THE BRIGAND OF KANDAHAR (1965, starring Ronald Lewis and Oliver Reed)

This production is a little off the beaten track in terms of the type of film Hammer Studios normally produced. It’s not a horror film or even a thriller. Rather it’s an adventure story about British Imperialism in the Northwest Frontier of India in the 19th-Century.

Welsh actor Ronald Lewis is a half-caste British soldier who is accused of cowardice but is actually a victim of prejudice. He is driven from the British fortress at Kandahar and takes up with an evil group of rebels, led by Oliver Reed in his last role for Hammer (he did a number of films for them early in his career).

Reed is probably the best thing in the film. He is heavily made up and costumed but he still gives the film some life as a ‘mad’ Indian whose sadism and evil intentions are supposed to epitomize the sort of resistance the English faced in their attempts to colonize India.

Reed thought this was the worst film he made for Hammer, but I found him at least interesting and unafraid to be flamboyant in a part that called for flamboyance. Ronald Lewis wasn’t bad but appeared to be uncomfortable under all his make-up, perhaps a victim of miscasting.

The British commander, Colonel Drewe (Duncan Lamont) was thoroughly despicable, making it hard to sympathize with the English as the ‘good guys’. This was an interesting perspective for 1965.

While the film has its detractors, I found it quite exciting, with a good battle near the end. Of course there are some cheap-looking sets and other evidences of a budget-conscious Hammer production, but it still has style, thanks to director John Gilling, who would go on to make some excellent horror films for Hammer including THE REPTILE and THE MUMMY’S SHROUD.

Like so many of the films that are available through Belle&Blade, this genre has a built-in audience who will be inclined to like most films of this type, so long as they are sincere in their efforts to entertain and are not too tight-fisted with their budgets. The print quality is so-so, as this was taken from television and is not a studio release. THE BRIGAND OF KANDAHAR is beautifully shot in colour and would look glorious in a studio release. In the meantime, we can thank Steve Mormando at Belle&Blade for making this film available to collectors and fans of Hammer films and the period adventure genre.

Despite the fact this is not the best film made by Hammer or about the British in India, it is still entertaining and has moments of genuine excitement. Check out their online catalogue at www.belleandblade.com

Jon Ted Wynne