In 1935, Henry Hathaway directed Lives of a Bengal Lancer, which kicked off a pro-British Empire cycle of adventure films that lasted for a number of years (including an American empire story, The Real Glory, also directed by Hathaway). This came at the end of the cycle; it didn’t kill it off as much as the war did - the glories of empire weren’t as believable on screen with Britain struggling against Axis might – especially not after the fall of Singapore. This is set in East Africa, i.e. Kenya – one of the more exotic corners of World War Two, albeit one that has given rise to surprisingly little cinema (Maybe because it mostly involved fighting against Italians who weren’t considered great cinema villains. Indeed the Italian POW in this one is mostly comic.)
The plot involves a local district commissioner (Bruce Cabot – very American for a British Empire movie) and army officer (George Sanders) teaming up to deal with a native uprising that’s been provided with guns. Gene Tierney is very pretty as a native girl who is a trader (but don’t worry – she’s actually white, so she can smooch Cabot). In addition to the comic Italian POW, there’s some stiff upper lip Britishers, a Dutch bloke who turns out to be a villain (which I thought odd until he turns out not to be actually Dutch), and a great White hunter (another American, Harry Carey). And there’s a finale with a reverend giving a talk in a bombed out cathedral (played by Cedric Hardwicke, playing Sanders’ father) trying to inspire the parishoners, just like in Mrs Miniver.
Leaving aside the racism and the propaganda (which is really limited to one big dollop at the end), it’s a solid adventure tale, with a decent amount of action and intrigue, a strong cast and interesting setting. I never really thought Cabot was much of a leading man, but at least he’s supported here by Sanders and Tierney, who looks lovely.
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