Kim (Saville, 1950) on DVD

Star Review

Rudyard Kipling has been well served by filmmakers. His writing goes in and out of favour with the literary establishment but adaptations like Gunga Din (George Stevens, 1939) and The Man Who Would Be King (John Huston, 1975) are authentic movie classics. Like those distinguished counterparts, Kim is a rip-roaring adventure and a whole lot of fun.
Kim (Dean Stockwell) is a young street urchin with a good heart. When it’s discovered that the little ragamuffin is the son of a British officer, the imperial authorities enrol him in a suitable school. Too free spirited for the strictures of formal education, Kim soon gets into trouble. But while his preference for Indian street life puts him at odds with British society, it means he’s perfect for undercover work and the lad is dispatched on a very dangerous mission...
Anyone who has ever been eleven years old will understand just how irresistible this is: escaping the tiresome obligations of school and responsibility AND proving yourself a hero along the way? Where do I sign up? It’s worth noting the similarities to Harry Potter – everyday kid discovers he has a special heritage which he struggles to live up to. Anthropologists can probably explain all this as ‘archetypes’ and ‘mythos’: the rest of us should just enjoy it as a rattling good adventure.
Especially when it’s a well told as this. Victor Saville paces the yarn beautifully and carefully evokes Kipling’s India (not quite the real thing). It’s a shame that the Indian actor Sabu was too old to play Kim but Dean Stockwell is suitably street-smart and inquisitive in the title role. Errol Flynn gets top billing for a comparatively small part. Those wicked, wicked ways had evidently taken their toll but the famous charisma was intact: he was still the most charming sonofabitch around.
This film was made in another age, of course, and one with rather different values. Contemporary audiences will wince at Europeans blacking up to play Indians (although, in mitigation, India – its culture and people – is treated with respect and dignity). It would be a shame for the film to be condemned for such attitudes because, excepting those, it really is gloriously entertaining.

James Oliver on 7th February 2008

View all 33 of James Oliver’s reviews

[ Show Film Description ]