KING OF THE KHYBER RIFLES

US, 1953, 100 minutes, Colour.
Tyrone Power, Terry Moore, Michael Rennie, John Justin, Guy Rolfe, Murray Matheson.
Directed by Henry King.

King of the Khyber Rifles was one of the first Cinemascope films, one of the first action Cinemascope features. It was directed by Henry King who had a long record of successful films (and had directed Tyrone Power in many films including Lloyds of London, The Black Rose, Captain from Castille, Prince of Foxes – and up to The Sun Also Rises in 1957).

The background of the film is the Indian mutiny of 1857. Tyrone Power plays a British officer of mixed race – which is used against him by fellow officers. The officers in the film are played by Michael Rennie, who had come fron England and appeared in such films as The Day the Earth Stood Still and as St Peter in The Robe. Terry Moore was a popular starlet at the time.

This was a routine kind of adventure – but, filmed in Cinemascope with attractive Californian settings standing in for India, with action, it was very popular at the time.

1. An enjoyable adventure? An adventure from the fifties? Colour, Cinemascope etc?

2. The appeal to audiences of nineteenth century India? Empire, action, adventure and intrigue?

3. How well were these themes and situations handled?

4. The importance of the Indian setting: the British and their Commander, his daughter, the atmosphere of rebellion, the picture of the intriguing tribes?

5. How conventional a hero was Captain King? His nationality, the strengths of his character, his place in India as half white and half Indian? His work for the British, his relationship to the Commander’s daughter?

6. The background of racism and snobbery? Especially with the Commander and the attitude to his daughter’s marriage? The racism on the part of the Indians and the hatred of the British?

7. The significance of King's offering to kill his half-brother? The reasons for the decision by the British? The Commander? The trust of the half-brother? The failure in the killing attempt? The nature of feelings?

8. Cruelty in return?

9. The sequences of revolt? The soldiers not wanting to use the Khyber Rifles? King's hold over them? Their pride of finally fighting?

10. How appropriate was the triumphal ending? Expected for this kind of adventure?