KIM

US, 1984, 135 minutes, Colour.
Ravi Sheth, Peter O' Toole, Bryan Brown, John Rhys Davies, Julian Glover.
Directed by John Davies.

Kim is a colourful remake of the 1951 version of Rudyard Kipling's novel which starred Dean Stockwell, Errol Flynn and Paul Lukas. This time there is more attention to the Lama who is played by Peter O' Toole. Mahboob is played by Bryan Brown.

The film is colourful, uses Indian locations and has a sense of period. The running time is longer than the original film which allows for an amount of action. The film is colourful entertainment.

1. Enjoyable action adventure?

2. The background of India in the 19th. century, the British Empire, the role of the Britons in India, the Indians and independence, mutinies, loyalties?

3. The world of Rudyard Kipling, the popularity of his stories? The blend of action ingredients with the atmosphere of the British Empire?

4. The portrait of Kim: the orphan. the Indian and British heritage, his life as a thief, his friendship with Mahboob Ali? His friendship with the lama, becoming his disciple? The question of his identity? His having to go to school, clashes with the staff and the other boys? The military training? Training in espionage? Adventures, carrying the message, imprisoned, hypnotism, being rescued? An Anglo-Indian? hero?

5. Peter O' Toole's performance as the Lama: the religious man, his religious beliefs, pilgrimage, vision? A sense of vision and mission? Prayer? Care for Kim, Kim being his disciple? People's respect? The travels, the dangers?

6. Mahboob Ali as adventurer hero, rogue, cavalier attitudes and behaviour? - and women? The horses? Friendship with Kim? Contacts, an agent? Moving in and out of Kim's experience? The rescue?

7. The background of British Intelligence, the Secret Service, espionage and the Great Game? The presence of the Russians? The Khyber Pass and communications? The Russians and their cover? The exposure of the Russians?

8. War amongst the tribes, the troops' presence, contacts? Rebellious tribes, the collaboration with the Russians, the Khyber Pass?

9. The gallery of British characters? Military, espionage. aristocracy? The gallery of Indian characters: leaders, traders, ordinary people?

10. The popularity in film of British Empire adventures?