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Storyline
A murderous religious cult is way-laying travellers and stealing goods in nineteenth century India. As the disappearances mount and trade becomes difficult, the British East India Company is forced to act. But they give the job to an upper-class officer completely out-of-touch with the country rather than the obvious candidate who has been in India for years and well understands the people and culture. Written by
Jeremy Perkins <jwp@aber.ac.uk>
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Trivia
The Thugee cult can be traced back to the 17th Century with roots going as far back as the 13th. According to Wikipedia it is estimated that they murdered two million of their countrymen. According to the film's end credits, one thug allegedly claimed 700 victims.
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Goofs
When Captain Lewis is tied to the ground, a reflection is visible between him and the cobra, revealing that a pane of glass separates them.
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Quotes
Capt. Christopher Connaught-Smith:
[
Interrogating witness through translator]
Now tell him that no one can live anywhere for 40 years without seeing a great deal. What has he seen?
[
the translator confers with the witness]
Capt. Christopher Connaught-Smith:
[
Impatiently]
Well?
Translator:
He says he has seen 40 harvests and 160 changes of season.
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There's no getting around the Imperialist/Colonialist undertones in this one, only made worse by the various video guides which claim it is based on "actual events." It isn't quite as bad as Fu Manchu to the Chinese, but I suspect many Indians would find this pretty inaccurate and offensive. Still, looked at as a horror movie, it is pretty fun, and it seems to include more explicit depictions of violence even than other Hammer films of the time perhaps the claim of historical authenticity made it easier to get away with gore in England at this time. I particularly enjoyed George Pastell's performance, similar in many ways to the one he gave in the previous year's adaptation of "the Mummy." The various tensions among the British colonial officers also add a nice touch, and the direction and cinematography are top-notch, as awkward as the material sometimes gets.