Kim (1950 film) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kim |
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1950 Theatrical Poster
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| Directed by | Victor Saville |
| Produced by | Leon Gordon |
| Written by | Helen Deutsch Leon Gordon Richard Schayer |
| Starring | Errol Flynn Dean Stockwell Paul Lukas |
| Music by | André Previn |
| Cinematography | William V. Skall |
| Editing by | George Boemler |
| Distributed by | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
| Release date(s) | December 7, 1950 |
| Running time | 113 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $2,049,000 |
| Money made | $5,348,000 |
Kim is an exciting 1950 adventure film made in Technicolor by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. It was directed by Victor Saville and produced by Leon Gordon. The movie is based on the famous 1901 novel of the same name by Rudyard Kipling.
The film stars Errol Flynn, Dean Stockwell, and Paul Lukas. The music was created by André Previn. Parts of the movie were filmed in real locations in Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, India. Other scenes were shot in the Alabama Hills in California, which looked a lot like the Khyber Pass. A special filming spot was La Martiniere College in Lucknow, India.
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Kim's Adventure in India
This movie tells the story of Kim (Dean Stockwell), an orphan boy living in India in 1885. At this time, India was under British rule, known as the British Raj. Kim often works with his friend Mahbub Ali (Errol Flynn), who is a clever horse trader. Mahbub Ali is also a secret agent working for the British government. He discovers a secret plan by some foreign spies to cause trouble and rebellion in India.
Kim Meets a Wise Lama
One day, Kim meets an old and wise Buddhist holy man, called a lama (Paul Lukas), from Tibet. The lama is on a special journey to find a spiritual place he calls the "River of the Arrow." Its waters, he believes, will make him feel pure and peaceful. Mahbub Ali sees a chance to use Kim's cleverness. He asks Kim to become the kind lama's "chela," or student. This way, Kim can secretly deliver an important message to Colonel Creighton (Robert Douglas), Mahbub Ali's boss.
A Journey and a Discovery
As Kim and the lama travel together along the Grand Trunk Road, a very long and famous road, they become very close friends. Kim learns how to ask people for coins to help them on their journey. One day, they come across a camp of British soldiers. Kim notices their flag has a red bull on a green background. This matches a special clue his father, who had passed away, left for him.
Kim sneaks into the camp, but a guard stops him. During a small struggle, the soldiers find documents Kim has. These papers show that Kim is actually the son of Kimball O'Hara, an Irish soldier who served in that very regiment! The lama decides that Kim should live with his own people and get an education. Even though Kim doesn't want to go to school, the lama pays for him to attend the best boarding school in India. Kim finds the school rules difficult at first, but he eventually gets used to them.
Kim's Secret Training
Mahbub Ali convinces Colonel Creighton that Kim has the potential to be a great secret agent. So, during his summer break, Kim gets special training from a shopkeeper named Lurgan (Arnold Moss). He learns how to disguise himself as a local Buddhist student. He also learns how to observe things very carefully and remember secret messages.
A Dangerous Mission
While traveling in disguise, Kim overhears a plan to hurt Mahbub Ali. He quickly warns his friend, saving his life. After this, Kim meets up with his lama again. He is then sent to help Hurree Chunder (Cecil Kellaway) watch two Russian spies who are pretending to be land surveyors. When Kim finds Chunder murdered, he bravely continues the mission himself. He convinces the Russian spies to hire him as their servant.
Eventually, the spies discover Kim's true identity, and the lama is hurt. When the British learn about Chunder's death, Mahbub Ali is sent to take his place. He rescues Kim and takes the spies' secret documents. But when a group of Russian soldiers approaches, the spies try to overpower Mahbub Ali. He has to fight them off. Then, he and Kim cause a rockslide, which stops the Russian soldiers. In the end, the injured lama finds his special river (at least in his mind). He reaches it and dies peacefully. Kim and Mahbub Ali then ride off together, ready for new adventures.
Meet the Cast
- Errol Flynn as Mahbub Ali, also known as the Red Beard
- Dean Stockwell as Kim
- Paul Lukas as the Lama
- Robert Douglas as Colonel Creighton
- Thomas Gomez as the Emissary
- Cecil Kellaway as Hurree Chunder
- Arnold Moss as Lurgan Sahib
- Reginald Owen as Father Victor
- Laurette Luez as Laluli
- Richard Hale as Hassan Bey
- Roman Toporow as The Russian
- Ivan Triesault as The other Russian
