The Drum (1938): cast, story & where to watch
1938 · Film · ★ 5.8
Released in 1938, The Drum is an adventure and war film directed by Zoltan Korda, running about 104 minutes. “MEN BATTLE FOR THEIR LIVES... WOMEN FIGHT FOR THEIR LOVE... IN A MIGHTY SAGA OF CONQUEST ON INDIA'S FRONTIER” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. Set in the India of the British Raj, the evil and untrustworthy Prince Guhl (Raymond Massey) plans to wipe out the British troops as they enjoy the hospitality of Guhl's spacious palace. It's up to the loyal young Prince Azim (Sabu) to warn the troops of Guhl's treachery by tapping out a message on his drum.
Who’s in it. The Drum stars Sabu as Prince Azim, Raymond Massey as Prince Ghul, Valerie Hobson as Mrs. Carruthers and Roger Livesey as Capt. Carruthers, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 5.8/10, The Drum has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on Criterion Channel. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Drum page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Drum tend to enjoy The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Inception, Interstellar and The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Drum (1938)?
- In US, The Drum is available to stream on Criterion Channel. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is The Drum worth watching?
- The Drum holds an audience score of 5.8 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy adventure and war. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in The Drum?
- The Drum stars Sabu, Raymond Massey, Valerie Hobson, Roger Livesey and David Tree.
- When was The Drum released?
- The Drum was released in 1938, with a runtime of about 104 minutes.