Gunga Din Character

[Bigkahuna]

I think it reasonable to assume most of you have seen the movie "Gunga Din". At the end there is a cavalry charge led by a grizzled old Halvidar who really looks like the real deal and goes about his business as if he had indeed, really "Done " it before. Does anybody know who he was or what Regt. was used for the Indian Cavalry????ith:

[sydnie7]

You might find some of that info here, at IMDB -- or perhaps other info you didn't even know you wanted!

[macwilkin]

The movie was filmed in California, so I would venture to guess that the majority of the Sowars were extras. I can't remember at the moment if there was a technical adviser on the film or not.

And I can't say that I've read of the Lancers being identified to one particular regiment, but one possibilty would be the 6th Duke of Connaught's Own Lancers (Watson's Horse), which did see service on the Northwest Frontier in 1897, and received the battle honour "Punjab Frontier". That's only speculation, of course.

The Scottish Regiment depicted in the film, however, was the Black Watch, and Cutter, MacChesney and Ballantine were Royal Engineers.


T.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Gunga Din was shot, on location, in Lone Pine California. I have one of the cap badges from the film (a crude lead casting) and on the roundel is the number "77"; a totally fictitious Indian Army Lancer regiment. The cavalry was provided by "The Hollywood Posse", a collection of "Gower Gulch" cowboys, a mounted drill team from Glendale, California (now known as the Saddle & Sirloin Club), and local horsemen recruited in Lone Pine. Back in the late '30s a lot of men could ride, and it was never an issue conjuring up a regiment of cavalry for the movies.

I can't recall who played the Halvidar-- or if he was even credited. It is as likely he was a pukka Indian as a Mexican charro with spirit gum chin whiskers. I'd like to think that, like Victor McLaglen, he was the genuine article.

[Bigkahuna]

I could not find his name amongst the credits. I did note that they had a former British officer as a technical advisor. Thank you Gentlemen for your input. That Halvidar still sticks in my mind as to the way he handled his sword etc. He even knew to salute the Colonel with his sword before he returned it to its scabbard at the end of the action. If you have a chance to see this film, watch this fellow again. He is right at home in his role and he Looks like an old grizzled Pathan or Sikh.

[Rob Wright]

The dvd has a commentary track by a film historian that may provide some more details for you.

Rob

[Malcolm MacWilliam]

Interesting that the number 77 is on the cap badge. The 77th is the Seven Years War regiment which my group portrays (www.muskets-of-the-crown.org), also known as the First Highland Battalion. But they were mustered out in 1763 after the Battle of Bushy Run here in Pennsylvania. The 77th was reformed in late 1700s (after Rev. War) and was also called the Middlesex Reg't, not a Highland Regiment. They fought off and on in India, esp. the 2nd Battalion. Several years ago a friend of mine bought a swagger stick off ebay with the 77th badge in silver on the head and presented it to me as a gift. Of course, it is the Middlesex Reg't, not the 77th that I portray...BUT, I had a collector of swagger sticks trace it to late 1800s. It's one of my most prized possessions. So, although the 77th was not an Indian Lancer Reg't, the 77th, Middlesex Reg't, was in India.

Malcolm MacWm., ASM
www.britishbrigade.org

[macwilkin]

Interesting that the number 77 is on the cap badge. The 77th is the Seven Years War regiment which my group portrays (www.muskets-of-the-crown.org), also known as the First Highland Battalion. But they were mustered out in 1763 after the Battle of Bushy Run here in Pennsylvania. The 77th was reformed in late 1700s (after Rev. War) and was also called the Middlesex Reg't, not a Highland Regiment. They fought off and on in India, esp. the 2nd Battalion. Several years ago a friend of mine bought a swagger stick off ebay with the 77th badge in silver on the head and presented it to me as a gift. Of course, it is the Middlesex Reg't, not the 77th that I portray...BUT, I had a collector of swagger sticks trace it to late 1800s. It's one of my most prized possessions. So, although the 77th was not an Indian Lancer Reg't, the 77th, Middlesex Reg't, was in India.

Malcolm MacWm., ASM
www.britishbrigade.org

And, to clarify things further, the Indian Army and the British Army were two distinct organizations, even under the Raj.

T.

[Bigkahuna]

As a small side note, Victor McLaglen served in the British Army during the Boer War for a short time before being discharged at the request of his father for being under age. He also served in the Middle East during WW1 becoming Provost Marshal of the City of Baghdad.ith:

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

As a small side note, Victor McLaglen served in the British Army during the Boer War for a short time before being discharged at the request of his father for being under age. He also served in the Middle East during WW1 becoming Provost Marshal of the City of Baghdad.ith:

He was also a first class horseman, although he served in the Guards (?), and founded a mounted drill team for young equstrians known as McLaglen's Lancers (later called The Hollywood Lancers) in Burbank, California. The Lancers continued to ride until well into the 1960s, but finally rode off into the sunset in the early 1970s.