The Drum main backdrop
The Drum main poster

5.8/10 • 23

1938-09-291h 44m

AdventureWar

MEN BATTLE FOR THEIR LIVES... WOMEN FIGHT FOR THEIR LOVE... IN A MIGHTY SAGA OF CONQUEST ON INDIA'S FRONTIER

Set in the India of the British Raj, the evil and untrustworthy Prince Guhl (Raymond Massey) plans to wipe out the British troops as they enjoy the hospitality of Guhl's spacious palace. It's up to the loyal young Prince Azim (Sabu) to warn the troops of Guhl's treachery by tapping out a message on his drum.

Directors
Zoltan Korda
Writters
A.E.W. Mason

Top Billed Cast

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  1. Sabu

    Sabu

    Prince Azim

  2. Raymond Massey

    Raymond Massey

    Prince Ghul

  3. Valerie Hobson

    Valerie Hobson

    Mrs. Carruthers

  4. Roger Livesey

    Roger Livesey

    Capt. Carruthers

  5. David Tree

    David Tree

    Lieut. Escott

  6. Desmond Tester

    Desmond Tester

    Bill Holder

  7. Francis L. Sullivan

    Francis L. Sullivan

    Governor

  8. Archibald Batty

    Archibald Batty

    Major Bond

  9. Frederick Culley

    Frederick Culley

    Dr.Murphy

Reviews1

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CinemaSerf Avatar

CinemaSerf

Jun 10, 2024

7/10

There's a bit of Rudyard Kipling to this quite colourful story from Zoltan Korda telling of the ruthless "Ghul" (Raymond Massey) who usurps his brother after he makes a treaty with the British. Luckily, the heir "Azim" (Sabu) manages to escape the coup and make his way to "Capt. Carruthers" (Roger Livesey) who is to return to "Tokot" as an emissary but who might well be walking into a deadly trap designed to show the other mountain kingdoms that the Raj was not so invincible as they all thought. Can the young Prince get a warning to his friend in time to thwart disaster? Sabu holds this together quite enthusiastically, with Massey also effective as the menacing baddie who would steal his kingdom. Livesey is just a little too stiff as is Valerie Hobson as his altogether too prim wife and the writing is a little staccato but there's plenty of adventure and intrigue as the story races along entertainingly, if predictably. The production is almost lavish at times and there's some gorgeous location photography and even a game of polo to add a bit of richness to a lively tale of derring-do. It's not an history and like so many tales of the British "benevolence" in princely India takes a slightly rose-tinted view of the history, but it's still an enjoyable watch.

Media

  • The Drum poster
  • The Drum poster
  • The Drum poster

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Status
Released
Original Language
English
Budget
--
Revenue
--
Keywords
rebellionbased on novel or bookarms smugglingdrumsprincedrumbritish empireindiarevoltcolonial indiabritish raj1900schildren in wartime