Bullet Points: Three Sergeants of Bengal
I love a good war movie. In fact I love a bad war movie. I especially love a war movie from a conflict or a time period that I don’t know much about. Not because I want to learn about it, but because I won’t get upset when I see inaccuracies. When I watched Three Sergeants of Bengal, an Italian-Spanish movie about the English in India starring the American Richard Harrison I was doubly glad not to know too much about that time period because there is bound to be inaccuracies. My ignorance allows me to enjoy the action, and give you some Three Sergeants of Bengal Bullet Points.
- Three Prisoners of England – The film opens with three sergeants in jail for silly reasons. Frankie Ross (Richard Harrison, Ninja Strike Force) and Burt Wallace were trying to scheme a wealthy Indian family out of some money by fake marriage and John Foster was snogging the Colonel’s daughter. Those actions would probably get you a pat on the back here, but not in English controlled India. The three sergeants are given the opportunity to “volunteer” for a mission to save Fort Madras from the notorious bandit Sikki Dharma and his men.
- Indian Bar Brawl – The first stop for the three sergeants is at a local watering hole that ends up in a major bar brawl. The scene shows us three things: 1) the sergeants are more than capable of handling themselves against steep odds; 2) a bar in India is just as dangerous and any other bar in an action movie; and 3) the mission for the three sergeants won’t be easy, but we are in for a good time.
- Whiskey and Arak – Frankie is the leader (and undoubted star of the movie) and classic stiff upper lip British soldier and John is the scrappy fighter who will never stop. However, my favorite is Burt. Once a military doctor, Burt let the booze get to him and was demoted to a sergeant. Alcoholism is a serious problem, but Burt’s problem is played for laughs throughout the entirety of Three Sergeants of Bengal and I wouldn’t want it any other way. Of course, when a character hits rock bottom like Burt, it is easier to root for his redemption unlike Frankie and John who don’t face much individual conflicts.
- Elephant Walk – The three sergeants meet their guide Gamal and start their journey to Fort Victoria and eventually Fort Madras. Anything that can go wrong will go wrong. Starting with a pack of upset elephants. Even though it is obvious that the actors and elephants weren’t in the same place, the action is quite exciting and harrowing. Although I never knew a herd of elephants could make so much noise. I also never knew elephants were scared of thunder.
- Along Comes Mary – Just when the men got away from the elephants they end up captured by headhunters. Burt uses some of his old doctoring to save the chief’s son and their heads. And you thought headhunters were bad? Gamal (or is he?) throws a twist into the works and the three sergeants are captured by Sikki Dharma. At least this time there is a woman, Mary Stark, locked up with three men. She was captured while with her brother and his soldiers as they were ambushed during a trip through the Khyber Pass. Classic place for an attack. The now group of four actually escape pretty easily thanks to a pair of suspenders (or braces as the English would say) and a dead scorpion.
- Machine Gun Burt – Wait, they are actually captured again by Sikki Dharma, but this time there is a machine gun and lots of dead Indians. The four escape again, and this time it is for the last time, but we still have some action to go. Sikki Dharma doesn’t follow them while they escape because he leads his men on an attack and massacre at Fort Victoria. Our four heros hoof it to Fort Madras only to find it in a sad state of affairs. Frankie takes charge and whips the men into shape, setting up an explosive finale against Sikka Dharma and his men.
Three Sergeants of Bengal is a wild ride but I was definitely glad that I didn’t have too much knowledge of that time period. I am sure it may come across as offensive to some, especially with the countless Italian actors with dark body makeup playing Indians. 1964 was a different time so I don’t let any uncomfortable scenes take away from the action, and there is plenty of good old fashioned action in Three Sergeants of Bengal. Speaking of old fashioned, how about a rare treat and ending these Three Sergeants of Bengal Bullet Points with some Three Sergeants of Bengal Bonus Bullet Points.
- Also Known As – You might find Three Sergeants of Bengal as Adventures of the Bengal Lancers in addition to its native Italian name I tre sergenti del Bengala.
- Favorite Insult – Burt calls John a milksop and for all the strange things they do in England, they have some colorful (colourful?) insults.
- Snake Charmer – I don’t know if snake charmers in films are considered insensitive, but I still get a kick out of seeing that cobra dance to the music of the pungi.
