The Brigand of Kandahar *** (1965, Ronald Lewis, Oliver Reed, Duncan Lamont) – Classic Movie Review 8474

‘His Plundering Army of Bandit Raiders Sweeps to Glory Across the Plains of India!’ Hammer Films studios recast a rather handsome young Oliver Reed, star of their The Pirates of Blood River (1962) and The Scarlet Blade (1963), as war chieftain Ali Khan in The Brigand of Kandahar (1965), another entertainingly toshy historical costume drama with easy-going appeal to young adventure seeking audiences. All three films are written and directed by John Gilling.

This is the one about the bothersome brigands versus the Bengal Brits in 1850s India at the British outpost of Fort Kandahar on the North West frontier of India in 1850. Ronald Lewis plays the disgraced mixed race British Lieutenant Case, who is cashiered by the army, and, disguised as a native, enlists in Ali Khan (Reed)’s brigand band, fighting his creepy nemesis Colonel Drewe (Duncan Lamont).

Also in the cast are Yvonne Romain as Ratina, Glyn Huston as Marriott, Katherine [Catherine] Woodville as Elsa, Inigo Jackson as Captain Boyd, Sean Lynch as Rattu, Walter Brown, Jeremy Burnham, Caron Gardner, Joe Powell, Henry Davies, John Southworth, John Maxim, and James Payne.

The Brigand of Kandahar is directed by John Gilling, runs 81 minutes, is made by Columbia Pictures and Hammer Films, is released by Columbia Pictures, is written by John Gilling, is shot in Eastman Color by Reginald H Wyer [Reg Wyer], is produced by Anthony Nelson Keys and is scored by Don Banks, with Production Design by Bernard Robinson.

It was shot at The Elstree Studios of Associated British Picture Corporation, Hertfordshire, England.

Houston was injured by a stuntman who hit him over the head with a rifle while shooting a fight scene.

Close Up by John Fraser.

Welsh actor Ronald Lewis (1928–1982) was known as an aggressive and unstable man, with a history of violence towards others, including women. He mounted an unprovoked homophobic attack on fellow actor John Fraser during the Indian location filming of The Wind Cannot Read (1958), smashing his jaw.

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 8474

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