Has anybody seen this Hammer film about the activities of the Thugee cult in India? I hear that Marie Devereux was one of the bustiest of any of the busty actors that worked with the company. And, is the controversial history of the Thugee cult keeping the film from having a DVD release in America - or is it just not too good?
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Stranglers of Bombay
| Author | Comment | ||
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 Dr Acula |
Stranglers of Bombay |
Lead | |
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(05/15/07 9:30 PM) |
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Ardley Remlap |
Re: Stranglers of Bombay | ||
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(05/16/07 8:29 AM) |
I want to! I want to! I've read "Confessions of a Thug", a Victorian first person account of life in the cult, and beleive me it was amazing! Marie Devereaux is just the busty icing on the cake.
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Resurrection Joe II |
Re: Stranglers of Bombay | ||
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(05/16/07 2:45 PM) |
The movie's lack of a proper home video release may be more of a Columbia thing than a Thugee thing. Maybe someone else can shed some light on that. But STRANGLERS OF BOMBAY is exciting stuff with a good lead performance from Guy (MR.SARDONICUS) Rolfe as the hero. Among the villains are Hammer vets George Pastell (THE MUMMY) and Marne Maitland (THE REPTILE). A tense, interesting movie-style history lesson directed by Terence Fisher, with good atmosphere and some gruesome goings-on. It's worth tracking down, and hopefully one day a number of Columbia Hammers will get the DVD release they deserve.
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professor liebstrum |
Re: Stranglers of Bombay | ||
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(05/16/07 2:54 PM) |
"good atmosphere and some gruesome goings-on."
Ditto to that. It only got an A certificate from the censors in the UK, which is strange because there's a rather nasty eye gouging scene. They don't actually show the act, just the aftermath but it's pretty jolting the first time you see it. Remember you can also see Marie in Brides of Dracula wearing the fangs and chalk white make up that only goes down to her neck! As T Fisher said, "No man looks at Marie only once!" |
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DrPaulArmstrong |
Re: Stranglers of Bombay | ||
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(05/16/07 3:09 PM) |
The only thing keeping this from a DVD release is Christopher Lee; meaning the fact he's not in it. I'm hoping for a TCM showing.
I recall SOB (yikes, I don't mean to call it that) as being just okay, but it's been so many years, I think it's time for a revisit. |
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 skelton knaggs |
Re: Stranglers of Bombay | ||
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(05/16/07 6:44 PM) |
A reference photograph for use in the production of 'The Stranglers of Bombay' (1960), showing a man wearing face make-up by Roy Ashton (1909-1995), taken by an unknown photographer in 1960. This photograph is from the Ashton & Leakey Collection. 
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todmichel |
Re: Stranglers of Bombay | ||
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(05/16/07 7:17 PM) |
Unfortunately, as for "Blood of the Vampire" and some others, the version available in Great-Britain is the cut version. It was shown recently on a French channel, and was presented by actor/writer/director/critic Jean-Pierre Bouyxou, who insisted on the fact that a lot of shots made "for Continental market" seems lost forever, including some striking views of Miss Devereux's talent.
I don't know if the theatrical version seen in America was complete, but if it is the case - let's hope that a good print is still in existence... |
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Dr Acula |
Re: Stranglers of Bombay | ||
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(05/17/07 9:23 AM) |
So, they were doing "Continental" version nude scenes in 1960? That seems a bit early to me - thought at the same time there was the slight nude scene in Peeping Tom...
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Stwick |
Re: Stranglers of Bombay | ||
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(05/17/07 9:53 AM) |
There were nude shots in a brothel in "The Flesh and the Fiends" for the Continental version release, and I believe the film was released in the late '50s........
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todmichel |
Re: Stranglers of Bombay | ||
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(05/17/07 3:29 PM) |
Quote: The answer is: yes ! However, I wasn't specifically thinking of nude scenes for the Continental version of "The Stranglers of Bombay", the additional shots were some bloody snippets and some sexy shots of Miss Devereux - but no nudity if I remember well. Speaking of nudity, it was not at all uncommon to have that in Continental versions of movies in the 1950, as a lot of French movies for all audiences contained some nudity at one moment since at least the Thirties (French actress Arletty was nude in a shower shot for "Le jour se lève", directed by Marcel Carné in 1939). And in the 1940s and 1950s many movies contained a music-hall sequence with nude girls... Even in "Munchhausen", produced by Third Reich in 1943, several nude women are seen in the harem sequence... And it was a film for any audiences. |
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Precode |
Re: Stranglers of Bombay | ||
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(06/02/07 8:07 PM) |
"I don't know if the theatrical version seen in America was complete, but if it is the case - let's hope that a good print is still in existence..."
