Song of India ** (1949, Sabu, Gail Russell, Turhan Bey) – Classic Movie Review 11,288

Producer-director Albert S Rogell’s 1949 black and white jungle drama film Song of India stars Sabu and Gail Russell as Prince Ramdar and Princess Tara, who save the animals on their Indian homeland from rotten royal hunters a government-approved hunting expedition, in Columbia Pictures’ silly, but happy, green-minded action adventure.

A good spirit and minor moments of tension enliven the soppy but wholesome story.

Sabu is enjoyable, but deserves better than all these clichés. Turhan Bey has a good time as the villain, young arrogant Indian Prince Gopal, who arrives with his entourage to hunt animals in the forbidden jungle for a zoo.

Also in the cast are Anthony Caruso as Major Doraj, Aminta Dyne as Aunt Shayla, Fritz Leiber as Namaram, Trevor Bardette as Rewa, Robert Barrat as Maharajah of Ramjat, Marilyn Cooper as Princess Tara, David Bond, Rodd Redwing, Ted Hecht, Jay Silverheels, and Jean Wallace.

After two weeks of second unit work, filming started on 19 June 1948.

Columbia Pictures borrowed Gail Russell from Paramount Pictures.

Screenplay by Art Arthur and Kenneth Perkins, from a story by Jerome Odlum.

Sabu Dastagir (born Selar Sabu; 27 January 1924 – 2 December 1963) died suddenly on 2 December 1963 in Chatsworth, California, of a heart attack, a month before his 40th birthday.

On 19 October 1948, Sabu married little-known actress Marilyn Cooper (whose only film part as Princess Tara in Song of India in 1949 was not credited). They had two children and their marriage lasted until his death.

His wife revealed that two days before his death, his doctor told him after a routine medical check: ‘If all my patients were as healthy as you, I would be out of a job.’

Their son Paul Sabu established the rock band Sabu in the 1980s. Their daughter Jasmine Sabu was an animal trainer for films.

© Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 11,288

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