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Sick Product of a Sick System

Great Film overall

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

Plot-- British colonial rule in parts of India is imperiled by the murder of the local monarch by his sinister brother (Massey). Now the British contingent (Livesey, Hobson, et al.) must rely on the young pro-British nephew (Sabu) to rally against the usurper.As a boy growing up in a small mid-western town, I never missed this epic and its companion feature Four Feathers (1939) in our theater. After all, where else in pre-TV middle America could all that scenic exotica be seen. The be-turbaned Indian natives, the be-skirted English soldiers, the high mountain passes, all in rich Technicolor, along with the rich pageantry of masses of people moving here and there. And shouldn't forget the crackling, if somewhat clichéd, storyline, along with a charmingly youthful Sabu, a gloweringly sinister Raymond Massey, and a slim, long-limbed Valerie Hobson. Then there's that thundering drum, along with slinky native girls and twirling British Highlanders. The Korda's certainly spared no expense and it shows, from spirited opening to satisfying close. Sure, the subtext amounts to British colonial propaganda that no longer wears well. Still, the lavish spectacle remains, a treat for the eye. Of course, I've changed in many ways from those earlier days, but the Korda production can still entertain and impress, if given half a chance.

Consider the facts: Young Indian prince must go into hiding when his nefarious uncle murders his father to take over the throne. Protecting the English (replacing the silly wart-hog and meerkat), the prince tries to reclaim his destiny and bring liberation to the people while warning the British of the danger to themselves. Lavishly produced and crowd-pleasing, "Drums features" superb performances by Raymond Massey as the villainous uncle and Sabu as the charming boy meant to be king. Sabu's non-acting is completely winning, and his friendship with British drummer Desmond Tester endearing as a vision of peace between different cultures. A fine British cast supports Sabu, with Valarie Hobson and Roger Livesay likable heroes out to protect the young prince.Certainly made as a valentine to the British rule of India and to show the reign of the English in a favorable light, this might not serve to tell all of the truth about the British infiltration on the people of India. As entertainment, it certainly strives to present a favorable view of one side of the story, if not exactly presenting an opposite point of view. Historically, it may ring a few falsehoods to those who have studied the history of this time in Indian history. The viewer will have to take it upon themselves to make up their own mind of what is close to fact and what is more fantasy, or at least, propaganda.

The British are trying to make peace treaties with numerous tribes in India to make sure there isn't an uprising among rebel tribes. Captain Carruthers makes a treaty with the prince, but when the prince's brother (Prince Ghul) murders the prince, he now has the tribes just where he wants him (in a spot to annihilate the British). The murdered prince's son (Prince Azul) reaches Carruthers and tells him of what happened, so Carruthers takes a troop to Ghul's fortress. Ghul welcomes Carruthers with a ceremony of a 5 day feast, but when the feast is over Ghul plans to kill all the British troops with their smuggled machine guns, unless Azim can lead a British battalion to Tokot to stop Ghul's mad plan. Despite being politically incorrect with the British superiority over the people of India, the film does contain a fair amount of action and thrills to entertain the film going audience, granted it is no Gunga Din or Four Feathers (the latter of which and this film share the same author). Massey oozes evil as Ghul, and their is decent support with Sabu, youthful as ever as Azim, Massey as the stuffed shirt Carruthers, and Hobson as his wife. The score is decent, but not that rousing and shooting in color limited the best chances to use lighting. Rating, 7.

The Drum is a great British Empire movie in the tradition of Four Feathers (the Korda version) and Gunga Din. Anyone who gets a thrill from the skirl of bagpipes and a last minute charge to the rescue will be delighted by this film.