THE DRUM
1938

MEN BATTLE FOR THEIR LIVES... WOMEN FIGHT FOR THEIR LOVE... IN A MIGHTY SAGA OF CONQUEST ON INDIA'S FRONTIER

Born Sabu Dastagir in 1924, Sabu was employed in the Maharaja of Mysore's stables when he was discovered by Korda's company and set before the cameras. His first four films (ELEPHANT BOY-1937, THE DRUM-1938, THE THIEF OF BAGDAD-1940, JUNGLE BOOK-1942) were his best and he found himself working out of Hollywood when they were completed. 

A good adventure yarn. The plot borrows elements from the real life killing of Sir Louis Cavagnari and his party years earlier in Afghanistan. In reality British and colonial forces were actively engaged in military operations in Waziristan at the time of the making of this film.

PLOT
During the British Raj, Captain Carruthers works under cover to track smuggled 
shipments of arms on the restless Northwest Frontier. He fears a full-scale rebellion is brewing. To forestall this, the British governor signs a treaty with the friendly, 
peace-loving ruler of Tokot, a key kingdom in the region, which is described as four days' march northward from Peshawar. Meanwhile, the king's son, Prince Azim (Sabu), befriends Carruthers and a British drummer boy, who teaches him how to play the instrument. However, the king's brother, Prince Ghul wants to usurp the throne and throw the British out of the region. The young Prince of Tokot finds his life has suddenly become very dangerous when he's forced to flee his usurping uncle and accept protection from the British.

CAST
Sabu ... Prince Azim
Raymond Massey... Prince Ghul
Roger Livesey ... Capt. Carruthers
Valerie Hobson ... Mrs. Carruthers
David Tree ... Lieut. Escott
Desmond Tester ... Bill Holder
Francis L. Sullivan ... Governor
Archibald Batty ... Major Bond
Frederick Culley ... Dr.Murphy
Amid Taftazani ... Mohammed Khan
Laurence Baskcomb ... Zarullah
Roy Emerton ... Wafadar
Martin Harvey ... Mullah
Martin Walker ... Herrick
Ronald Adam ... Major Gregoff

Director: Zoltan Korda

RUNNING TIME: 104 MINUTES