Adventure, Whether Real or Imagined

The ordinary Filipino populace survives attacks from radical Muslims thanks to American training in 1939's The Real Glory. Based on a true story of the Moro Rebellion, it's romanticised enough to make Gary Cooper, playing a doctor, the guy who has to do everything. Whether it's treating cholera outbreak or rushing off into the jungle to save the CO from a double-cross, Cooper's the only one with a enough gosh darn sense to handle anything. And that includes the CO's daughter. Cooper's innate humility is crucial to making this work. There's enough realism in the story to give everything a sense of stakes and some depth, though contemplating the differences and similarities to the real events gives one considerable food for thought.

As noted in the Wikipedia entry, Donald Trump made reference to General Pershing who commanded American troops in the Philippines in the early 20th century. Trump took a myth as truth, that Pershing ordered the use of bullets dipped in pig blood against Islamic terrorists. What is evidently true is that at least one Muslim suicide attacker was buried with a pig and, although Pershing claimed not to have been involved, he did say, "It was not pleasant to have to take such measures but the prospect of going to hell instead of heaven sometimes deterred the would-be assassins."

Which leads us to the scene of Cooper's Dr. Bill Canavan threatening a Moro with burial in a pig skin. He does so before a crowd of friendly Filipino soldiers, some of them Moros themselves, with the intent of showing them their foes oughtn't to be feared more than any other human being.

Considering the hostile Moros apparently were tyrannical slave traders, it's hard to casually dismiss any method that might prevent their attacks, particularly bloodless methods. Though the complications inherent in any engagement with indigenous cultural beliefs often go well beyond the ability of the interloper to perceive. I was reminded of this when I saw this beautiful quote from John Quincy Adams to-day in an article in The Spectator about the current situation in the Ukraine.

". . . by once enlisting under other banners than [the United States'] own, were they even the banners of foreign independence, she would involve herself beyond the power of extrication, in all the wars of interest and intrigue, of individual avarice, envy, and ambition, which assume the colors and usurp the standard of freedom."

Cooper's charm helps make this an engrossing adventure tale. I particularly liked a showdown on a rickety bridge. There are also good supporting performances from David Niven and Broderick Crawford. And Cooper's love interest, played by Andrea Leeds, is lovely.

The Real Glory is available on Amazon Prime.