North West Frontier (released in 1959) - Set in turbulent times in India

North-West Frontier is a movie set in the time of the British raj in India. Starring the sophisticated Lauren Bacall and Kenneth Moore, this drama was directed by Lee Simpson and included the Bollywood actor I.S Johar. It chronicles the tensions between the Hindus and Muslims in the North western frontier province of British India, currently in Pakistan, in the year 1905.
A Hindu Maharajah From the North Western frontier province request Captain Scott to accompany his son to Hazerabad as riots have erupted in their home town. So Captain Scott safely moves the boy to the Governor's residence along with his governess, Mrs Wyatt. Now Hazerabad is also not safe and the Governor washes his hands off the young Prince. So Scott looks around for a transport to take him to Kalapur which is considered as a safe haven. He comes across “The Empress Of India”, an aging train tended lovingly by a retired Engineer, Mr. Gupta. So Gupta, Scott and the Prince Kishan leave under the cover of darkness to Kalapur, accompanied by Mrs. Wyatt, Lady Wyndham, a journalist Mr. Van Huyden and couple of other travelers. Soon the rebels get to know of the departure and the train is pursued vigorously. But Mr. Gupta smashes the train through the cantonment and soon they are on the way.



En-route they come across a refuge train which has been savagely attacked by the Muslim raiders and can rescue only a small baby. Soon a at and mouse game ensues as the train is constantly in danger of an attack. As the journey progresses, Mrs. Wyatt sees a heliograph which is the mode of communication for the attackers. The tension bounds as they know that the attack is imminent. The situation is complicated by the presence of Journalist Van Huyden. He encourages the young prince Kishan to take unwanted risks like dangling on the fly wheel etc. This arouses suspicions about his loyalties. He is many a time caught on the act by the fellow passengers. The last straw comes while on a crossing Van Huyden willingly dangers the prince's life.
Scott now convinced of Van Huyden's duplicity imprisons him in the luggage room. But the raiders destroy a viaduct and shoot Mr. Gupta. In this thrilling and beautifully shot sequence Scott drives the Train through he broken section as the Raiders try to fight them. Van Huyden also escapes and with a machine gun holds the passengers hostage. He is unable to kill the prince as he is outside the engine room. Scott soon arrives to grapple with the villain, whois killed by the spunky Mrs. Wyatt. Soon battered but not lost the engine reaches Kalapur safely and the Prince is handed over.
The movie is well shot even though the Spanish mountains had doubled for the North Western Frontier panorama. The technological innovation and the special effects did make an effect even though we in the age of “Avatar” it might seem a bit primitive. The performances are great with the undercurrent of romance between the brave captain and the spunky Mrs. Wyatt captivating. A good movie comes highly recommended.

Warlock (Released in 1959) - Starring Henry Fonda and Anthony Quinn - another western story

This movie is adapted form a book of the same name by Oakley Hall. It belongs to the genre of a western and is treated as a classic. Warlock is a town in Utah and is plagued by a group of cowboys led by Abe McQwon who routinely rob and humiliate all the towns people. To control this menace the residents bring in the sharp shooter Clay Blaisedell as a Town Marshall. Blaisedell arrives with his friend Morgan who is a petty drunkard. They rename a saloon as French quarter and take over the place. Morgan is a liability because of his drunkenness and the town people ask him to leave. Blaisedell refuses to let Morgan off and informs that he is part of the deal. Soon they come face to face with the McQuown gang and the gang members are humiliated. One of the members Johnny Gannon leaves to become a more law abiding citizen.
Morgan learns that his old girl friend Lily Dollar is coming to town with Bob Nicholson. Earlier Lily had left Morgan for Ben Nicholson, Bob's elder brother. Morgan had entrapped Ben in to challenging Blaisedell who easily shoots him to death. Morgan anyway leaves to see Lily arriving in a stagecoach which is ambushed by the McQuown gang. In the melee Morgan kills Bob and runs away. Lily reaches town and sees Morgan and is convinced about his guilt even though she has no proof.



Blaisedell has fallen in love with a local girl Jessie Marlow and wants to settle down. Johnny Gannon becomes a Sheriff deputy in the neighboring bright town. Th McQuown gang tries to undermine Blaisedell's status as the town Marshall. In a confrontation with the robbing gang, Blaisedell kills Gannon's brother. Gannon in the mean time is successful in breaking up the robbing gang and is more amiable to the citizens of Warlock. They feel that Blaisedell has out lived his usefulness.
Soon the residents are tired of him and wants him to leave. Morgan also wants to go from the town of Warlock. When Blaisedell refuses Morgan is furious and shoots up the town. Blaisedell learns about the murders of the Nicholson brothers and turns his back on Morgan. A furious morgan tries to prove that Blaisedell is not good without him and shoots at him. The other in self defense shoots at Morgan, killing him immediately. But Blaisedell, is grief stricken and gives Morgan a Viking Funeral by burning down the saloon.
The town has had enough of the spectacle and feels confident in Gannon's power in maintaining law and order. Gannon, along with the town's people asks Blaisedell to leave. His girl friend abandons him and refuses to leave town. Blaisedell challenges Gannon to a duel, even out draws him. But in the end he opts to leave town, and throws his gold handled pistols on the ground. Lily Dollar feels that she has avenged the killings of the Nicholson's and takes up with Gannon.