Ironically, Tyrone Power was more believable playing a full-blooded Indian doctor in 1939's THE RAINS CAME than as a ‘half-caste’ British officer in this early CinemaScope colonial epic. Put the disparity down to the pull of Golden Age studio æsthetic, the natural abstraction of b&w cinematography and Power’s youthful dazzle. Post WWII, shifting body mass & thickening features (along with Deluxe color prints) add an unwelcome realism, spoiling the illusion. Behind him, a strong production and a classic story line help (only this half-caste can possibly stop a local uprising), while lenser Leon Shamroy nails frame & horizon in the early ultra-WideScreen process and Bernard Herrmann’s score fills in missing emotions. Even sedate megger Henry King finds a stately swagger to his pace (look for a really nice bit of scary special effects weather in the desert), but is ultimately defeated by two badly miscast roles: Goy Rolfe’s swarthily painted Brit as the ‘mad’ Indian khan trying to grab power, and Terry Moore as Power’s love interest. Daughter to Michael Rennie’s sympathetic commanding officer, this reckless Lawrencian object of desire is too much the All-American teen. This one’s best around the edges.
SCREWY THOUGHT OF THE DAY: Why does Ty Power always look shorter than he actually was? Nearly 6', he looks about as tall as height-challenged Tom Cruise. (Here, he’s got to compete with Rennie & Rolfe, each of them standing 6'4".)
DOUBLE-BILL: As mentioned above, THE RAINS CAME. (see below)
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