Gunga Din [DVD] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]

This film is good and I really did enjoy it. But I warn you not to buy this DVD copy, because the picture quality is disappointing, especially scenes which are set at night, which is very hard to see what is going on. You are probably better off buying the Warner Brothers region 1 version, because the picture quality will probably be good and also they usually have special features.

Whatever your political views and correctness levels might be you will be missing out on one of best action epics ever if you do not watch GUNGA DIN. So DO NOT miss it! The best way to watch it is to put on the late 1930's mindset or you might feel offended by some of the things characters say -- still, there is such lively fun at the heart of this flick that even the most sensitive souls are bound to be swept off their feet! Grant, McLaglen and Tone all in top form, direction of the highest order, and unforgettable action sequences make this a unique movie experience. Enjoy!

RKO Radio Pictures presents "GUNGA DIN" (1939) (117 min/B&W) -- Starring Cary Grant, Victor McLaglen, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Sam Jaffe, Eduardo Ciannelli, Joan Fontaine, Montagu Love & Robert Coote

Directed by George Stevens

RKO producer Pandro S. Berman surprised all and sundry by converting Rudyard Kipling's poem Gunga Din into an A-budgeted feature film. It's the tale of three eternally brawling British sergeants stationed in colonial India: Cutter (Cary Grant), McChesney (Victor McLaglen) and Ballantine (Douglas Fairbanks Jr.). Ballantine intends to break up the threesome by marrying lovely Emmy Stebbins (Joan Fontaine), while Cutter and McChesney begin hatching diabolical schemes to keep Ballantine in the army. All three sergeants are kept occupied with a native revolt fomented by the Thuggees, a fanatical religious cult headed by the napoleonic Guru (Eduardo Ciannelli). Unexpectedly coming to the rescue of our three heroes is humble water carrier Gunga Din (Sam Jaffe), who aspires to become the regimental trumpeter.

Oscar Nominated for Best Cinematography

Special footnote: -- When Sergeant Cutter receives an invitation to Sergeant Ballantine's wedding, he announces his full name is 'Archibald Cutter.' Cary Grant's real name was 'Archibald Leach.'

Was second only to Gone with the Wind (1939) as the biggest money-maker of 1939.

BIOS:
1. George Stevens [aka: George Cooper Stevens] - (Director)
Date of Birth: 18 December 1904 - Oakland, California
Date of Death: 8 March 1975 - Lancaster, California

2. Cary Grant [aka: Archibald Alexander Leach]
Date of Birth: 18 January 1904 - Horfield, Bristol, England, UK
Date of Death: 29 November 1986 - Davenport, Iowa

3. Victor McLaglen (aka: Victor Andrew de Bier Everleigh McLaglen)
Date of Birth: 10 December 1886 - Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England, UK
Date of Death: 7 November 1959 - Newport Beach, California

4. Douglas Fairbanks Jr. [aka: Douglas Elton Ulman Fairbanks Junior]
Date of Birth: 9 December 1909 - New York City, New York
Date of Death: 7 May 2000 - New York City, New York

5. Sam Jaffe [aka: Shalom Jaffe]
Date of Birth: 10 March 1891, New York City, New York
Date of Death: 24 March 1984, Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, California

Mr. Jim's Ratings:
Quality of Picture & Sound: 5 Stars
Performance: 5 Stars
Story & Screenplay: 5 Stars
Overall: 5 Stars [Original Music, Cinematography & Film Editing]

Total Time: 117 min on DVD ~ RKO Radio Pictures ~ (12/07/2004)