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IMDbPro

The Stranglers of Bombay

  • 19591959
  • 1h 20m
IMDb RATING
6.2/10
1.1K
YOUR RATING
The Stranglers of Bombay (1959)
  • Action
  • Adventure
  • History
In the 1830s, a captain in the East India Company lobbies to investigate the criminal Thugee Cult of Kali, an organized crime group of stranglers and thieves.In the 1830s, a captain in the East India Company lobbies to investigate the criminal Thugee Cult of Kali, an organized crime group of stranglers and thieves.In the 1830s, a captain in the East India Company lobbies to investigate the criminal Thugee Cult of Kali, an organized crime group of stranglers and thieves.
IMDb RATING
6.2/10
1.1K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Terence Fisher
  • Writer
    • David Zelag Goodman
  • Stars
    • Guy Rolfe
    • Allan Cuthbertson
    • Andrew Cruickshank
Top credits
  • Director
    • Terence Fisher
  • Writer
    • David Zelag Goodman
  • Stars
    • Guy Rolfe
    • Allan Cuthbertson
    • Andrew Cruickshank
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 19User reviews
    • 33Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos23

    The Stranglers of Bombay (1959)
    Marie Devereux in The Stranglers of Bombay (1959)
    Guy Rolfe in The Stranglers of Bombay (1959)
    Roger Delgado, Marie Devereux, George Pastell, and Guy Rolfe in The Stranglers of Bombay (1959)
    Jan Holden and Guy Rolfe in The Stranglers of Bombay (1959)
    Jan Holden in The Stranglers of Bombay (1959)
    Guy Rolfe in The Stranglers of Bombay (1959)
    Allan Cuthbertson in The Stranglers of Bombay (1959)
    Marie Devereux in The Stranglers of Bombay (1959)
    The Stranglers of Bombay (1959)
    The Stranglers of Bombay (1959)
    The Stranglers of Bombay (1959)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Guy Rolfe
    Guy Rolfe
    • Capt. Harry Lewisas Capt. Harry Lewis
    Allan Cuthbertson
    Allan Cuthbertson
    • Capt. Christopher Connaught-Smithas Capt. Christopher Connaught-Smith
    Andrew Cruickshank
    Andrew Cruickshank
    • Col. Hendersonas Col. Henderson
    George Pastell
    George Pastell
    • High Priest of Kalias High Priest of Kali
    Marne Maitland
    Marne Maitland
    • Patel Sharias Patel Shari
    Jan Holden
    Jan Holden
    • Mary Lewisas Mary Lewis
    Paul Stassino
    Paul Stassino
    • Lt. Silveras Lt. Silver
    Tutte Lemkow
    Tutte Lemkow
    • Ram Dasas Ram Das
    Roger Delgado
    Roger Delgado
    • Bundaras Bundar
    • (uncredited)
    Marie Devereux
    • Karimas Karim
    • (uncredited)
    Margaret Gordon
    • Dorothy Floodas Dorothy Flood
    • (uncredited)
    John Harvey
    • Burnsas Burns
    • (uncredited)
    Jack McNaughton
    • Corp. Robertsas Corp. Roberts
    • (uncredited)
    Warren Mitchell
    Warren Mitchell
    • Merchantas Merchant
    • (uncredited)
    Michael Nightingale
    • Sidney Floodas Sidney Flood
    • (uncredited)
    Walter Randall
    Walter Randall
    • Thuggee Cult Memberas Thuggee Cult Member
    • (uncredited)
    Steven Scott
    Steven Scott
    • Waltersas Walters
    • (uncredited)
    Ewen Solon
    Ewen Solon
    • Camel Vendoras Camel Vendor
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Terence Fisher
    • Writer
      • David Zelag Goodman
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The Thugee cult can be traced back to the 17th century, with roots going as far back as the 13th. It is estimated that they murdered 2,000,000 of their countrymen. According to the film's end credits, one thug allegedly claimed 700 victims. The cult's victims were often picked out beforehand, and their graves were dug before they were murdered.
    • Goofs
      The pistol used in several scenes by Captain Lewis and Captain Connaught-Smith was a revolver. The time frame for this film was set in the 1820's. The revolver wouldn't be invented and patented until 1836.
    • Quotes

      Patel Shari: Whoever rules decides the truth.

    • Alternate versions
      For its UK cinema release the film was cut by the BBFC with edits to the kicking of Lewis by thuggees in an alleyway, and the removal of 'reaction' shots of Karim watching men being branded and strangled. The same print was then cut by a further 7 secs for the 1996 video release with additional edits to remove a scene of a mongoose fighting a snake.
    • Connections
      Featured in Aweful Movies with Deadly Earnest: The Stranglers of Bombay (1969)

    User reviews19

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    Whoever rules decides the truth.
    The Stranglers of Bombay is out of Hammer Film Productions. It's directed by Terence Fisher and written by David Zelag Goodman. It stars Guy Rolfe, Jan Holden, Andrew Cruickshank, George Pastell, Marne Maitland and Paul Stassino. Music is by James Bernard and cinematography by Arthur Grant.

    For hundreds of years there existed in India a perverted religious sect, dedicated to the wanton destruction of human life....

    So secret was this savage cult that even the British East Indian Company, rulers of the country at the time, was unaware of their existence....

    So it begins, a compact and often violent retelling of the Thuggee Cult in India in the 1820s. It was considered strong stuff back on release and had the head suits at the BBFC shifting uneasily in their office chairs. It's a film that has also fallen unfairly into the realm where political correctness dwells, where some folk are seemingly obsessed with decrying old movies for their outdated political portrayals. This deserves better, for it's a very good script, where although the history is difficult to pin down as being correct, it does at least show a care and attention to detail where the Thugee Cult is concerned.

    It's also a good old adventure yarn, full of intrigue, peril and detective work. Fisher directs at a clip, never allowing the plot to stagnate, and the low budget afforded the project is barely evident amongst some very effective sets. Cast are mostly good value for money, with lead players Rolfe perfectly restrained as an officer desperately trying to be heard and Pastell owning the film as the High Priest of Kali; in fact he is revelling in the bad guy role. Bernard provides an ear banging effective musical accompaniment.

    Torture, maiming, heroics and a clever mongoose, something for everyone here! 7/10
    helpful•11
    2
    • hitchcockthelegend
    • May 25, 2012

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 1960 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Davitelji iz Bombaja
    • Filming locations
      • Bray Studios, Down Place, Oakley Green, Berkshire, England, UK
    • Production companies
      • Hammer Films
      • Kenneth Hyman
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 20 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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