I say, old chaps! Pip pip, tally-ho and all that, wot?
That's right, it's time to announce the British Empire Blogathon, hosted by the mad genius who dreamed up the idea in the first place, Clayton at Phantom Empires, and yours truly. We thought it was high time we sally forth into the world of blogathons with one of our own, and we'd like to invite like-minded fellow bloggers to join in the fun.
We love these movies, from beloved classics like Gunga Din, Zulu, The Charge of the Light Brigade and Kim, to less well-known titles like North West Frontier, Bhowani Junction, and King of the Khyber Rifles. We know we're not alone in our regard for these stories of high adventure and stiff-upper-lip heroism.
No duplicates, please - but different versions of the same films are OK.
Films made pre-1980, with bonus karma points for those filmed while the empire was still in existence.
The event is scheduled for November 14 - 17. If you would like to submit an entry (or more! Don't be shy), please let us know by leaving a comment on this post below, or the similar announcement here at Phantom Empires. You can also feel free to use our contact forms here (for Clayton) or here (for me).
Please include the title and link to your blog, contact information and of course the title of the film(s) you'd like to cover. We also ask that you include a link to this post and Clayton's in your review, and to use one of the event banners included in this post on your website to help promote the blogathon.
We think this event will prove a jolly good time. Thank you and we look forward to your posts!
Jeff, this is a unique challenge — pre-1980 films set in and around the British Empire. I'll have to give it some thought. In case I do come up with something I'll let you know in advance. I'd enjoy participation in this event..
Sounds great, Prashant! We'd love your input. Take your time and let us know what film you decide upon. Thanks for joining in!
Hi Jeff - on the other site I suggested both THE LETTER (1941) and A PASSAGE TO INDIA but that's from 1984, so maybe just the Bette Davis movie - would that OK?
THE LETTER sounds like a winner, Sergio! A PASSAGE TO INDIA is a wonderful film, but a bit past the 1980 cut-off date. Thanks so much for joining the blogathon!
Fun! May I please sign up for Black Narcissus?
Hi Kendra! Ir's yours! Welcome to the blogathon!
May I write about THE AFRICAN QUEEN (1951)?
Hello, Margaret! We'd love for you to join the blogathon, but I'm afraid we both find THE AFRICAN QUEEN - while being a terrific movie - not quite fitting into the theme of the event. If you can think of another film that you'd like to cover that fits the more into the "British Empire" remit, we'll gladly sign you up right away.
But the whole point of the movie is that they decide to sink the Louisa because they consider themselves British subjects and must fight for Britian even though they've lived in the colonies for years. I don't know how this could NOT be considered a film about the British Empire! If you look on most lists compiling movies are about the British Empire, AQ is right at the top.
I'd like to join in with a look at 1936s "The Last of the Mohicans".
Great choice, Caftan Woman! Looking forward to what you have to say about that film.
Great idea for a blogathon! Looks like you already have a great line-up.
Thanks for checking in, Raquelle! As Clayton says, we'd love more contributors. You'd be most welcome to join in if you have a mind to. There are plenty of other titles no one's yet claimed. Clayton has a good starter list at his page at www.phantomempires.weebly.com which should give you some further ideas.
Hi Jeff and Clayton: I'd like to do Universal's THE SUN NEVER SETS (1939), a gonzo Imperialist film with Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Basil Rathbone, Lionel Atwill and C. Aubrey Smith. With a title like that, Smith better be in it.
Great choice, Kevin! How have I not even HEARD of this movie? Welcome aboard!
Err...Kevin, where can one find this obviously perfect film???
Clayton, I taped it off AMC many years ago. I still have a functioning VHS player. tried the tape and it still plays. It shares a tape with another Fairbanks THE FIGHTING O'FLYNN, yet another gem that has yet to receive a proper home video release.
Astounding good luck, sir! I think it's already my favourite film, though I've yet to see it! The cast and the synopsis alone makes it 135% my kind of thing...and I had no clue! I found it on a grey market DVD source, though, so you've made my decade! I'll wait until the Blogathon to watch it!
fit the genre as it's a Foreign Legion flick,in color and Superscope.
Aussie Ron Randell playing an upper class English twit.
with Louis Hayward and Veronica Hurst and shot in L.A.!
Great to hear from you, John K.! I always love reading your comments at Colin's, :Laura's and Toby's blogs. You've got a real encyclopaedic knowledge of (and passion for) westerns and adventure films in particular.
