The Brigand Of Kandahar

The second DVD world premiere is also a costume drama, set in British India in 1880’s.

The Brigand Of Kandahar was made in 1965 (once again by Hammer Films) and features a lot of British actors playing native Indians… sporting plenty of dark make-up with often blue eyes shining through…

Robert Case (Ronald Lewis), a mixed race lieutenant, is unfairly discharged from the British Army on accusations of cowardice. This makes him a rather disgruntled individual and so he joins the rebel Bengali tribesmen offensive led by Ali Khan (Oliver Reed displaying his usual talents as a born hell-raiser) against the colonial enemy. Yvonne Romain plays native Ratina – a love interest who looks as authentically Indian as Jean Simmons in The Black Narcissus.

Case and Khan capture a foreign journalist and Case recounts his story of false accusation, instigated by the bigotry and racism of his commanding officers. What then follows is a successful attack by the British against the rebels, during which Case is shot dead by nasty Colonel Drew (Duncan Lamont) – his accuser. This results in the journalist returning back home, to shed light on the true story of the Brigand Of Kandahar.

Still, the frequent battle scenes (on horse as well as in the sand) and competent acting make this film a perfect entertainment for a dreary cold afternoon.