La révolte des cipayes

I can't imagine that a director such as Laslo Benedek made this adventure studio movie, a film that could be done by a Budd Boetticher, Joseph Pevney, Douglas Sirk - why not...All Universal home directors of this period, among many others: Nathan Juran, Jack Arnold...But Laslo Benedek;..I can't believe it. What happened to him? I can understand THE WILD ONE, but this adventure flick.... Ths director seemed to have greatest difficulties to find his own trademark. He worked for US movie and TV industry, European productions too. NIGHT VISITOR is a terrific story, but I still don't understand why Benedek made this however excellent adventure war yarn about the fall of the British colonialism. I recommend it.

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

The first couple of years of the decade, Rock Hudson was just breaking into the business, playing bit parts or Indian chiefs. Within a couple more years, he was headlining movies, but not all of them were great. If you doubt that, you obviously haven't rented The Golden Blade, Sea Devils, or Captain Lightfoot yet. I wasn't able to get through any of those, but I did manage to sit through Bengal Brigade, solely because it was Rock Hudson's time as Star of the Week and I thought I owed it to him to review at least one terrible movie.

The story of this one is intriguing, but it's executed so poorly, it's just not worth watching unless Rock Hudson is your favorite actor or celebrity boyfriend and you want to watch all of his movies. Rock is a soldier in the British army in occupied India during the 1800s. He disobeys an order during a battle and gets court-martialed. After a harsh reprimand, he resigns from the army and makes it his personal mission to redeem himself and prove that he's not a disgrace to his country. Along the way, he tries to infiltrate among Indian rebels and reassure his fiancé Arlene Dahl that his feelings haven't changed, even though he can't marry her just yet. Seriously, folks, this is not another Four Feathers. This is a B-picture from the '50s, and if you've ever sat through one of those, you know that you don't want to make a habit of it.

Adventure and thrilling movie set in India in the turbulent late 19th century . It is a rousing , moving , stirring tale , but rough-edged fare . A breathtaking and colorful adventure with great cast and full of action , thrills , battles and love . Rock Hudson that in The Magnificent Obssesion caused sensation here in his most exciting role . The story of a love that was greater than honor and race ; and a courage that stood alone against the fury of India's great rebellion , 1857 . Set in India as the title indicates , half-legend , half-land ...alive and wondrous thanks to spectacular outdoors through the magic of sterophonic sound , big screen , and anamorphic lens . The approaching on anniversary of one hundred years of British rule has brought growing unrest and occasional uprising among the natives . The famed Bengal Rifles Regiment ,Indian soldiers commanded by British officers , have pursued Siri Nath's rebels to the mountain fortress of Malakai Pass . The great desert , thundering path of empire, the fanatic rebel horsemen and the hordes of Siri Nath . And the crowning spectacle of the man who carved a saga of battle and love across the towering peaks of the an immense country : India . There a stubborn captain is faced with restoring his reputation . From marble palace to teeming jungle all India rocked with the violence of the great rebellion !

Adventure movie set in India with plenty of fights , emotion , thrills and overwhelming battles . Dealing with interesting issues such as imperialism , colonialism and racism . One of Hudson' s best adventure movies , but still within his tradition of making adventure movies which spanned around the world . And it packs a colorful photography in Technicolor , with color de Luxe . Rock Hudson as Captain Clayboune plays with some sensitivity the court-martialled officer for disobeying a superior's order , even though this action led to the capture a rebel-held stronghold ; as he is isolated by his colleagues and by the girlfriend's father . Hudson work is well up to his ordinary high standards , playing the tough commander after being harshly disciplined, then he takes his life to get redemption . Rock Hudson gives an acceptable acting as an obstinate officer who is sadly degradated , but whose wartime bravery earns him ,definitively , a string of honours . This is Hudson's third adventure in the East , the others were : Spiral road , Battle Hymm , and Thunder of God . Rock was Douglas Sirk's fetish actor including essential titles as Taza , Magnificent obsession , Written in the wind , among others . While his love interest is played by the gorgeous Arlene Dahl , as well as Úrsula Thiess who married Robert Taylor . Úrsula began her professional career as a model, landing small movie roles and eventually relocating to California, where her Hollywood career bloomed .Her film credits include Monsoon, The Iron Glove and this Bengal Brigade, co-starred Rock Hudson. She also appeared with Glenn Ford in The Americano and with Robert Mitchum in Bandido . There are strong , but brief performances from Torin Thatcher , Dan O'Herlihy , Michael Ansara , Leonard Strong , and special mention for the villain Arnold Moss who often performs baddie roles , among others .

Lavishly produced by Ted Richmond and Universal International , being accompanied by brilliant and glimmer cinematography carried out by director of photography by Maury Gertsman .Shooting in Lone Pine , Backlot, Universal Studios , Iverson Ranch , Lane, Chatsworth, Los Angeles, California . Thrilling as well as sensitive musical score by Hans J. Salter and uncredited : Herman Stein and Stanley Wilson . The motion picture was well directed by Laslo Benedek , but it is an unusual subject for Benedek to direct . He made important and decent films , such as : Port of New York , Death of a Salesman , The kissing bandit , Daring game , Assault on Agathon , The Night Visitor and various TV episodes . Benedek drew out convincing, evocative performances from Kevin McCarthy, Cameron Mitchell, Fredric March , Mildred Dunnock and , of course , Marlon Brando and Rock Hudson . Rating : 6, Acceptable and passable film . The flick will appeal to Rock Hudson fans .

"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.