Except for some unusually exciting moments, "Northwest Frontier" is a standard British Western (in this case Northwestern). This is a truly exciting tale of Nineteenth Century India with Kenneth More playing a British captain delivering a young Hindu prince to safety. Lauren Bacall co-stars as the young prince's English governess.
This film is paced like a Saturday Matinee serial. More and his cohorts go from one hair-raising experience to another. They must dodge broken rails, an almost missing bridge over a yawning chasm, a spy and the usual hostile tribesman. The movie is worth watching for the scene in which the little party crosses an almost destroyed bridge. I knew how it would turn out and I still couldn't help cringing.
More brings his usual British humor to his role as the captain charged with an impossible mission. The script is sparing on the dialogue, which contributes to the serial-like character of the film. Who needs dialogue when the characters are dodging one death-defying situation after another. Bacall plays a somewhat Anglophobic American woman who finds More interesting anyway. She and More make an excellent team, but their relationship would have been worth developing further. Veteran character Herbert Lom is on board for more than the train ride.
Watch this one either under this title or "Flame Over India", which is the name under which it usually appears on the Late Show. You'll be glad you did.
This film is paced like a Saturday Matinee serial. More and his cohorts go from one hair-raising experience to another. They must dodge broken rails, an almost missing bridge over a yawning chasm, a spy and the usual hostile tribesman. The movie is worth watching for the scene in which the little party crosses an almost destroyed bridge. I knew how it would turn out and I still couldn't help cringing.
More brings his usual British humor to his role as the captain charged with an impossible mission. The script is sparing on the dialogue, which contributes to the serial-like character of the film. Who needs dialogue when the characters are dodging one death-defying situation after another. Bacall plays a somewhat Anglophobic American woman who finds More interesting anyway. She and More make an excellent team, but their relationship would have been worth developing further. Veteran character Herbert Lom is on board for more than the train ride.
Watch this one either under this title or "Flame Over India", which is the name under which it usually appears on the Late Show. You'll be glad you did.