Ginga Din
George Stevens directed just about every kind of movie in his day, and it shows in Gunga Din, a slightly schizophrenic picture that also helped define the action-adventure genre and influenced a number films in the years to come. Its most obvious influence is in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, not so much in theme as in plot and spirit. Gunga Din, like the poem from whence it came, is more concerned with the nobility of duty and sacrifice among military men. It's a bond few can understand without experience, so films like this one take up the cause of educating the rest of us on the matter as best each particular filmmaker can.
When the murderous Thuggee cult rears its ugly head again, three of Her Majesty's best soldiers (Grant, McLaglen and Fairbanks Jr.) head out to the Khyber Pass to investigate. Accompanying the company is the film's titular water bearer, who idolizes the soldiers and the noble bond they share as brothers in arms. His accidental knowledge of the Thuggee temple makes him a witness and tragic participant in the heroes' mission to wipeout the cult.
Truth be told, Gunga Din's role is subservient both inside and outside the context of the film. The picture belongs to Grant, McLaglen and Fairbanks Jr., the latter of whom was never able to get out from under his father's enormous shadow and looks out of his depth next to his co-stars. But it's not as distracting as Stevens' occasionally shifty direction, which jarringly oscillates between action, drama and comedy. It can't defeat the story, however, and the final act is a rousing tribute to the brave sacrifices men make for honor, country and, most importantly, that indefinable bond between men who fight and die together.
- September 8, 2008
DVD Extras
The only extra for the film is a documentary that is part making-of and part retrospective, featuring old interviews with Douglas Fairbanks Jr., George Stevens Jr., William Goldman and other old Hollywood players who either discuss the film's production or how the film influenced their work. Also included is the classic Looney Tunes short, The Film Fan, and trailers for other Warner Bros. classics.