Gunga Din (1939)
Director: George Stevens
Starring: Cary Grant, Joan Fontaine, Victor McLaglen
Synopsis:
A trio of British sergeants and their faithful water carrier face off against a resurgent Thuggee cult.
Impressions:
I was originally drawn to this movie when I was younger because it was billed as "the original Temple of Doom" and I was a huge Indiana Jones fan. If you want an old-fashioned adventure film, look no further. The real focal point is the chemistry among the main trio with Cary Grant as the treasure-obsessed joker, Victor McLaglen as the muscle and Douglas Fairbanks Jr. as the suave ladies' man. If this relationship clicks with you, you're probably going to enjoy yourself. Sam Jaffe brings a lot of childlike enthusiasm to the role of the eponymous Gunga Din (he channels Sabu, who would've been a great casting choice, and probably a little less incongruous being A) an actual Indian and B) closer to the age you'd expect for an eager beaver water carrier). I also want to give credit to Eduardo Ciannelli who's really great as the Thuggee guru. If you're particularly PC-obsessed, you're going to find a lot to complain about, but if that's the case, you'd probably only watch it for your post-colonial studies class anyway. If that isn't going to be a hang-up of yours, it's a fun ride and a classic that's well worth watching. If you're an Indy fan who wants to think of it as a prequel to Temple of Doom, then there's an extra layer of fun to be had.
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