FilmIndia (1939)

FILM INDIA How well these five "experts" know about India is revealed by the same bulletin from which I quote the following: "It seems Hindus raise beards that are really something and to be authentic each of the actors who didn't already sport a considerable growth of hairsute adornment, had to be supplied with the same." "And perhaps in the still desert air will come the voice of the "muezzin" from the minaret in Tantrapur filling the air with Hindu fatalism. .. .What is written is written." "Minaret", "Muezzin" and What an authentic India!! 'Hindu" fatalism! SCENES OF CRUELTY The terrible power of films like "Gunga Din" misrepresent India and slander her people can be gauged from the fact that it has been acclaimed as a great box-office hit. Millions of Americans will know of India from this film. As to the kind of impression it creates on the cultured American mind, one may quote from the opinions of certain organizations circulated by the R.K.O. Publicity Department: GENERAL FEDERATION OF WOMEN'S CLUBS: "Scenes of cruelty too exciting for the younger members." WOMEN'S UNIVERSITY CLUB: "It carries on the tradition of Great Britain's supremacy in India" "For children — too long and violent". EAST COAST PREVIEW COMMITTEE: "One cannot help but feel that in these days of actual war and carnage perhaps the same effort should have been given to depicting something that would glorify peace and security." JEANETTE REX: "As for the story it is a moot question whether India will enjoy it". AMERICA WAVES THE UNION JACK PICTUREGOER (LONDON): "When a patriotic British picture is produced it is too often Hollywood that does it. "Gunga Din" is a patriotic depiction April 1939 of the work of the British Army in India Let us admit at once that it is mostly hokum played in broad, melodramatic style In brief it is a clfeel of America waving the Union Jack for us " NOT TOO SOLEMN WITH THE NATIVES! NATIONAL BOARD OF REVIEW MAGAZINE: "In "Gunga Din" they have let themselves go and concocted a lively and two thirds exciting action piece celebrating, not too solemnly, some of Britain's wa with the natives of India. FANATIC NATIVES VS. BRITISH HEROICS MOTION PICTURE HERALD (AMERICA) : "Gunga Din" is fast, furious and fascinating — a blunt, hard statement of the Imperial policy that was and may yet be England's . . .If the film may be likened, generically, to any other of known record, that other would be, "Lives of a Bengal Lancer". Like that one, this picture places its principal characters at the mercy of fanatic natives who apply torture to force revelation of military information The picture depicts the heroics of those who fought, screamed and slugged back India into submission to Queen Victoria. TRIBAL FANATICS & MURDER RELIGION THE CANADIAN DIGEST: "The film opens with the massacre of a British patrol on the North West border of India by tribal fanatics in a revival of the ancient murder religion of Thugee. EVEN THE BRITISH WOULD BE BASHFUL! BRITISH SUNDAY PRESS (LONDON): "Thanks, Hollywood, for such a fine piece of British propaganda, which we would be bashful to present ourselves." IRISH PRESS (DUBLIN): "The picture is based on a poem by Kipling, the arch -imperialistic jingler of catchy and famous fines The verdict is — a bril liant film on a rotten theme." ; The Thugs (Hindoos) surrounding the brave band of British soldiers in "Gunga Din"— R.K.O. Radio picture.) 26