Thanks for the info re: DESERT SANDS and ROYAL AFRICAN RIFLES...those are both films that I've never seen. They sound great (just looking at the cast list for DESERT SANDS is enough to grab my interest). I would think ROYAL AFRICAN RIFLES would certainly fit the blogathon criteria, though you might be right re: DESERT SANDS perhaps being iffy, due to its genre and time period. I can well imagine that my pal Clayton would be interested in hosting a Foreign Legion Film blogathon at some point down the road, though.
Thanks again for the comment and hope to see you around here when the mood strikes you in the future!
I just got ROYAL AFRICAN RIFLES fom a grey market dealer recently! It's a reasonable print. There's a clip from it on Youtube.
A Foreign Legion Blogathon would be a tight one access-wise for most, but an excellent ideer!
I will certainly try to join in more in the fun here in the future.
in London where Veronica Hurst was the guest speaker.
She looked terrific and had many interesting stories to tell.
Warner Brothers.....the bain of my life.
Anyway Jeff thank you so much for your most kind words.
KING OF THE KHYBER RIFLES with Lone Pine standing in for the Northwest Frontier.
and KILLERS OF KILIMANJARO (1959) The latter was also known as Adamson Of Africa.
and even more so in the later WHITE MISCHIEF (1987) which sadly is outside the given time-frame.
Hello again, John! Thanks for the information on Veronica Hurst, and especially for introducing some further titles for the blogathon...was aware of BENGAL BRIGADE but not KHYBER PATROL, and ZARAK is an excellent choice that completely slipped my mind. CONDUCT UNBECOMING is also an inspired choice. WHITE MISCHIEF is indeed a fine movie but, as you say, outside the time limit for this event.
Thanks so much for your informative comments!
I would like to submit a rather wonderful film for this from the Alexander Korda stable, "THE DRUM" (1938) starring Sabu, Raymond Massey (playing the rotter of course), Roger Livesey ( as the wonderfully-named Capt. Carruthers!) and Valerie Hobson.
A perfect example of a film about the British Empire and one to savour and enjoy.
If that sounds satisfactory to you, please let me know. And thanks for the comment!
I don't have a website, Jeff, so if it could be submitted as a "guest" post here that would be great. Thanks.
When would you want to receive a piece by??
Have read all of the above with great enjoyment -- and thanks to you and John for the kind mentions of my site!
Has anyone else signed up for KING OF THE KHYBER RIFLES yet? I'm a huge Tyrone Power fan but have not yet seen it, and I have a Fox Movie Channel recording. I've not yet seen it so am assuming it's appropriate just based on the mention at the top of the page, LOL. Please let me know if that title's still free. Thanks!
Funny thing, I'm finally seeing Tyrone in PONY SOLDIER for the O Canada! blogathon next month!
Hi Laura! Great to hear from you!
KING OF THE KHYBER RIFLES was just standing idly by, waiting for you to claim it...it's yours! A very fun movie, can't wait to hear what you have to say about it!
Thanks so much for joining our blogathon!
Wonderful idea for a blogathon. Would Lawrence of Arabia fit the bill. If so, I would like to do that.
Welcome, Minoo! Sure, we'd be happy to have you discuss LAWRENCE OF ARABIA - one of the greatest movies of all time! - for the blogathon. Thanks for joining in!
John K. - Sorry to reply to your last comment so belatedly. Clayotn and I did consider films like BOTANY BAY, but as a large part of it takes place on board a sailing vessel, it sort of fell between the two stools of Empire and naval adventure. We're planning on hosting a "Seven Seas" blogathon next year, so maybe we can fit the Ladd film in then (not that we'd rule it out for the British Empire blogathon if someone offered to cover it). I must plead ignorance concerning ADAM'S WOMEN, but it certainly looks promising.
This sounds like it could be fun. If I'd found out about it sooner I probably could have contributed a few things. Unfortunately I know that in November things often get really hectic for me between essay assignments and exam preparation (the ironic thing about being a film student is that it often becomes really hard to find time to watch movies). so I don't know I'd be able to find time to watch anything letalone write about it. These review based blogathons can be fun but I've found they're easier to participate in during the Summer when I have more free time.
Trust me, John, I hear you about this time of year being hectic! I completely understand about having a lack of time to commit to writing a post, but if you do decide to change your mind, feel free to chime in at any time during the event.
Thanks for the invite to your "Voyage to the stars" blogathon...I'll check it out later and see if it's feasible for my time schedule.
Thanks for the link Jeff - I think the blogathon is going splendid well - congrats to you and Clayton, great fun!
Cheers for taking part, Sergio!