
Apocalypse Now
1979
In India, Toomai, a young mahout, helps lead the British on a large expedition to round up wild elephants.
John Pommer
Rham Lahl
Toomai
Petersen
Machua Appa
Toomai's Father
Hunter
6/20/2022
6/10
This has something of a documentary about it as Sabu portrays the young "Toomai" - the "Elephant Boy" based on the Rudyard Kipling story published in 1893. When an elephant goes on the rampage, only the young boy - the son and grandson of a mahout - can calm it down and in so doing attracts the attention of the leader of a hunting party "Petersen" (Walter Hudd) who agrees to take him on a hunt. What now ensues is a series of adventures that cause the boy to grow up quickly - and sometimes quite harshly. It's one of those films that rather glorifies the Raj and objectifies the local population, but having been filmed on the private reserve of the Maharajah of Mysore, the photography and authenticity of the story helps give it extra credence that, perhaps, the rather banal dialogue compromises. Sabu used to be the Maharajah's stable boy, so if nothing else the film serves as an excellent springboard for this charming and engaging young actor to get to Hollywood. Interestingly ironic that is was nominated for the "Mussolini Cup" in 1937.... I would not call this an exciting film to watch but it is - of it's time - an interesting one.
1979
1984
1984
1950
1932
1993
1931
1932
1962
1945
1940
1962
1966
1975
2001
1919
1956
1946
1973
2023