenes are good and you do get a good sense of the history and bravery involved.

For a much better, more realistic and grittier depiction of the Australian Light Horse's exploits in the Sinai and Palestine in WW1, especially the Battle of Beersheba, watch "The Lighthorsemen" (1987) instead. A great movie.

I guess this movie is the response to Henry Hathaway's THE LIVES OF A BENGAL LANCER, and also Michael Curtiz' CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE made several years earlier. This is a pure propaganda film where the Prussians - Germans and Nazis metaphor in 1940 - are the villains. It takes place during WW1 in the Sinai desert. I did not know this Aussi director nor this movie either, even less this battle. It is rough, tough, impressive in the directing and of course battle sequences. You learn many things thru the viewing of this. Exciting entertainment that deserves to be widely known from todays audiences.

Although filmed 60 years ago I cannot think of a more thrilling realisation on film of a massed cavalry assault. The scene, which is sustained for several minutes, recreats the WWI charge of the Australian light horse on the Turkish-held town of Beersheeba, Palestine, in 1917. This is generally accepted as the last successful cavalry charge in military history (typically some eggheads - probably Brits - quibble on whether it was a true cavalry charge because the Australians were armed with bayonets rather than sabres; not that the distinction meant much to the unfortunates who ended up skewered on the end of them.)

Also noteworthy for the presence of Chips Rafferty, in a typical role as a gangling Aussie bushmen, and who, in the days before Paul Hogan, represented the Australian male as he liked to imagine himself.

Of course, since my dad passed away many years ago, I can't verify this. But I do remember him telling us kids that, as a member of the Australian Army Signals Corp, he and many of his fellow soldiers were recruited as horsemen to ride over the Kurnell sand hills as extras in this movie.

Since this was filmed in 1941, Australia was already in the war. My Dad's was record shows his service in New Guinea as a Lieutenant in the signals corps. I also remember him telling me about how he was trained to ride a motor bike so, along with the horse riding his story about being an extra was probably something to do with preparing them for service overseas.

If anybody that reads this is able to provide some verification that would be greatly appreciated.