King of the Khyber Rifles (1953)

Director:

Henry King

Writers:

Ivan Goff (screenplay) and
Ben Roberts (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

22 December 1953 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

GREAT ADVENTURE OF INDIA! (original print ad - all caps)

Plot:

A half-caste British officer in 19th-century India battles the prejudices of both his Army colleagues and the local populace while trying to help put down a rebellion led by a greedy local ruler.

Plot Keywords:

General | Muslim | India | Battle | Biracial

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Tyrone Power	...	Capt. Alan King
Terry Moore	...	Susan Maitland
Michael Rennie	...	Brig. Gen. J. R. Maitland
John Justin	...	Lt. Geoffrey Heath
Guy Rolfe	...	Karram Khan
Richard Wyler	...	Lt. Ben Baird (as Richard Stapley)
Murray Matheson	...	Maj. Ian MacAllister
Frank DeKova	...	Ali Nur (as Frank de Kova)
Argentina Brunetti	...	Lali
Sujata	...	Native Dancer

Runtime:

100 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.55 : 1

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

UK:U | USA:Approved | West Germany:12 (f) | Finland:K-16 | Portugal:M/12 (re-release) | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Alabama Hills, Lone Pine, California, USA

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

This was Twentieth Century-Fox's fourth CinemaScope production.

Movie Connections:

Version of The Black Watch (1929)

In the Desert no-one can hear you scream!

I agree with a few other reviewers here - why the hell does this never show up on TV, cable or even old video warehouses? I have seen it but once, in London the week of its initial release almost 50 years ago. I was 7. Thing is, I remember it perfectly, way better than SHOWTIME and I only saw THAT yesterday!

Top desert caper that was all audiences wanted to see in the 50's. No-one swashbuckled better than Tyrone Power during this period and KING OF THE KHYBER RIFLES was a handsome production, especially on the gigantic CINEMASCOPE screen. Directed by action-specialist Henry King, who worked with Power in almost a dozen movies, the story was that of half-caste British soldier Alan King (Power) who had to battle not only Army etiquette but a rampaging uprising around the Khyber Pass! The well remembered image from this flick was the spearing of the helpless British soldiers at the stake. Power of course, gaining a last minute reprieve so he could complete the movie, take down the villains and win the girl.

Good supporting cast, Michael Rennie in particular cutting an impressive figure as Brigadier Maitland whose stiff upper lip was stiffer than most!

Good companion piece to this was ZARAK (Also reviewed somewhere!)