The Brigand of Kandahar

Starring: Ronald Lewis, Oliver Reed, Duncan Lamont, Yvonne Romain, Katherine Woodville, Glyn Houston

Synopsis:

At Fort Kandahar, half-caste officer Robert Case (Ronald Lewis) returns from a reconnaissance mission with news that his companion Captain Connelly (Jeremy Burnham) has been captured and probably killed by tribal bandits. The commander of the fort, Colonel Drewe (Duncan Lamont), is angered that Case didn't go back to help his stricken companion and his fury is fuelled further when he learns that Case has been having an affair with Connelly's wife, Elsa (Katherine Woodville). Suspicions mount amongst the officers that Case may have deliberately allowed the capture of Connelly in order to "clear the way" for his illicit romance with Elsa. Case is arrested and found guilty on a trumped-up charge of cowardice. He escapes from his cell and flees into the hills, where he joins up with the local bandits, led by the mad and violent Eli Khan (Oliver Reed). From here, he plans to have revenge against the British officers that have poisoned his name and reputation…

Review

The Brigand of Kandahar is one of two recently restored, “lost” films from the Hammer canon. Both this and The Scarlet Blade share a lot in common – both are written and directed by John Gilling, both co-star a young Oliver Reed and neither film is of the horror genre for which Hammer’s name is synonymous with.The Brigand of Kandahar is a reasonably colourful tale of betrayal and revenge set during Britain’s occupation of India.

Robert Case returns from patrol alone, his fellow officer Captain Conelly captured by a notorious bandit leader called Eli Khan and presumed dead. Not only does Case’s superior officer accuse him of cowardice for not attempting a rescue (and likely dying in the process), but his lover, and Connelly’s wife, accuses him of indirectly killing her husband so he can have her all to himself.

Case is rescued from prison by his servant Rattu (Sean Lynch), who is actually a loyal servant of Eli Khan. Case is easily recruited into Khan’s ranks although he demands that future prisoners are given respect and civilians will be unharmed. Khan was educated in England, and is a little on the mad side. Oliver Reed plays him in as a rather cartoonish villain at times, but his scenes with Case are very good.

Case is an interesting “hero” in that he has no qualms about switching sides. He feels severely betrayed by the British, especially Colonel Drewe whom he vows to kill. At Khan’s camp he encounters Capt Conelly, still alive but barely – injured with one arm and one eye out of commission, he is forced to work a treadmill in a pit. Case’s instinct is to kill Conelly to put him out of his misery, but is refused to do so by khan.

About halfway through the film we are introduced to a new character, a war correspondent called Marriot, who hears some rumours from the officers that Case’s court martial was a whitewash and brought up on trumped up charges. He also is able to deduce that Case was having an affair with Conelly’s wife. He accompanies a patrol which is attacked by Khan’s men and he comes face to face with Case, and becomes the film’s only voice of reason.

Verdict

The Brigand of Kandahar is an interesting and entertaining film, but definitely a “b” movie. Other than a great performance from Oliver Reed, the acting isn’t much to write home about. There are some great scenes though, and an ending which avoids the obvious.

6 out of 10 (MikeOutWest)

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