This black and white movie is based on Rudyard Kipling's "Toomai, of the Elephants", in which a small native lad claims he knows the congregating place of the elephant hordes.This black and white movie is based on Rudyard Kipling's "Toomai, of the Elephants", in which a small native lad claims he knows the congregating place of the elephant hordes.This black and white movie is based on Rudyard Kipling's "Toomai, of the Elephants", in which a small native lad claims he knows the congregating place of the elephant hordes.
- Awards
- 2 wins & 1 nomination
Wilfrid Hyde-White
- Commissioner
- (as Hyde White)
Harry Lane
- Bit Part
- (uncredited)
Udham Singh
- Man in crowd
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaKorda had read and been so impressed Kipling's 'Toomai of the Elephants', that when documentary director Robert Flaherty came to him for backing, he readily gave it to him and sent him to India in February 1935. After over a year with nothing productive been done, Korda sent director Monta Bell to help out. and then Zolta Korda. By Summer 1936, with over 55 hours of background footage and still no story, the crew were brought back to Denham Studios . Writer John Collier was brought in to produce a simple script for Zoltan to shoot in the studios and on location on the River Colne.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Family Classics: Family Classics: Elephant Boy (1963)
Featured review
Sabu's Film Debut; First Popular Film Star From India
Sabu Dastagir was a boy of ten when he was discovered by documentarian Robert Flaherty while in India filming April 1937's "The Elephant Boy." Sabu, an orphan in the little town of Mysore in British India, had absolutely no experience in acting, but he sure could ride an elephant. Sabu's father, a widow, was an elephant driver (a mahout), who taught his son all there was to know about riding at the royal elephant stables. When his dad died, Sabu, 9, was taken in by the stable owners as a ward. Flaherty and his scouting crew came upon the young boy at the stables, whose engaging personality and handsome looks made him a logical choice for the lead in the movie.
Flaherty was busy shooting 'B-Roll' for over a year filming elephants in their natural habitat in India when the producer and owner of London Films, Alexander Korda, sent his brother Zolta down to quicken the pace. Zolta, who himself specialized in directing exotic adventure motion pictures, was bowled over by the young Sabu. He and his brother signed Sabu to a contract. "The Elephant Boy" was adapted from the Rudyard Kipling short story 'Toomai of the Elephants.' Sabu, now 13, and his brother were brought to England to shoot the rest of the movie after the 'B team' finished filming him riding his elephant in India. For the London studio shoot, Korda borrowed elephants from several circuses and zoos in the area. Sabu and his surrounding cast delivered the dramatic story of a boy helping British hunter Peterson (Walter Hudd) round up a number of wild elephants to work in India's construction projects.
Film reviewer Kenneth Godwin praised "The Elephant Boy's" blending of the varying talents involved in the making of the motion picture.
"Sabu's debut film is a surprisingly successful hybrid, combining Flaherty's documentary observation with Zoltan Korda's storytelling to convey a child's eye view of life in Imperial India," notes Godwin. The New York Times film critic Frank Nugent was effusive about Sabu's first screen appearance. "Sabu, the Indian boy, is a sunny-faced, manly little youngster, whose naturalness beneath the camera's scrutiny should bring blushes to the faces of the precocious wonder-children of Hollywood," wrote Nugent. "He's a much better actor than the British players Mr. Flaherty tried to disguise behind frizzed beards and Indian names."
Sabu knew hardly any English when he introduced himself in the movie's long opening monologue of "The Elephant's Boys," and spoke phonetically. Sabu emerged as the first actor from India to have a popular British and Hollywood career.
Flaherty was busy shooting 'B-Roll' for over a year filming elephants in their natural habitat in India when the producer and owner of London Films, Alexander Korda, sent his brother Zolta down to quicken the pace. Zolta, who himself specialized in directing exotic adventure motion pictures, was bowled over by the young Sabu. He and his brother signed Sabu to a contract. "The Elephant Boy" was adapted from the Rudyard Kipling short story 'Toomai of the Elephants.' Sabu, now 13, and his brother were brought to England to shoot the rest of the movie after the 'B team' finished filming him riding his elephant in India. For the London studio shoot, Korda borrowed elephants from several circuses and zoos in the area. Sabu and his surrounding cast delivered the dramatic story of a boy helping British hunter Peterson (Walter Hudd) round up a number of wild elephants to work in India's construction projects.
Film reviewer Kenneth Godwin praised "The Elephant Boy's" blending of the varying talents involved in the making of the motion picture.
"Sabu's debut film is a surprisingly successful hybrid, combining Flaherty's documentary observation with Zoltan Korda's storytelling to convey a child's eye view of life in Imperial India," notes Godwin. The New York Times film critic Frank Nugent was effusive about Sabu's first screen appearance. "Sabu, the Indian boy, is a sunny-faced, manly little youngster, whose naturalness beneath the camera's scrutiny should bring blushes to the faces of the precocious wonder-children of Hollywood," wrote Nugent. "He's a much better actor than the British players Mr. Flaherty tried to disguise behind frizzed beards and Indian names."
Sabu knew hardly any English when he introduced himself in the movie's long opening monologue of "The Elephant's Boys," and spoke phonetically. Sabu emerged as the first actor from India to have a popular British and Hollywood career.
- springfieldrental
- Sep 24, 2023
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Details
- Runtime1 hour 20 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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