ROGUE'S MARCH

US, 1953, 84 minutes, Black-and-white.
Peter Lawford, Richard Greene, Janice Rule, Leo G.Carroll, John Abbott, Sean Mc Clory, Michael Pate.
Directed by Allan Davis.


Rogue’s March is a minor MGM feature from the early 1950s, akin in many ways to the stories reworked from Gunga Din as well as The Four Feathers. A few years earlier, a Gunga Did story, Soldiers Three, was filmed by MGM. The main location work, for the battles, was done in the actual Khyber Pass.

Peter Lawford plays a British officer at the turn of the 20th century, and Leo G. Carroll is his Colonel father, being sent to India to quell uprisings, wanting his son to transfer from British Intelligence where, in fact, a spy for the Russians (John Abbott) is passing on secrets and the officer is court-martialed. He escapes from prison, joining the regiment to go to Singapore but which is transferred to India, where he tries to keep his new identity but is found out, imprisoned again, but escapes and helps his friend and rival for his fiancee’s hand (Janice Rule), Richard Greene, to discover stolen ammunition and plans for an attack from the locals. The Russian spy is arrested, tells the truth – with the officer reinstated and a happy marriage on the horizon (and his competitor remarking that he wants to go to execute Cupid).

The title refers to the music played when somebody is drummed out of the army – with a scene and a literal drumming.

The film was a minor production in those days but it is an interesting variation, with expectations fulfilled, on British Empire The Great Game.

1. An entertaining minor film about espionage and uprisings around the Khyber Pass? Similarities to other films of the period?

2. The title, the march for a soldier being dismissed, literally drummed out of the regiment?

3. The location photography at the Khyber Pass for the battle sequences? Authentic feel? The British and their attack? The uprising of the locals, the bombardments?

4. British locations, a sense of London,’s P and O Line, transport to India and Singapore? Bombay, the location headquarters? Musical score?

5. The situation at the turn of the century, Empire, uprisings in India, the Khyber pass? The military presence in India? Civilian presence? Strategies, placement of troops, espionage?

6. Dion, his career, British Intelligence, his assistant, stealing the documents and passing them on, his friendship towards Dion, the cover, cake? Dion and his father, transferring from Intelligence, to the regiment, the plans to go to India? His friendship with Tom, the rivalry for Jane, the dinner, his proposal?

7. The Russians, contacts, Dion’s assistant, taking the documents, wanting to get them back, his presence in the court, incriminating Dion, his wanting to escape, his being murdered?

8. The wharf, Dion being arrested, held, the charges, the court martial, the evidence against him? Imprisoned? His escape?

9. Dion, undercover, jobs in the bar, hearing about Singapore, his new name, enlisting, the friends and the barracks, his being called Sir, considered a snob? The sergeant major and his humiliations, Dion excelling at target practice?

10. On the boat, the transfer to India, in Bombay, his not going out? To the Khyber pass, the train ride? Keeping undercover, his sentry duty, hearing Jane speak? His being arrested, his father believing the evidence? The relationship with Tom? The Irishman, bringing him the drink in the guard room, unlocking the guard?

11. Dion, the plan with Tom being disguised, his attacking him, realising what had happened? Their mission together, over the days, tracking down the locals, the stolen weapons, reporting back? Dion with the troops, the advice to the commander, the strategies, his going to the top of the hill, the advances,
the rout?

12. The arrest of the Russian, his telling the truth, Dion being reinstated, reconciled with his father, Jane always believing him? The wedding – and Tom wanting to execute Cupid?