{"id":44471,"date":"2019-08-11T21:14:36","date_gmt":"2019-08-12T04:14:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=44471"},"modified":"2021-01-24T09:44:37","modified_gmt":"2021-01-24T16:44:37","slug":"gunga-din-1939","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=44471","title":{"rendered":"Gunga Din (1939)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;Come on, Din &#8212; the world is ours!&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Gunga-Din-Poster.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Gunga-Din-Poster-199x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"199\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-44475\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Gunga-Din-Poster-199x300.jpg 199w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Gunga-Din-Poster-85x128.jpg 85w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Gunga-Din-Poster.jpg 663w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 199px) 100vw, 199px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nIn 1890s colonial-era India, a treasure-seeking sergeant (Cary Grant) is sent with an aspiring water bearer named Gunga Din (Sam Jaffe) to investigate a mysterious lack of communication from an outpost. When Grant is captured by the leader (Eduardo Cianelli) of a criminal sect known as the <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Thuggee\">Thuggees<\/a>, Jaffe travels back for help from Grant&#8217;s compatriots: the elephant-loving Sgt. MacChesney (Victor McLaglen) and a sergeant (Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.) about to leave the service to marry his fiancee (Joan Fontaine). Will the fearless team be able to warn the British army about an impending ambush by the Thuggees?\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Cary Grant Films<\/li>\n<li>Cults<\/li>\n<li>Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. Films<\/li>\n<li>George Stevens Films<\/li>\n<li>Gold Seekers<\/li>\n<li>India<\/li>\n<li>Joan Fontaine Films<\/li>\n<li>Sam Jaffe Films<\/li>\n<li>Soldiers<\/li>\n<li>Victor McLaglen Films<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Response to Peary\u2019s Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nPeary is unambiguously fond of this &#8220;all-time great Hollywood action-adventure&#8221; flick, &#8220;inspired by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.poetryfoundation.org\/poems\/46783\/gunga-din\">Kipling&#8217;s famous poem<\/a> about an Indian water boy who won the hearts of the British soldiers he served.&#8221; Peary focuses his review on comparing the storyline to that of Alexandre Dumas&#8217;s <em>The Three Musketeers<\/em>, with Gunga Din (similar to D&#8217;Artagnan) &#8220;a fearless, poor outsider whose life&#8217;s dream is to be one of the French muskeeters&#8221;, portrayed in this film by Grant, McLaglen,and Fairbanks, Jr. as &#8220;three inseparable, cheerful, fight-loving British soldiers&#8221; who &#8220;are also reluctant to let the outsider into their select company, treating him like a mascot until he proves himself.&#8221; He points out that &#8220;the action scenes are great fun and, until the final battle, usually feature bits of slapstick and funny heroics by the three imperturbable leads&#8221;. He further notes that while the &#8220;film should have been in color&#8221;, it &#8220;still has great pictorial beauty&#8221;, and that the &#8220;super direction&#8221; by George Stevens leads to a film that&#8217;s &#8220;spirited, stirring, and, finally, sentimental.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Gunga-Din-Din.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Gunga-Din-Din.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"982\" height=\"720\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-65541\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Gunga-Din-Din.png 982w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Gunga-Din-Din-300x220.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Gunga-Din-Din-128x94.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Gunga-Din-Din-768x563.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Gunga-Din-Din-368x270.png 368w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 982px) 100vw, 982px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>This is all true: <em>Gunga Din<\/em> is wonderfully mounted, featuring atmospheric cinematography, solid performances, and fine handling of action scenes. However, it&#8217;s impossible not to be disturbed by the film&#8217;s blatantly <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Orientalism\">Orientalist<\/a> view of colonized India. Kipling&#8217;s poem is more than casually racist, as the following quotes demonstrate: <\/p>\n<blockquote><p>Of all them blackfaced crew<br \/>\nThe finest man I knew<br \/>\nWas our regimental <em>bhisti<\/em>, Gunga Din<br \/>\n. . .<br \/>\nAn\u2019 for all \u2019is dirty \u2019ide<br \/>\n\u2019E was white, clear white, inside<br \/>\nWhen \u2019e went to tend the wounded under fire! <\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dvdtalk.com\/dvdsavant\/s1460din.html\">DVD Savant&#8217;s review begins to get at the more problematic aspects of this film<\/a>, pointing out that &#8220;Din is the prime example of the child-like &#8216;native&#8217; that lives for the doglike joy of pleasing his anglo superiors. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Gunga-Din-Din-Grant.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Gunga-Din-Din-Grant.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"982\" height=\"720\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-65543\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Gunga-Din-Din-Grant.png 982w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Gunga-Din-Din-Grant-300x220.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Gunga-Din-Din-Grant-128x94.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Gunga-Din-Din-Grant-768x563.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Gunga-Din-Din-Grant-368x270.png 368w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 982px) 100vw, 982px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Grant is a nice guy, and treats Din to the &#8216;honor&#8217; of military compliments, with gestures halfway between sincerity and snickering patronizing.