North West Frontier (1959)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Director:

J. Lee Thompson

Writers:

Robin Estridge (screenplay)
Patrick Ford (story)

Release Date:

9 September 1960 (Finland)

Genre:

Adventure | Drama

Plot:

In British India, a young prince must be taken to safey across rebel-held territory, and an old train is the only way to do it.

Plot Keywords:

Prince | Train | India | British Army | British Empire

Awards:

Nominated for 3 BAFTA Film Awards.

Cast

Kenneth More	...	Capt. Scott
Lauren Bacall	...	Catherine Wyatt
Herbert Lom	...	Van Layden
Wilfrid Hyde-White	...	Bridie (as Wilfrid Hyde White)
I.S. Johar	...	Gupta
Ursula Jeans	...	Lady Windham
Eugene Deckers	...	Peters
Ian Hunter	...	Sir John Wyndham
Jack Gwillim	...	Brig. Ames
Govind Raja Ross	...	Prince Kishan
Basil Hoskins	...	Aide-de-camp
S.M. Asgaralli	...	Havildar - 1st Indian Soldier
S.S. Chowdhary	...	2nd Indian Soldier
Moultrie Kelsall	...	Brittish Correspondent
Lionel Murton	...	American Correspondent

Also Known As:

Flame Over India (USA)

Runtime:

129 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Iceland:L | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | UK:U

Filming Locations:

Pinewood Studios, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Company:

Rank Organisation, The

Trivia:

Average Shot Length = ~6.9 seconds. Median Shot Length = ~6 seconds.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: In one shot near the end of the film, while the insurgents are attacking the train, the shadow of the camera helicopter is clearly visible on the ground.

Quotes:

Bridie: It seems a bit extreme to me locking him up like that, after all what can he do?
Catherine Wyatt: The idea of locking him up is so that we don't have to find out what he can do, Mr. Bridie.
Bridie: I don't suppose he's even got anything to read.

A Pleasant Surprise

I taped this movie simply because it co-starred Lauren Bacall, and while I expected the movie to be good, it far exceeded my expectations. North West Frontier, is a terrifically paced, exciting adventure. Bacall co-stars as a governess who must escort a young heir to the Hindu throne through a cross country Indian battlefield. Helping her to do this is a British solider and a random assortment of civilians along for the ride. Herbert Lom is wonderfully creepy - but I won't say why. Definately a movie to check out.