I made a 35mm print of it several years ago for a Hammer retrospective at the American Cinematheque. It's still in service if any theatre wants to book it. Mike S. (I remember when I was in the Crimea...) |
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R T C Tim |
Re: Stranglers of Bombay | ||
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(06/04/07 11:03 AM) |
For those who don't already know, this is one of the 13 Hammer titles coming from DDHE in the UK later this year (link. I'm really looking forward to seeing it.
There is an interesting story about the origins of the film in Wayne Kinsey's "Hammer: Bray Studio Years" book - essentially, there was a rather popular novel doing the rounds about the Thugee cult, and Rank studios owned the rights. Hammer contacted them about buying the rights for themselves, but baulking at the price tag, decided to avoid any reference to the novel and just claim it as a historical piece (I think it was Carreras who said, "history is public domain"). |
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Here 4 help |
Bombay stranglers | ||
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(06/06/07 4:33 AM) |
The novel in question is by John Masters. It was later filmed as The Deceivers by Merchant/Ivory starring Pierce Brosnan.
In The Deceivers, Brosnan is a British officer who "blacks up" as an Indian in order to expose the thuggee cult. According to Kinsey's book the rights to the Masters novel were too expensive and/or unavailable so they simply decided that the story was in the public domain and filmed it anyway. Stranglers is a much more entertaining film than The Deceivers. |
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Monsterpal |
Re: Stranglers of Bombay | ||
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(06/06/07 6:25 PM) |
Quote: Dad! |
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Ted Newsom |
Re: Stranglers of Bombay | ||
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(06/07/07 12:50 PM) |
I was always keen on Guy Rolfe as a kid, but he certainly is odd casting for the dashing leading man here. (I think I probably saw him first in SNOW WHITE & THE THREE STOOGES). For one thing, he's taller than everybody else, including all the bad guys.
Given the string of films both he and Ronald Lewis made for Columbia (mostly via Hammer in the latter's case), I wonder if he (or they) were under some sort of term contract. Their casting in MR. SARDONICUS is a puzzle-- not because they're bad. On the contrary, they're both great. But the film itself is weird, essentially a Hammer-style gothic horror with one "American" star (Oscar Holmolka in the Brian Donlevy position)... but it was shot entirely on Hollywood sound stages. So why import an English character lead and English leading man? Unless, of course, they were under contract and wanted to push them. I think that was the situation with Edward Judd about the same time, hence his lead in FIRST MEN 'IN' THE MOON and healthy-sized smaller roles in bigger Columbia pictures. |
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Stephen Pickard |
Prologue | ||
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(04/26/08 6:18 PM) |
DISTRIBUTOR'S TITLE
The title FADES and the screen is held black.
Suddenly, the air is shattered by the frenzied beat of wild drumming, and onto the screen bursts the image of the monstrous
goddess, KALI.
She is deformed and hideous. Her attitude is one of fearful threatening, calculated to inspire terror even to the most obsequious
of her worshippers. Her eyes are large and projecting; her nose thin, nostrils dilated, as if under immediate influence of intense passion. The mouth extends
nearly the width of her whole face, armed with immense teeth, like small hatchets; from the upper jaw, at each corner of the extended gums, projects a small
thick tusk, curling toward the ear on either side, which it nearly touches. From her mouth, a large rough tongue protrudes, and descends to her waist, and
under it and around her scraggy neck, is twirled a Cobra di Capello snake, a deadly reptile, which supports this monstrous member upon it's snaky folds.
Beneath each ear is one of these deadly serpents, hanging from it, as an ornamental pendant to this monstrous head. The hood of the snake is expanded, as in
the act of attack. The ears of the idol are large, pendulous and project from the head, greatly increasing it's hideousness of aspect. The body is gaunt
and mascerated; but the limbs are extremely robust, and all are bent to express great energy of action. The hands are gigantic, the fingers long and armed
with thick, pointed nails like claws. A serpent encircles her waist, with the hood extended. No lips cover her teeth, and the mouth, therefore, grins
horribly. Her bloated cheeks and fierce goggle-eyes are fixed with an appalling stare upon the beholder. Her hair is erect, and stiffened out upon her
unsightly head, forming a frightful glory round it, diverging to meet a wider glory, which rises from a flower on each side, forming a support to the figure
which is altogether disgusting to behold.
The image is garlanded with sickly-white tropical flowers.
Another, fuller shot reveals that we are in:
EXT. THUG CAMP IN THE JUNGLE, NIGHT
The flames of the torches flicker weirdly in front of KALI. Seated facing the goddess is the HIGH PRIEST of this particular gang
of Thugs. He is a thin, bald, and wizened man in his sixties, dressed in a simple white robe. His expression is intense ... his eyes fanatic.
