Rudyard Kipling"
“When you're left wounded on Afganistan's plains and
the women come out to cut up what remains, Just roll to your rifle
and blow out your brains,
And go to your God like a soldier”
General Douglas MacArthur"
“We are not retreating. We are advancing in another direction.”
“It is fatal to enter any war without the will to win it.” “Old soldiers never die; they just fade away.
“The soldier, above all other people, prays for peace, for he must suffer and be the deepest wounds and scars of war.”
“May God have mercy upon my enemies, because I won't .” “The object of war is not to die for your country but to make the other bastard die for his.
“Nobody ever defended, there is only attack and attack and attack some more.
“It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived.
The Soldier stood and faced God
Which must always come to pass
He hoped his shoes were shining
Just as bright as his brass
"Step forward you Soldier,
How shall I deal with you?
Have you always turned the other cheek?
To My Church have you been true?"
"No, Lord, I guess I ain't
Because those of us who carry guns
Can't always be a saint."
I've had to work on Sundays
And at times my talk was tough,
And sometimes I've been violent,
Because the world is awfully rough.
But, I never took a penny
That wasn't mine to keep.
Though I worked a lot of overtime
When the bills got just too steep,
The Soldier squared his shoulders and said
And I never passed a cry for help
Though at times I shook with fear,
And sometimes, God forgive me,
I've wept unmanly tears.
I know I don't deserve a place
Among the people here.
They never wanted me around
Except to calm their fears.
If you've a place for me here,
Lord, It needn't be so grand,
I never expected or had too much,
But if you don't, I'll understand."
There was silence all around the throne
Where the saints had often trod
As the Soldier waited quietly,
For the judgment of his God.
"Step forward now, you Soldier,
You've borne your burden well.
Walk peacefully on Heaven's streets,
You've done your time in Hell."
The Black Watch (1929) is a historical war drama directed by John Ford, marking his first foray into sound films. Set during the British colonial era and adapted from Talbot Mundy's novel King of the Khyber Rifles, the film intertwines romance, adventure, and military duty.
It tells the story of Captain Donald King (played by Victor McLaglen) of the British Army’s Black Watch regiment. On the eve of World War I, King is unexpectedly reassigned from the frontlines to a covert mission in India. Disguised as a native, he is tasked with preventing a tribal uprising. His mission becomes increasingly complicated when he encounters Yasmani (played by Myrna Loy), a mysterious and enchanting woman aligned with the rebels.
The narrative explores themes of loyalty, duty, and cross-cultural romance. The cast features notable performances, with Victor McLaglen bringing gravitas to the role of a conflicted soldier. Myrna Loy, in one of her early roles, plays Yasmani, offering a glimpse into her transformation from exoticized characters to her later reputation as Hollywood's "perfect wife." Supporting roles by David Torrence, Cyril Chadwick, and Lumsden Hare add depth to the film’s portrayal of military life and intrigue.
The story has a similarity to The Four Feathers. After the torture sequence in the cave (the whipping of prisoners).
