This is a movie I've watched at least a time or two, decades ago, that I recall not enjoying (for whatever reason[s] I've since forgotten) or getting any extent of in to. A bit surprising, as I'm a lifelong fan of the Kordas brothers' fine productions, plus a lifelong fan of always-terrific Ralph Richardson and C. Aubrey Smith.

I'm thinking it's the cast otherwise that didn't click with me.

@genplant29 said:

This is a movie I've watched at least a time or two, decades ago, that I recall not enjoying (for whatever reason[s] I've since forgotten) or getting any extent of in to. A bit surprising, as I'm a lifelong fan of the Kordas brothers' fine productions, plus a lifelong fan of always-terrific Ralph Richardson and C. Aubrey Smith.

I'm thinking it's the cast otherwise that didn't click with me.

Same here, it definitely took me a while to get into, but I forced myself to like it because I bought the Criterion blu-ray 😅

Aside from the issue I mentioned above, I had a hard time figuring out who we’re supposed to be rooting for. John Clements is the protagonist which made Ralph Richardson seem like the villain at first, since his first few scenes show him sulking as the jilted rival for the lady’s affections, then insulting our hero for cowardice. So it was hard for me to have sympathy for Richardson’s character when things went wrong on the battlefield. Add to my confusion the fact that our hero was in disguise for most of the film, so it was hard to feel any emotion for him either.

But Ralph Richardson’s performance of being blind was really amazing, and he finally won me over. Then I figured out that they’re all comrades, no hard feelings or rivalry. Who knows, maybe that fakeout was the intent, but it was just kinda disorienting.

Probably could use a 2nd viewing!

@rooprect said:

But why does this story keep getting remade? I count 6 times, as recently as 2002. Haven't audiences cooled off to British colonialism the same way Americans have cooled off toward cowboy & Indian films?

Rooprect, now that is not fair. You have piqued my interest with that statement but you have left no list.

I want the list.

Per Wikipedia, there's been:

1915 (US), 1921 (UK), 1929 (US), 1939 (UK), 1955 (UK), 1978 (UK), and 2002 (US).

Thank you, genplant.

Interesting that the British 1939 version was filmed in colour, considering-- at least from what I understand --there was a severe shortage of (already rare) colour film stock in the U.K. during the 1930s.

Rooprect, you are absolved.;)

@northcoast said:

Thank you, genplant.

Interesting that the British 1939 version was filmed in colour, considering-- at least from what I understand --there was a severe shortage of (already rare) colour film stock in the U.K. during the 1930s.

Rooprect, you are absolved.;)

😂 Nice to know I can drop a questionable factoid and @genplant29 has my back! (Usually I can count on @bratface as the truth police but it must be a busy week…)

I didn’t think about how hard it was to get colour stock in UK 1930s but you’re right. I think that’s a large part of the film’s appeal, I can’t think of too many (actually any) UK films in colour at that time.

Here are a few color films made in the UK in the 30s (there are probably many more):

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knowing_Men

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio_Parade_of_1935#Production_background_and_preservation_status

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pagliacci_(1936_film)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wings_of_the_Morning_(1937_film)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mikado_(1939_film)

Here is a list of early color feature films:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_early_color_feature_films#List_of_films

Here is an interesting article about the use of 'colour' film in the UK:

https://www.bfi.org.uk/features/glorious-adventure-colour-films-britain