EXT. THUG CAMP IN THE JUNGLE, NIGHT (contd.)
Seated on the PRIEST'S left is BUNDAR. He is about forty. His garments are cleaner than the other thugs. From his appearance
in general, we can surmise that he is more 'civilized' than the rest of the gang, too. BUNDAR is the HIGH PRIEST'S 'Lieutenant'.
Seated a few yards behind the HIGH PRIEST and BUNDAR is a group of five boys in their teens. They sit in a kind of a semi-circle.
Directly in front of them is a cage which contains a white Cobra. And seated in orderly rows behind this group of teenagers is the rest of the gang ....
numbering about fifty. To one side, in the rear of the clearing, there are two small thatched huts. KARIM, an attractive .... bosomy native girl in her
twenties, stands in front of one of the huts.
The PRIEST wheels about in his sitting position and faces the group of young Initiates. The sound of the drums diminishes to a
low, insistant beat.
PRIEST (with great intensity)
When the green of the jungle was young ... when our fathers and their fathers and their fathers before them were yet
unborn ... a monster walked this land. He ate the young...the strong...the old. The blood of our ancestors poured from the monster's mouth. It poured
like water in the great river. No-one dared battle with him .. no-one but ... Kali!
MEMBERS OF THE GANG (muttering)
Kali! Kali!
PRIEST
Without fear ... as her children are Without fear ... she fought the monster upon this earth and cut him down. But from
each drop of his blood a new monster spawned. And Kali did battle with each new monster and cut them down. But from their blood new monsters arose. To
destroy them, Kali knew she must kill without spilling their blood. Kali gave our ancestors this sacred cloth ...
The PRIEST holds up a piece of yellow silkcloth.
....and said, "Kill!"
MEMBERS OF THE GANG (murmering)
Kill. Kill.
PRIEST (with great passion)
They strangled the monsters! There was no blood. And when the last had been strangled and the monsters were no more; Kali
left 'these' for her children!
The PRIEST wheels toward the statue and holds the silk up in a gesture of sacrifice. The other THUGS raise their pieces of silk
in a similar gesture. The INITIATES look around them, impressed and awed.
PRIEST (contd.)
Through the centuries your children have done your work. (looking directly at the INITIATES) And tonight, Great
Goddess, we bring you more of your sons to do your bidding.
The INITIATES are enrapt.
PRIEST (contd.)
Tonight, they join us, O Great Kali! (to the idol) Welcome your sons whom I have raised for you since their boyhood.
Look upon them with favour ... as you have looked upon us. They seek only to serve you! If they displease you, send us an omen so we may know of your
displeasure!!
The drumming ceases suddenly and there is a moment of stilled silence. Only the sound of the flickering flame. The PRIEST
wheels ... this time he stands facing the gang.
PRIEST (in a kind of ecstasy)
KALI EMBRACES HER SONS !!!
The drumming starts again with renewed vigour. The PRIEST walks over to a tank of liquid. (The tank is ornately decorated) He
extends his arm toward the first seated boy. It is GOPALI, a good-looking boy, fifteen years old. GOPALI stands. He approaches the tank hesitantly. The
CAMERA lingers on GOPALI's face for a moment. We see a rather odd pendant about his neck. GOPALI stands by the tank.
PRIEST (contd.)
Let Kali wash away your sins and make you clean!
BUNDAR takes an ornate ladle and, scooping water from the tank, pours it over the hands and arms of the boy.
MIX OR CUT TO:
The GROUP of INITIATES stand before GUNDAR, who is standing directly in front of the statue. BUNDAR is holding a pickaxe of
silver in one hand and a piece of yellow silk in his other hand.
PRIEST
They stand before you with their souls clean, O, Great Kali! They embrace the tools which you have blessed.
GOPALI approaches GUNDAR. Again there is a certain hesitancy. GOPALI kisses the pickaxe and the yellow silk.
MIX OR CUT TO:
GOPALI's arm is extended straight out ... palm down. The PRIEST cuts into GOPALI's arm with a glittering knife.
Another THUG holds a small container under GOPALI's arm and collects GOPALI's blood in the container. BUNDAR approaches with a pickaxe that is
smouldering with white heat. He cauterises the incision with the white-hot smoking pickaxe. GOPALI groans and grimaces with enormous pain, but does not
cry out.
KARIM has crept close to the proceedings. She reacts excitedly as BUNDAR cauterises GOPALI's incision.
