This dashing adventure film of problems around the north-west frontier to Afghanistan completely overshadows "Captain King of the Khyber Rifles" with Tyrone Power two years earlier, which was a bore compared to this flamboyant action adventure of mostly extensive battles with rifles and swords and overwhelmingly impressive dance numbers and scenes, one of the dancing ladies even being Anita Ekberg, who actually performs some belly dancing here; but that is far from the only excellent ballet sequences, one of them even with swords, feigning an execution in preparation for it. Victor Mature is the leading figure, outlawed by the king his father for having had a love affair with his father's wife, Anita Ekberg, who also is appropriately banished and almost executed. Victor Mature was supposed to be executed as well, but an old holy man (Finlay Currie) saved him and will save more lives, before he himself is accidentally killed. Michael Wilding is the leading British soldier, who with his troops is hunting Victor Mature as a gang leader in the mountains, and they meet a few times, actually rescuing each other's lives occasionally. The most interesting detail of the film is the mutual gentlemanly behaviour of these two enemies, both seeking the death of the other, but both reaching some mutual understanding and respect, especially when all is lost. Like all Terence Young's films, the intrigue is rather complicated, made more difficult to follow by efficient action direction, like also in his later Bond films, but at the same time very intelligent. It's an enjoyable film for the great adventure, the action, the flamboyant colours and scenery and the very extensive battle scenes, altogether actually making it deserving of a full score appreciation.
