The Black Watch (1929)

Captain Donald King of the British Army goes to India just as World War I breaks out, convincing his comrades that he is a coward. In reality, he is on a secret mission to rescue British ... See full summary »

Director:

John Ford

Writers:

James Kevin McGuinness (dialogue), Talbot Mundy (novel),

Stars:

Victor McLaglen, Myrna Loy, David Torrence

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Victor McLaglen	...	Capt. Donald Gordon King
Myrna Loy	...	Yasmani
David Torrence	...	Field Marshal
David Rollins	...	Lt. Malcolm King
Cyril Chadwick	...	Maj. Twynes
Lumsden Hare	...	Colonel of the Black Watch
Roy D'Arcy	...	Rewa Ghunga
David Percy	...	Soloist - Black Watch Officer
Mitchell Lewis	...	Mohammed Khan
Claude King	...	General in India (as Claud King)
Walter Long	...	Harrim Bey

Storyline

Captain Donald King of the British Army goes to India just as World War I breaks out, convincing his comrades that he is a coward. In reality, he is on a secret mission to rescue British soldiers held prisoner there.

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Plot Keywords:

based on novel

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Genres:

Adventure | Drama

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Certificate:

Passed

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 May 1929 (USA)

Also Known As:

King of the Khyber Rifles

Box Office

Budget:

$400,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Fox Film Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Movietone)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.20 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This was the first sound feature that John Ford directed. Unable to shout orders to the actors, he had his brother, First Assistant Edward O'Fearna dress up as a rifleman and mingle with the crowd whispering Ford's instructions to the principal actors.

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Connections

Featured in Hollywood (1980)

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Soundtracks

"Auld Lang Syne"
(uncredited)
Lyrics by Robert Burns
Music : Scots traditional
Performed by David Percy

User Reviews

Everything but the kitchen sink in this early Ford epic.

John Ford had notched up almost 50 films in the director's chair when he took on this project in the late 20's coinciding with the advent of sound.

Far less well known than its 1953 re-make (known AS KING OF THE KHYBER RIFLES) with Tyrone Power in the Victor McLlaglen role, the story is that of British Army Officer Captain King, who encounters way more than he expected when he is asked to put down an Indian rebellion up around the Khyber Pass.

Very dated now and without the benefit of wide screen color which so enhances desert dramas especially, BLACK WATCH is still an interesting time-capsule. I saw it many years ago on late night TV, both to compare with the later version and to see how John Ford's direction held up in 1929. On both counts, the film scored well!