Harry resigns his commission and leaves the regiment on the eve of being sent to the Sudan, and three of his friends and his fiancee give him white feathers to show what they think of him...after which he does incredibly daring things to reclaim their friendship, returning each feather to the one who gave it. And saves all of their bacon in the process, needless to say.

This is the sixth time this story has been filmed, and I've seen at least two of the others...and there are good and bad points about this version.

The good things: the period detail, costume, military stuff all is LOVELY. They really spent time and money on all of this. The actors, by and large, are very good indeed. And, as every other reviewer has already said, the presentation of non-Europeans in this version is wonderful to see, much better than previous versions...but...

This is an action movie. It's supposed to be exciting. Thrill a minute, death defying, explosions and battles and peril. And, well, this version is kinda, you know, slow. Talky. Bits of action interspersed with way way way too much dialogue and indecision and soul-searching...sigh.

Watch this one for the look, it's worth it...but watch the 1939 (ANOTHER great flick from 1939!) Korda version for the story.

Interesting sideline: the actual gunboats used to relieve the siege of Khartoum in 1885 were sitting around in the Khartoum Yacht Club when the Korda version was made, so they used them! they're the big white boats in the beginning of the movie.