BRITISH ARMY IN INDIA

Evening Star, Issue 23335, 3 August 1939, Page 3

BRITISH ARMY IN INDIA

TALE OF KIPLING'S 'GUNIfI DIN'

A novel cross-section _ of ambitions among four men serving with the British Army in India, and the exciting adventures resulting from these aspirations, provide the basis of the spectacular new film, * Gunga Bin,’ which stars Cary Grant, Victor M'Laglen, and Douglas Fairbanks, jnn. In this screen version of lludyard Kipling’s beloved ballad those three are cast as sergeants in the Queen’s Own Sappers and Miners, a regiment stationed at a British colonial outpost in the northern part of India. Sam Jalfe plays the title role of the native water-carrier. Grant harbours secret ambitions to locate treasure in this land of Rajahs. M'Lnglcn’s only joy in life is to engage in physical combat with any or all enemies of Her Majesty. In striking contrast is Fairbanks, a romanticist, who yearns for the termination of his enlistment so that he may marry Joan Fontaine, daughter of a tea company official. Simple, but pathetic, is the golden dream of Gunga Din, who The varied aspirations of these four

companions manifest themselves during a dangerous campaign to crush a revolt among a band of murderous, religious fanatics, known as Thugs, and their thrilling experiences lend power, colour, and suspense to this screen recreation of Kipling’s never-to-be-for-gotten poem. In addition to the trio of stars, and to Jaffe and Miss Fontaine. the east in ‘Gunga Din’ also includes Eduardo Cianuelli, Montague Love, Robert Coote. and Abner Bihernian in leading roles, and a vast army of minor parts and combatants. George Stevens directed and produced

tho film for IIKO Radio. . * Gunga Din ’ will be screened at the State Theatre to-morrow.