The movie is about a Hindu water carrier called ‘Gunga Din’. Since childhood he always wanted to be in the army. He was not allowed and this fact never bothered as he learnt the tricks of army by observing the soldiers carefully. He gets friendly with Sgt Cutter and also tells him about the gold which can be taken back from a Kali temple. Parallely, there is an uprising of a religious group under the leadership of Swami, played by Eduardo Ciannelli.
The group had previously attacked many such regiments at different villages and now they had made arrangements to eliminate the British army in that area.
I am not comfortable to use the technical word for such groups. Although, in English and in the movie they are referred to as ‘Thuggees’, I am not going to use the word. Its a perception and since it was during the British rule, often such groups were branded as enemies and not seen as patriots.


George Stevens in a periodic movie to some extent displays his taste for humour showcases army staff enjoying a good laugh as they went about waging wars. Joan Fontaine plays the sole female in few scenes and fails to capture the audience in a bland role. Sam Jaffe in the title role impresses with his tailor made acting of a Hindu water carrier.
“Tho’ I’ve belted you and flayed you, by the livin’ Gawd that made you, you’re a better man than I am, Gunga Din!” – Rudyard Kipling, last line of his highly acclaimed poem of the same name. Released in 1939, RKO productions made this movie which was the costliest at that time. Considering the war scenes and sets resembling rural India the movie was aptly nominated for and Oscar in the Best Cinematography Black and White category.