Rogue's March (1953)

Thanks for the memories!

Good concept, poorly executed.

It's complicated... I really like the directing, acting and writing but, there are issues with the way it's shot that I just can't deny. As much as I love the storytelling and the fantastic performance but, there are also certain scenes that didn't need to exist.

The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one

Sure, it's a little dated... it's already a period piece. Peter Lawford is "Captain Lenbridge", framed by a spy. He had just proposed to his girl, but all that is put on hold, and off to jail he goes. He re-enlists under a different name, and tries to make good. Lots of military action, planning and plotting. This one is very okay. Nothing too special. According to the card at the very end, this actually was filmed at the Khyber Pass, although it seems like going to an awful lot of trouble for a pretty ordinary scene. This one was made about halfway through Lawford's career. Directed by british Allan Davis. Looks like this was the first film he had directed. It's good, but not great. Shown now and then on Turner Classic.

This is our old friend the Bengal Lancers movie. Hero in disgrace, redeems himself by saving the honour of the regiment. Unlike most of the genre (The Charge of the Light Brigade, The Four Feathers, etc) this one is actually set in India or nearby for the most part. Peter Lawford is too weak for the lead; Richard Greene slightly too fruity, as always, for the second banana; and I don't know how Janice Rule got a gig as the English girlfriend, although she wears her best corset and a stunning Victorian ballgown trimmed with flowers at the bodice. Overall it's a fun example of the genre, and the battle scenes at the end, shot in the real Khyber Pass somehow, are alone worth the price of admission, giving you some idea of strategy & tactics, not just the usual hand to hand biffing.

Made in 1953 when Hollywood ruled. This film has some aspects of the movie Four Feathers. There is the wronged soldier (Peter Lawford) dismissed from the service, sentenced to civilian custody where he some how escapes. What I thought was a nice twist was when Lawford enlists in another outfit. He ends up serving in India where his original unit is there and in trouble. He distinguishes himself and with the capture of a Russian scum sucking agent is cleared of the original charges and while it is not actually shown I assume returned to his former station in the military. I really liked the scenes with the mules carrying the mountain artillery and when the gun crews start setting it up. That is not shown very often especially in older movies where they are more interested in the main characters and the action scenes. I also really liked seeing Leo G. Carroll as the commander of the units involved, he usually got supporting roles of a lesser tier than in this film or as a comedic element in a movie.

I saw Rogue's March this weekend, and it is indeed an unsung classic tale of The Great Game. Peter Lawford stars as a young Captain of the Royal Midland Fusiliers whose life and career are turned upside down as he is framed for treason. He makes his way to the Northwest Frontier to ultimately set things right. Some have branded this movie as a "poor man's Four Feathers, and I could understand someone calling this movie a British Branded. But there's more to this movie than that. While this film lacks much of the complexity of The Four Feathers, it redeems itself with its intrigue and action. The manner in which the Russians set our protagonist up is pretty interesting, and the battle scenes are superb. For someone like me, who thinks there are too few movies with pith helmets in the prop department, this was a treat.