MIX OR CUT TO:
THE COBRA'S CAGE
There are five containers of the INITIATES' blood resting on top or in front of the cobra's cave. The INITIATES are
kneeling in front of the cage, facing the cobra.
THE PRIEST
He is kneeling in front of the statue.
PRIEST
When the harvest is gathered your sons will be ready.
THE PRIEST'S FACE
Wild and fanatic.
PRIEST (contd.)
Your great sons will be ready, Great Kali!
He again raises the yellow silk in front of the statue.
The drummers go mad and the air throbs with their beating.
The ENTIRE GANG is kneeling. They have raised their yellow silk toward the heavens.
MEMBERS OF THE GANG (chanting, but not in unison)
KALI! KALI! KALI!
The CAMERA RUSHES in for a FULL CLOSE SHOT of the STATUE OF KALI.
OVER THE STATUE, THE TITLES COME UP: STRANGLERS OF BENGAL, etc., etc.
AFTER THE TITLE ... FADE OUT:
FADE IN: (over a period map of India perhaps) THE FOREWORD:
"FOR CENTURIES A CULT OF VICIOUS MURDERES FLOURISHED IN INDIA. THEIR ORIGIN WAS IN A RELIGIOUS SECT WHICH WORSHIPPED THE
DESTROYER GODDESS ... KALI. SO SECRET WAS THIS SAVAGE CULT WHICH HAD GROUPS ALL OVER INDIA THAT BY 1829 THEY HAD BRUTALLY AND COLD-BLOODEDLY MURDERED
OVER A MILLION PEOPLE WITHOUT DETECTION. AND NO-ONE OUTSIDE OF THE CULT KNEW OF IT'S EXISTENCE.
MIX TO:
IN 1829 THIS SITUATION CHANGED. IT WAS CHANGED BY THE COURAGE AND PERSISTANCE OF ONE MAN ... A CAPTAIN IN IN THE MERCENARY
ARMY OF THE BRITISH EAST INDIA COMPANY WHICH RULED INDIA FROM 1773 TO 1858. HIS DEDICATION TO THE UNCOVERING OF THE VILE CULT MARKED THE BEGINNING OF THE
END OF ONE OF THE MOST HEINOUS AND DESPICABLE CONSPIRACIES IN RECORDED HISTORY.........FADE OUT.
Extract from "THE STRANGLERS" draft screenplay (7th May, 1959) (David Z. Goodman) (Hammer Films)
Last Edited By: Stephen Pickard
04/28/08 12:16 AM.
Edited 1 times.
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Hollywood Gothique |
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(04/27/08 4:01 AM) |
Precode wrote: I saw this at the Cinematheque retrospective and thought it was great. One could argue that it's a pro-colonial, white-man's burden kind of film, but it casts a sufficiently skeptical eye upon British colonialism instead of endorsing it. 
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opticalguy |
My Two Cents | ||
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(05/14/08 12:42 AM) |
Well, for some reason they ran The Stranglers of Bombay a lot as part of the afternoon movie on the local NBC affiliate in Norfolk, Virginia in the early 1960s. So on the show
Tronic Theater (named after the prop robot that host Mac
McManus who also hosted the Popeye cartoons as "Poopdeck Pappy built) they ran this rather grim film for the kids. They had a lot of Columbia flicks and
they were pretty darned good ones at that. Anyway we did (even though puberty was years away) look forwards to the
close-ups of Marie Devereux (AKA Patricia Sutcliff who was Elizabeth Taylor's body double in Cleopatra)
during the gruesome (for the time) but really cool torture scenes.
The film is a bit slow and grim but it is a serious telling of the story of the
Colonial Brits VS the Thugee cult. It is rather downbeat as well.It is overdue for a decent DVD release.
opticalguy1954@yahoo.com (Spencer Gill)
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Dr Acula |
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(05/14/08 6:26 PM) |
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voyttbots |
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(05/15/08 11:59 AM) |
I saw this almost 40 years ago on TV. Watching that trailer, do you think the writers of TEMPLE OF DOOM may have based their villain on the thugee leader in
STRANGLERS?
" I`m here to kill your monsta."
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sirharryflashman |
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(05/15/08 3:51 PM) |
The one element that sticks with me from my last viewing of The Stranglers of Bombay some 5 or so years back, surprisingly even more than Marie Deveraux, is
the title music. Typical James Bernard piece that incorporates the title syllables into the rhythm of the music. Insidious really as just thinking about it
I'll end up stuck with it in my head for days again. The Strangle-ers-of-Bom-bay, The Strangle-ers-of-Bom-bay....
Really looking forward to seeing this once again and pitching my old grey market tape. |
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