Bengal Brigade

In mid-19th-century India nationalistic feeling is running high. When a British officer, Captain Claybourne, is court-martialled and unfairly disgraced for rescuing his Sepoy troops against the orders of his commanding officer, he receives a tempting offer from a powerful rebel Rajah.

An enjoyable adventure starring Rock Hudson as an officer cashiered from the Regiment for disobeying a direct order, in order to save his men from slaughter. Still Loyal to the Raj and his men, he encounters a plan of an uprising and he intends to quell it. There's some good action scenes, though more in the beginning and end. It can be quite thought-provoking as well as lively and it basks in Technicolor. It's stunningly photographed and features lavish costumes and eye catching scenery. Ursula Theiss -Robert Taylor's 2nd wife - plays a native called Lata, who helps Hudson in his mission. Arlene Dahl adds some glamour. Arnold Moss is suitably oily as the villain. Hudson comes across sincere, emphatic as well as heroic.

So many whites in brownface. The film seems to live in its own little bubble, partly filmed in India but without a single Indian in the cast.

And the sense of unreality doesn't stop there. Two Americans play British without even trying for a British accent. Every single English playing Indian doesn't bother trying for Indian accents, and half the "Indians" they don't even bother putting makeup on.

But they sure pile on the brown makeup on Ursula Theiss, almost as heavy as her dayglo red lipstick. They also pile on the makeup on the sole nonwhite, Syrian actor Michael Ansara, when he would be far more believable without it.

The result is this film is far from "rousing." You find yourself amused rather than offended, even while it shows all Indians as ignorant, evil, violent, superstitious, and treacherous. The one exception of course is Theiss, who plays a South Asian version of Pocahontas who just loves all them white guys.

Again, it's too goofy to be offensive. You'll be amused at Rock Hudson beating up half a dozen Indians with soggy leaves. You'll laugh at the obvious stunt doubles. And let's not forget the conveniently bad shooting of Indians unless they are loyal to the British.

IRL the "Sepoy Mutiny" was the First War for Indian Independence. It was spontaneous and by average Indian soldiers. Here it's an oh so evil plot by a scheming rajah who fools the gullible Indian soldiers who deep down really really love their white officers. As propaganda this is so clumsy.

The most surprising thing about this movie is that it was directed by Laslo Benedek ,a man associated with the more serious end of the movie market -as per Death of a Salesman and the Brando vehicle The Wild One .It is set in the year 1856 in British India ,more specifically on the North West Frontier .Rock Hudson is improbably cast as a British army Captain who is tried ,convicted and forced to resign his commission for disobeying the orders of a senior officer even though by doing so he was responsible for the capture of a key rebel stronghold .He becomes a big game hunter but continues to be devoted to the British cause and infiltrates a group of rebels plotting to overthrow the Raj .In between all these distractions he manages to make time to woo Vivian Morrow(Arlene Dahl)the daughter of the regimental commander Colonel Morrow (Tobin Thatcher) Hudson is miscast but battles valiantly with the role ,Dahl is merely decorative as is Ursula Thiess . The best performances -mostly because they are better cast-are given by Thatcher and Dan O'Herlihy as British soldiers

This is a good co-feature movie and will be enjoyed by lovers of the old style "ripping yarn

Another B movie that explains a hundred years of British occupation in India, l like this genre of movie, it are cheap entertainment but have a charming of those glorious days in 50', almost done in studios with fine sets gave us a good feeling of nostalgia, Arlene Dahl was so gorgeous, but Hudson didn't like to kiss, sorry for him missing a good opportunite to take in arms such beauty girl!! Fine casting with Arnold Moss, Michael Ansara, Torin Tatcher and the exotic beauty of Ursula Thiess as a friend mine said, how more B, more better it is!!

Resume:

First watch: 2018 / How many: 1 / Source: DVD / Rating: 6.5

"Bengal Brigade" is a strange movie for two reasons in particular-- the casting as well as its championing British colonialism. As far as the casting goes, several Americans without even a hint of a British accent were cast (such as Rock Hudson and Arlene Dahl)...and Hudson seemed completely out of place here. By the 1950s, the British Empire was being split apart and colonialism was on its way out and India had already gained its independence...yet this American film is another 'Hizzuh and three cheers for the Empire' sort of picture they made in the 1930s. We are supposed to be rooting for the Brits in this one...though the Indians were fighting for self-determination, an admirable thing!

The film begins with Captain Claybourne (Hudson) being court martialed unfairly. The problem was that the man in charge during battle was indecisive and suffering from anxiety...and Claybourne took command. Later, the C.O. lied to save his reputation and Claybourne was charged with disobeying and striking his C.O....and soon he's out of the British army. There's some stuff after this...but it's all unimportant until the great Sepoy Rebellion which breaks out soon thereafter (in 1857)...and the film actually did a very good job of explaining it...most other films set during this time don't bother explaining why many Indians revolted against British rule.

Overall, a rather dull film that covers a lot of familiar material but which seems hopelessly out of date with changing times and attitudes.