King of the Khyber Rifles (1953)

Captivating movie !

While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties. It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.

Based on Talbot Mundy's best and most famous novel, which unfortunately I was an expert on, this film was a total disappointment, in spite of its great assets of mainly stupendous mountain scenery and Bernard Herrmann's music. But the mountain scenery was nothing at all about the famous Khyber pass but all shot in California, and above all, the splendid story of Talbot Mundy's secret agent thriller of jihadism and the cutting of heads even 160 years ago by taliban rebels and with a dancing queen of beauty at the centre of intrigue, also involving some archaeology and reminiscenses of Alexander the Great's famous visit to Afghanistan, was reduced to a cheap and petty pulp fiction of the commonest of Hollywood clichés. The acting is not very good either. The only one making a strong impression by his stage presence and acting is Guy Rolfe as the villain, the rebel king, while supporting parts, such as John Justin and Michael Rennie, also make a good job, while Terry Moore is a complete disaster. However could Tyrone Power fall in love with such a nuisance of a bobby-soxer? It's as far from credible as anything could be. Tyrone Power is himself, and that's enough for him - with such a face he never even needed to act.A great pity for a great story to be so poorly handled and reduced to mere superficial entertainment. Talbot Mundy was a theosophist and mystic who wrote many books, and this one could have been made into as great a Kipling epic as "The Man who Wanted to be King".

King of the Kyber Rifles is directed by Henry King and adapted to screenplay by Ivan Goff and Ben Roberts from a story written by Harry Kleiner. It stars Tyrone Power, Terry Moore, Michael Rennie, John Justin and Guy Rolfe. Music is scored by Bernard Herrmann and cinematography by Leon Shamroy.A remake of John Ford's The Black Watch (1929), and loosely based on Talbot Munday's novel of the same name, film finds Power as Captain Alan King, who whilst stationed in India 1857 finds himself looked down upon because of his half caste blood. Things are further stirred when King turns the eye of the General's (Rennie) daughter (Moore). The Garrison needs to sort itself out because Indian rebels are on the war path.One of the early 20th Century Fox productions in Technicolor and CinemaScope, King of the Kyber Rifles, filmed out of Lone Pine in the Alabama Hills, is gorgeous to look at, has top draw high energy action (though there isn't as much as you would like), and the cast turn in performances that are full of stiff upper lip and stout of heart splendour. A handsome production for sure, across the board (Shamroy and Herrmann deliver the goods once again), but story often drags and passages of talk come off as trite, forcing us to hanker for the next wide location shot or perky action sequence. There's a very disjointed feel to the narrative structure, we have to fill in some gaps ourselves, it's almost as if the makers were wondering which way to lean as regards the best selling point. To make an intelligent movie with the odd bit of action filmed in Scope? Or just an out and out Errol Flynn action type movie to stir the blood whilst forgoing any emotional depth?They don't achieve either, and thus we are left with a good looking failure. Shame, Power and King were often a great pairing, and with the tools available on the production, this should have been a cracker. 6/10

Mr. Briantaves,in his comments of 9/23/04,has commented upon the sociological,and racist subtexts that have appeared in the script of this film.In particular,he has noted the aspects of the script that have focused on Captain Alan King's mixed parentage,and also upon the parts of the script that look at the Indian national movement,and the thoughts about Indian Independence.Heaven only knows that Kurram Khan's troops are a gang of bestial savages,lusting for rape,destruction,and pillage.This gang of bloodthirsty cutthroats looks upon the staking-out and spearing of the British soldiers as being more fun than going to a ballgame.They lack any semblance of mercy,compassion,and decent human feeling.Don't think that they happen to be any incipient Indian national movement,gang of patriots,or forerunners of Gandhi;pigs are pigs!Islam is a noble faith,and among the pillar are :faith,mercy,compasssion,charity,tolerance for the downtrodden,and brotherhood.And this gang of looters don't hold up at all for what the wise elders have taught.The writers have wisely managed to have avoided some of the racist messages.Captain Alan King leads the attack,thank goodness,not with a troop of Anglo/Welsh,Scottish/Irish dragoons,but with a platoon of native soldiers.And this IS the wisdom of the script.Had there been an gang of Anglo soldiers,this would have given them another racist subtext.Captain King leads the Khyber Rifles.A valiant squadron of Muslim warriors,dedicated to serving the Raj.Virile,loyal,valorous,doughty,and hearty,they follow their commander,toss down what they perceive to be the tainted bullets,and charge into battle.These manly warriors perform their duty.They decimate their misguided co religionists,and follow the law.Theological Note:Ali Nur states that they soldiers cannot use the tainted cartridges,as they have been contaminated by lard.If a Muslim should bite them,he will be condemned to perdition.This is NOT the case.A Muslim theologian in Cleveland Ohio,has informed me,that it isn't akin to Catholics eating meat on Friday.The Muslims don't go to hell for eating pork;it's just something that they aren't supposed to do.

Sweeping, exciting spectacle, though on a bit lesser scale than usual. Power is a mixed-race (half British/half Indian) British officer in India battling the British class system on one side, the Indian caste system on the other side, racism from both sides, and rampaging, rebellious natives on all sides. Although he lacked the dynamism and ebullient personality of fellow swashbuckler Errol Flynn, Power nevertheless handled these kinds of action roles well, and was a good enough actor to pull them off believably. Terry Moore is, as always, miscast--she has the sunny demeanor of a USC cheerleader rather than the demure, dignified charm one would expect of the daughter of a senior, upper-class British officer. Michael Rennie's lip is properly stiff as the British commander, and Guy Rolfe is thoroughly effective as Power's megalomaniacal, menacing half-brother who is the leader of the rebels. Several extremely well staged action scenes--particularly at the climax--some very tense moments, crisp and beautiful Technicolor photography and Power's not-inconsiderable presence and charm make this a must-see for adventure fans--if they can ever find the damn thing. As mentioned previously, it hardly ever shows up on television and it's not out--legitimately, at least--on video or DVD yet.