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The Lives of a Bengal Lancer
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The Lives of a Bengal Lancer is a 1935 (loose) adaptation of Francis Yeats-Brown's memoir of the same name. The film was directed by Henry Hathaway and stars Gary Cooper, Franchot Tone, Richard Cromwell and Guy Standing. Although a thoroughly British story, Cooper, Tone and Cromwell were all Americans, and Tone was the only who even tried to pull off a British accent, with Cooper playing a "Scotch-Canadian" (Scots today will point out that "Scotch" refers to a beverage) and Cromwell playing a half-American who grew up in the United States. The film was shot entirely in Southern California and was a critical and commercial hit. The popularity of the film kicked off a wave of imperial adventure films, including The Charge of the Light Brigade, Gunga Din, The Four Feathers and The Real Glory, which all involved white men, usually British, maintaining order against rebellious brown natives. The idea of a few white men controlling 300 million Indians made the film a favorite of Adolf Hitler, who made it required watching for the SS. The film also gave the world the now clichéd (and misquoted) threat of "we have ways of making you talk," a threat made by Douglass Dumbrille as villain Mohammed Khan. His actual quote was "We have ways of making men talk."
The following weapons were used in the film The Lives of a Bengal Lancer:
Handguns
Webley Mk VI
The only handgun seen in the film is a Webley Mk VI, which is used by British officers, and at least one of the rebels.
Rifles/Carbines
Short Magazine Lee-Enfield
The enlisted men of the 41st Bengal Lancers are armed with Short Magazine Lee-Enfield rifles. Some rebels are also seen using captured SMLEs.
1893 Spanish Mauser
Some of the rebels are armed with 1893 Spanish Mauser rifles.
Mosin Nagant M1891
Some of the rebels are armed with Mosin Nagant M1891 rifles.
M1903 Springfield
Some of the rebels are armed with M1903 Springfield rifles.
Machine Guns
Vickers MK1 Machine Gun
Vickers MK1 Machine Guns are seen throughout the film. Lieutenant Alan McGregor fires one from the hip during the climax.
Lewis Gun
A rebel fires a Lewis Gun during the assault on their base.
Maxim MG08
In a possible continuity error, the Bengal Lancers display an Maxim MG08.
Trivia
Khyber Pass copies
In Mohammed Khan's (Douglass Dumbrille) camp, McGregor sees local gunsmiths produce Khyber Pass copies.
