Storm over Bengal
Cast & Crew
Sidney Salkow
Patric Knowles
Richard Cromwell
Rochelle Hudson
Douglas Dumbrille
Colin Tapley
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
In India, British Lieutenant Neil Allison has fallen in love with his brother Jeffrey's fiancée, Joan Lattimore. Meanwhile, the dying Maharajah of Lhanapur is prevented by his aides from learning of plans to overthrow the British under the leadership of Ramin Kahn. To further his cause, Kahn offers a large reward for Jeff, who is the most renowned captain in the British army. Unknown to Kahn, Jeff has infiltrated his camp, disguised as a holy man, and escapes in the middle of the night. Returning to his fort, Jeff is happy to learn that Joan and Neil are both there, but has to tell them that just after the wedding, Joan has to leave for her own safety. This particularly angers Neil, who has always been under his brother's shadow. Before the wedding can take place, Jeff is sent on an important mission to see the dying Maharajah and get his permission to send British troops to Lhanapur. As the Maharajah signs the documents, Kahn enters his bedroom and tries to take Jeff prisoner, but Jeff briefly breaks free and gives the document to fellow officer Hallett, who then flies away, but is wounded in the escape. Kahn takes Jeff with him, a fact which is reported by Hallett at the fort, just before he dies. Though Neil is not a licensed pilot, his air training is sufficient to let him fly a plane to warn the British troops of an ambush, while at Kahn's camp, Kahn tries to force Jeff to broadcast a false message over his radio, but Jeff refuses. After sighting his troops, Neil crash lands his plane and is killed, but the message to their commander, Col. Torrance, is found and the British are prepared for the attack by Kahn. As the battle rages, Jeff breaks free and broadcasts his own message to the British, then blows up Kahn's arsenal of ammunition and escapes just in time to join his regiment, which is victorious. With peace restored to the region, Jeff and Joan look forward to their marriage, knowing that Neil was responsible for the victory.
Director
Sidney Salkow
Cast
Patric Knowles
Richard Cromwell
Rochelle Hudson
Douglas Dumbrille
Colin Tapley
Gilbert Emery
Douglas Walton
Halliwell Hobbes
John Burton
Pedro De Cordoba
Clyde Cook
Claude Allister
Edward Van Sloan
Dorothy Tree
Crew
Cy Feuer
Phil Ford
Howard Lydecker
John Victor Mackay
Ernest Miller
William Morgan
Irene Saltern
Armand Schaefer
Murray Seldeen
Dudley Waters
Al Wilson
Film Details
Technical Specs
Award Nominations
Best Score
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
The film's working title was Bengal Lancer Patrol. Although Garret Fort was credited with the story and adaptation by New York Times and Variety, his name was not on the film or official studio billing sheets. The Screen Achievements Bulletin form, however, shows that Fort's name was removed from the credits on October 27, 1938. A letter from Republic Pictures dated September 28, 1938, which is contained in the AMPAS library file on the film, requested that Dorothy Tree and Guy Bellis' names be removed from cast lists and Pedro de Cordoba and Edward Van Sloan be added. Though Tree was identified in the film's viewing print, Bellis' part could not be confirmed and he May not have appeared in the final version of the picture. Several contemporary reviews pointed out that the film seemed to invite comparison with Paramount's 1935 hit Lives of a Bengal Lancer, (in which Richard Cromwell, Douglas Dumbrille and Colin Tapley also acted) but that the quality of Republic's offering was not as high. Music director Cy Feuer was nominated for an Academy Award in the Music (Scoring) category.
Miscellaneous Notes
Released in United States 1938
Released in United States 1938
