The Four Feathers (1939)

Set in 1895, a Lieutenant (John Clements) in the Royal North Surrey Regiment is called to active service during the Mahdist war against the forces of the Khalifa. Unhappy in the military which he joined only because it was expected of him by his career army father (Allan Jeayes), he resigns. He is branded a coward because of this by not only his army peers but by the woman (June Duprez) he loves. He sets out to prove them wrong. Based on the novel by A.E.W. Mason (previously filmed in 1915, 1921 and 1929) and directed by Zoltan Korda (THE MACOMBER AFFAIR). Considered the best of its many film adaptations (it was filmed again in 1955, 1978 and 2002), I couldn't warm up to the British Empire colonialism the film and novel seems to revere so much. The 2002 version was more revisionist but I didn't much care for that one either. But it's a handsome looking movie, shot in the three strip Technicolor process and filmed on authentic locations in Northeast Africa. If you can get past the stuffy colonial aspect, it's a moderately entertaining adventure movie. My lack of enthusiasm is my own, most films buffs love the film. With Ralph Richardson, C. Aubrey Smith, Donald Gray and Frederick Culley.