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      The Lives of a Bengal Lancer

      Released Jan 11, 1935 1h 49m Adventure List
      100% Tomatometer 8 Reviews 72% Audience Score 250+ Ratings As the British Empire expands its presence in northwest India, Lt. McGregor (Gary Cooper) oversees two new recruits with the 41st regiment of the celebrated Bengal Lancers. Lt. Forsythe (Franchot Tone) is eager for action against Islamic invaders, while Lt. Stone (Richard Cromwell) must pass muster with his father (Sir Guy Standing), the outpost commander. Deadly threats escalate when the men join a mission to overthrow an evil chieftain, Mohammed Khan (Douglas Dumbrille). Read More Read Less

      Critics Reviews

      View All (8) Critics Reviews
      Matt Brunson Film Frenzy A rousing adventure yarn laced with generous dollops of humor. Rated: 3.5/4 Apr 26, 2020 Full Review Ann Ross Maclean's Magazine Franchot Tone and Gary Cooper give better performances in this picture than in any in which they have appeared before. Jul 23, 2019 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com One of the most exciting action-adventures of the 1930s (perhaps of all time), catapulting Gary Cooper to major stardom. Rated: A- Mar 18, 2009 Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews A rousing adventure story in the Kiplingesque fashion. Rated: B Dec 29, 2006 Full Review Carol Cling Las Vegas Review-Journal Rated: 5/5 May 14, 2004 Full Review Ken Hanke Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC) Pretty good, but it should have been great. Rated: 4/5 Jun 23, 2003 Full Review Read all reviews

      Audience Reviews

      View All (27) audience reviews
      Mark B I am quite ignorant about the British Raj, so I had no idea if the film was supposed to take place in the (1935) present, or decades earlier, given the lack of motorized vehicles and the military superiority of... cavalry? In the end it didn't matter, as we start to learn more about, and eventually even like, some of these lieutenants. Gary Cooper's accent is (almost) explained away by making him Canadian, but Richard Cromwell makes absolutely no attempt to disguise his completely American accent despite being, supposedly, a recent graduate of RMA Sandhurst. But, who cares. The film is mildly entertaining, has a few humorous moments and few more swashbuckling ones, and even has the unmitigated audacity to kill of its star in the final few minutes. Not bad at all. (#446 in my "watch all Best Picture Nominees" bucket list) Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/22/24 Full Review Leaburn O This film is poor 👎 Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 03/29/23 Full Review Murty C It is a terrific adventure story, with some comic scenes, some (supposedly) British dedication to duty and honor to the detriment of the British family (probably true). In any case, I enjoyed it, although I constantly wondered what "Bengal" lancers were doing in Afghanistan and northwest India. But that's just a title taken from a book, which I read has little to do with film's plot. Gary Cooper gave a typical unhistrionic performance, but it suits him in this military story. Franchot Tone as a young lieutenant and Richard Cromwell as the very young lieutenant son of the commandant, Colonel Stone (Guy Standing) are outstanding. Stone is a perfect caricature of a gruff British officer, and surely must have been the inspiration for Colonel Haathi in Disney's "The Jungle Book". Bottom line: Don't expect much and you will be handsomely rewarded. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 06/04/22 Full Review Audience Member Cooper as Macgregor, the top billed hero of the piece gives a strong, warm and wry performance. The stand-out surprise of the piece though, is that he is up-staged at nearly every turn by Franchot Tone. The banter between the two is great and takes full advantage of the witty and cynical dialogue. Young Richard Cromwell on the other hand makes very little impression until the final scenes of the picture. The British institution that is C. Aubrey Smith, makes a wonderful patriotic speech from under his formidably bristling eyebrows that brings the house down. The story-line is pretty standard stuff, three heroes in the face of overwhelming odds fight to uphold British dominance on the Indian Frontier. The strength of the film lies in the characterizations of the leads and the incredible settings and action sequences. A good deal of first rate horsemanship is also in evidence as we are treated to a full Lancer charge and scenes of tent pegging and pig sticking. The final battle is a glorious and exciting sequence that modern film makers would learn a great deal from. The script does have its goofy moments in the later torture sequences as we are treated to lines like "We have ways of making men talk" and are shown the old bamboo under the fingernails bit, but even the cliches seem fitting. If grand adventure with an emphasis on style is your idea of a good time, you'd be hard put to find a better example than this film! Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/08/23 Full Review steve d Cooper is great the rest is just ok. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member Favourite movie for almost 60 years Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/13/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      The Lives of a Bengal Lancer

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      Movie Info

      Synopsis As the British Empire expands its presence in northwest India, Lt. McGregor (Gary Cooper) oversees two new recruits with the 41st regiment of the celebrated Bengal Lancers. Lt. Forsythe (Franchot Tone) is eager for action against Islamic invaders, while Lt. Stone (Richard Cromwell) must pass muster with his father (Sir Guy Standing), the outpost commander. Deadly threats escalate when the men join a mission to overthrow an evil chieftain, Mohammed Khan (Douglas Dumbrille).
      Director
      Henry Hathaway
      Distributor
      Paramount Pictures
      Production Co
      Paramount Pictures
      Genre
      Adventure
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (Theaters)
      Jan 11, 1935, Original
      Release Date (DVD)
      May 31, 2005
      Runtime
      1h 49m