The Drum

1938

1h 36m

Adventure

List

83%

Tomatometer

6 Reviews

56%

Audience Score

50+ Ratings

On the frontier of India, British Capt. Carruthers (Roger Livesey) learns of an illegal arms transport, which leads to a peace treaty with Tokat leader Mohammed Khan. Khan's son, Prince Azim (Sabu), and their people welcome the British warmly, but Khan's brother, Ghul (Raymond Massey), rejects the treaty in a bid for power. Azim escapes Ghul's assassination attempt by going into hiding with the British, but takes action when Ghul plans a secret and brutal attack on Carruthers and his men.

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Joseph Jon Lanthier

Slant Magazine

One of the most fascinating and entertaining asides in British cinema, Sabu is just meta-colonial enough to maintain relevance.

Nov 29, 2011

Full Review

John Kinloch

California Eagle

One might divide the film into three parts: One third -- Cook's Tour; One third -- precise melodramatic hooey; and one blessed third -- Mesers Sabu and Desmond Tester. The latter division... is what makes Drums something that you can't beat (pun).

Oct 22, 2019

Full Review

Ann Ross

Maclean's Magazine

It all adds up to remarkably good entertainment, full of excitement, suspense and color.

Jul 22, 2019

Full Review

Basil Wright

The Spectator

The appeal is to the shallower herd instinct, the instinct which prefers, with double instinctiveness, to mistake melodrama for tragedy, and is too willingly moved to tears by a regiment marching-though it knows not whither or why.

Jun 27, 2018

Full Review

MFB Critics

Monthly Film Bulletin

As a spectacle in Technicolor the film is outstanding, and the acting all-round is good, within the limits of the story, which is melodramatic and obvious in conception.

Jan 31, 2018

Full Review

Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

Rousing and lavish Technicolor old-fashioned adventure story.

Rated: A-

Mar 25, 2009

Full Review

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s r

Fair, but not well made. Shame since it could have been much better with editing and better directing.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I'm on a Sabu kick! Obsequies melodrama about British colonialism in India. Sabu is one of the "good" ones the others are generically evil (in face paint, to boot). Glorious technicolor cannot save the inherent wrongness of this movie.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

01/13/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Not a bad film, but if you're only going to watch one Zoltan Korda movie about British Imperialism, watch the Four Feathers. This is good, but not as good as that.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/20/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Sabu doing what he does best. A classic example of Imperial Britain at work.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/05/23

Full Review

Audience Member

well umn just seen this movie 4 the 1st time n think that this is a good movie 2 watch.............its got a good cast of actors/actressess throughout this movie....i think that sabu, raymond massey, roger livesey. valerie hobson, david tree, desmond tester play good roles/parts throughout this movie....i think that the director of this drama/western/action/adventure movie had done a good job of directing this movie because you never know what 2 expect throughout this movie.....i think that the fight scenes n the gun shoot outs were good throughout this movie.....its a good movie 2 watch

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/27/23

Full Review

ashley h

Drums is an amazing. The locations of the film is amazing and beautiful. Raymond Massey and Roger Livesey give great performances. However, Sabu steals the show. The movie, Drums, is a must see if you like action/adventure films

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

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Zoltan Korda

Director

Sabu

Prince Azim

Raymond Massey

Prince Ghul

Roger Livesey

Capt. Carruthers

Valerie Hobson

Mrs. Carruthers

Desmond Tester

Bill Holder

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Synopsis

On the frontier of India, British Capt. Carruthers (Roger Livesey) learns of an illegal arms transport, which leads to a peace treaty with Tokat leader Mohammed Khan. Khan's son, Prince Azim (Sabu), and their people welcome the British warmly, but Khan's brother, Ghul (Raymond Massey), rejects the treaty in a bid for power. Azim escapes Ghul's assassination attempt by going into hiding with the British, but takes action when Ghul plans a secret and brutal attack on Carruthers and his men.

Director: Zoltan Korda
Production Co: London Film Productions
Genre: Adventure
Original Language: English
Runtime: 1h 36m