Thunder in the East (1951 film)

Thunder in the East is a 1951 war drama film released by Paramount Pictures, and directed by Charles Vidor, based on novel Rage of the Vulture by Alan Moorehead.

Thunder in the East
Theatrical poster
Directed byCharles Vidor
Produced byEverett Riskin
Written by
Based onnovel The Rage of the Vulture by Alan Moorehead
Starring
Music byHugo Friedhofer
CinematographyLee Garmes
Edited byEverett Douglas
Production
company
Distributed byParamount Pictures
Release date
  • 27 December 1951 (United Kingdom)
  • 5 December 1952 (West Germany)
  • 3 February 1953 (New York City)
Running time
97 minutes
CountryUnited States
Box office$2 million (US)[1]

Synopsis

The film is set in 1947 after India has gained its independence from Britain. Steve Gibbs (Alan Ladd), an American arms dealer, flies into a small Indian state intending to sell weapons to a local maharajah whose capital is facing an attack from a bandit army. He is opposed by the maharajah's prime minister (Charles Boyer), who is a proponent of Mohandas Gandhi's philosophy of nonviolence. He also falls in love with a blind woman (Deborah Kerr).

Cast

Production

The film was based on Alan Moorehead's debut novel The Rage of the Vulture, published in 1948.[2] Moorehead got the idea for the novel after travelling through India in 1947.[3][4]

The film rights were bought by Charles Vidor who sold them on to Paramount with himself attached as director. Alan Ladd was assigned to star with Robert Fellows to produce.[5] Filming was postponed, however so Ladd could make Red Mountain.[6] This meant Fellows dropped out and Everett Riskin became producer.[7] "We have a tremendously large cast, fine settings as well as a splendid story", said Riskin.[8]

Luther David was borrowed from MGM to write the script; then it was rewritten by Jo Swerling. Riskin was anxious to avoid offence to the British and Indians, and the novel was significantly altered.[9]

James Mason and Alida Valli were discussed as possible co stars for Ladd.[10] Paramount ended up borrowing Deborah Kerr from MGM to play the female lead and borrowing Corinne Calvet from Hal Wallis to support. Charles Boyer signed for the role of a Nehru-like politician; he had played a Japanese in a 1934 French film called Thunder in the East.[11]

Shooting started on 26 March 1951.

Release

The release of the movie was delayed until 1953, in part because Alan Ladd had decided to leave Paramount and the studio wanted to spread out release of his final films for them.[12]

References
  1. 'The Top Box Office Hits of 1953', Variety, January 13, 1954
  2. "NEW NOVELS" Fausset, Hugh I A. The Manchester Guardian 8 Oct 1948: 3
  3. "Books – Authors" New York Times 19 Oct 1948: 25
  4. "NEW FICTION". The Sydney Morning Herald. National Library of Australia. 21 May 1949. p. 8. Retrieved 8 March 2015.
  5. "WALD AND KRASNA PLAN EIGHT MOVIES: New R.K.O. Producing Team Developing Own Film Stories Under Deal at Studio Of Local Origin" by THOMAS F. BRADY New York Times 16 Aug 1950: 25
  6. "Trevor Howard Signed for Allen Film; Ladd Again Hero of Outdoors" Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times 27 Sep 1950: 19
  7. "JACKSON WINS SUIT AGAINST UNIVERSAL: California High Court Affirms Award of $17,000 in Case Involving Use of a Title Of Local Origin" by THOMAS F. BRADY New York Times 03 Oct 1950: 34
  8. "Ladd, Producers Find New Horizons" Los Angeles Times 6 May 1951: E3
  9. "HOLLYWOOD REACTS: Employment of Dmytryk Calls Attention To Others Involved in Red Hearings Back to Work Red Slant Touchy Tokyo Interests" by THOMAS F. BRADY. New York Times 20 May 1951: X5
  10. "FOX PLANS MOVIE OF 'GUN AND CROSS': Story Concerns Priest and a Western Badman in 1840s – Taylor to Produce" by THOMAS F. BRADY New York Times 02 Feb 1951: 32
  11. "Drama: 'Walk East on Beacon' Next George Murphy; Randy Stuart Returns" Scheuer, Philip K. Los Angeles Times 01 Sep 1951: 7
  12. "PARAMOUNT SIGNS LADD TO NEW PACT: Studio and Actor Arrange for Deal Whereby He Will Make One Film a Year on Lot" by THOMAS M. PRYOR New York Times 29 Feb 1952: 19
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