&#8221; Savant also reminds us how blatantly history is misrepresented in the film, given that &#8220;the 1870s-1880s battles in India were [actually] fought against rebel princes and Rajas resisting English rule&#8221; &#8212; though of course &#8220;it&#8217;s always convenient to characterize those resisting Western force-of-arms as fanatic cultists.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Rousing performances by the three leads<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Gunga-Din-Leads.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Gunga-Din-Leads.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"982\" height=\"720\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-44480\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Gunga-Din-Leads.png 982w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Gunga-Din-Leads-128x94.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Gunga-Din-Leads-300x220.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Gunga-Din-Leads-768x563.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 982px) 100vw, 982px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Good use of location shooting in Lone Pine, California<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Gunga-Din-Location.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Gunga-Din-Location.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"982\" height=\"720\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-44476\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Gunga-Din-Location.png 982w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Gunga-Din-Location-128x94.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Gunga-Din-Location-300x220.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Gunga-Din-Location-768x563.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 982px) 100vw, 982px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Joseph August&#8217;s cinematography<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Gunga-Din-Cinematography.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Gunga-Din-Cinematography.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"982\" height=\"720\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-44477\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Gunga-Din-Cinematography.png 982w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Gunga-Din-Cinematography-128x94.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Gunga-Din-Cinematography-300x220.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Gunga-Din-Cinematography-768x563.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 982px) 100vw, 982px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Gunga-Din-Cinematography3.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Gunga-Din-Cinematography3.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"982\" height=\"720\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-44479\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Gunga-Din-Cinematography3.png 982w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Gunga-Din-Cinematography3-128x94.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Gunga-Din-Cinematography3-300x220.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Gunga-Din-Cinematography3-768x563.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 982px) 100vw, 982px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Gunga-Din-Cinematography2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Gunga-Din-Cinematography2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"982\" height=\"720\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-44478\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Gunga-Din-Cinematography2.png 982w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Gunga-Din-Cinematography2-128x94.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Gunga-Din-Cinematography2-300x220.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Gunga-Din-Cinematography2-768x563.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 982px) 100vw, 982px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nYes, once, for its historical relevance and spirited storyline. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Categories<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Historically Relevant<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0031398\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.combustiblecelluloid.com\/classic\/gungadin.shtml\">Combustible Celluloid Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:\">TCM Articles<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dvdtalk.com\/dvdsavant\/s1460din.html\">DVD Savant Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;Come on, Din &#8212; the world is ours!&#8221; Synopsis: In 1890s colonial-era India, a treasure-seeking sergeant (Cary Grant) is sent with an aspiring water bearer named Gunga Din (Sam Jaffe) to investigate a mysterious lack of communication from an outpost. When Grant is captured by the leader (Eduardo Cianelli) of a criminal sect known as the Thuggees, Jaffe travels back for help from Grant&#8217;s compatriots: the elephant-loving Sgt. MacChesney (Victor McLaglen) and a sergeant (Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.) about to leave&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=44471\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-44471","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-responses-to-peary"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44471","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=44471"}],"version-history":[{"count":17,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44471\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":65544,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44471\/revisions\/65544"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=44471"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=44471"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=44471"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}