bertie

Just watched this again - on DVD this time. A good copy of a film now nearly 50 years old.

Stands up pretty well for its time and how about the cast - Kenneth More, Lauren Bacall, Herbert Lom, Wilfred Hyde White, Ursula Jeans, Eugene Deckers, I S Johar, Ian Hunter to name but a few!

christoph404

yes, superb film and brilliant cinematography in Cinemascope by Geofrey Unsworth, the title in the USA was "Flame over India" Herbert Lom is playing his most evil baddie ever in the film and yes I totaly agree, its a great cast.

Windthrop

And also the film the led J Lee-Thompson to his American career and the transformation of an initially interesting talent into an unispired journeyman

christoph404

Yes thats true in some ways, I guess after "the Guns of Navarone" and its huge success he was in demand in hollywood and made some other large scale films like "Taras Bulba" and "Kings of The Sun", I would say about 1969ish with the "Planet of the Apes" sequels his career went into a serious decline, but he made a lot of great films didn't he? Ice Cold in Alex is one of my favourites.

NappieB

NORTH WEST FRONTIER - is one of my favourite films for all sorts of reasons.

Does anyone appreciate the irony resulting from comparing the "troubles" in that region during the era depicted by the film, with current day events?

"It gets late early out here!" - Yogi Berra on a trip to the country

Steve Crook

And as India and Pakistan are just celebrating their 60th year as independent coun tries, there are quite a few documentaries looking at both countries now, and at the moment of partition.

The scene of the massacre on the train in North West Frontier certainly has similarities to events during the partition

The "North West Frontier" region between India (or Pakistan) and Afghanistan has always been a troubled region. Just read Kim or The Man Who Would Be King (or watch the films), or The Drum or many other similar stories.

Steve

NappieB

I think there was a book by the name of "Northwest Frontier" - not related in any way to the movie...

The book was set during the Raj, and dealt with the dangers faced by British soldiers in the region due to murderous tribal clans and difficult terrain.

The more things change, the more they seem to stay the same...

"It gets late early out here!" - Yogi Berra on a trip to the country

Marky B

That scene where they cross that big hole in the bridge,still grips me.
Ta Ta
Marky B

I am special. The heavens always open for me.

LieutenantJohn

A positively rip-roaring joy from start to finish.


We are in British India, Moslem rebels want to kill a young Hindu prince and thus killing his family blood line. The British army are charged with the task of ensuring the prince is safely escorted from the troubled provinces. The duty falls to one intrepid Captain Scott, the only chance to achieve the aim is by train, with his allies on board being a rather unique group of individuals, can Scott achieve the mission against the mounting odds?.

North West Frontier has everything a great action adventure should have, action, tension, drama and an array of wonderfully colourful characters. The opening to the film is pulsating, as Scott has to fight off the rebels whilst smuggling the prince and his governess out to safety. From then on we are on a train journey that is rich with enjoyment, tension mounts amongst the passengers, not least because of the class differences, and perhaps motives are not in alignment?, but they must club together if they are to survive this journey. Kenneth Moore, Lauren Bacall, Herbert Lom and Wilfrid Hyde-White {comedy gold when under attack} are all pulling together to make a cracking yarn. Directing duties falls to J. Lee Thompson, who's CV boasts Ice Cold In Alex, The Guns Of Navarone and Cape Fear, this material was thankfully in very safe hands. The photography from Geoffrey Unsworth is top notch, barren and desolate landscapes beautifully realising the peril of the passengers journey, whilst the music from Mischa Spoliansky leaves a lasting impression. This train may well be crammed full of genre stereotypes, and sure enough the patronising nature of the piece is dated at the edges, but this remains a gloriously enjoyable film that the whole family can readily digest, 9/10.