Gunga Din

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This big, boisterous adventure is more inspired by than based on Rudyard Kipling's famous poem. Legendary screenwriters Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur have fashioned a rousing Hollywood movie full of high adventure, knockabout comedy, and old-fashioned male bonding. And old-fashioned it is: the trio of British officers and best friends who form the core of the film are a 19th-century three musketeers in India, threatened by the interventions of a woman who means to marry the dashing Ballantine (Douglas Fairbanks Jr.). Blustery commander MacChesney (Victor McLaglen) schemes to keep Ballantine in the army while his second in command, the treasure-hunting Cutter (Cary Grant in a hopelessly mugging comic performance), continues searching for his elusive mother lode, but all their plans are thrown into chaos when the rise of the bloodthirsty Thugs threaten Britannia's soldiers. Sam Jaffe takes up the rear guard in turban, loin, and full-body make-up as the titular Gunga Din, the loyal water carrier who dreams of becoming a soldier. Bombastically chauvinist and naively imperialist, the film is bound to rub some people wrong, but Stevens creates a thrilling spectacle in the grand Hollywood mold, a handsome, exciting classic comic adventure that helped make 1939 Hollywood's grandest year. --Sean Axmaker

Customer Reviews:

Most Heroes Are Never Heard From.......2007-09-09

I can say nothing to truly describe this classic movie that has not already been said. Even in the horrors of war, a sense of humor has to be in place. Gary Grant, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., and Victor McLaglen were superb in their roles, of course. Sam Jaffe's role as Gunga Din was a small almost insignificant part portraying a want-a-be soldier, who could not seam to hold his own wits. However, when the need arose, Din proved his worth as good or better than the best. I'm glad I got the DVD so that I could take the time to see it again and again.

Gunga Din revisited.......2007-02-23

Although made in 1939 in California, many cinema goers thought the film was made on location in India. George Stevens, the director was a master of his time.

After seeing the film, listen to the excellent comentary about the making of the film. The three stars are almost outshone by Sam Jaffee who plays Gunga Din, and he plays it wonderfully.

This is another example of the quality of hits Hollywood produced in 1939, the golden year in American Cinema.

Gunga Din -- the first Indiana Jones movie.......2007-02-07

Gunga Din is one of those under rated films of the late 1930s that had a huge influence on later films. Both the Beatles Help and later Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom used Gunga Din as a model. But Gunga Din has the ability to combine pathos and humor in a way that both later films failed, and in the end, serves as one of my favorite action films.
While it does not have the remarkable special effects of Temple of Doom, Gunga Din gives us characters that are richer and in some way significantly more human. Both Douglas Fairbanks and Cary Grant serve as early versions of Harrison Ford.
We even get some similar humor -- especially in dealing with elephants -- and similar scenery.
I tend to watch Gunga Din after I have watched Temple of Doom. They make a great double feature.

great cast for a great story.......2007-01-19

just a plain ole good movie with a great cast. even Sam Jaffe made up looked like a Hindu peasant.

An Underrated Masterpiece.......2007-01-12

Few movie watchers realize there were more classics from 1939 than just "Gone With the Wind" and "The Wizard of Oz."

This movie is a beautiful blend of adventure, suspense, and humor. There is great chemistry between Gary Grant, Victor McLaglen, and Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., which are the most enjoyable segments of the movie. However, Gary Grant once again steals the show with his expressions and overall performance. It still amazes me that he never was awarded an Oscar for best actor.

The final scenes with Sam Jaffe (Gunga Din) are very moving and climax a well scripted classic.

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