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OPEN CLASSIC CINEMA · 1117

The Black Watch

192993 minUnited States

Video edition: Wikimedia Commons
Original language: English
This copy runs: 91:31
Subtitles: No subtitle track in this language

Languages and subtitles

No subtitle track in this language

Wikimedia Commons · John Ford · Public domain

Synopsis

At the outbreak of the First World War, a British officer receives a secret mission in India while his regiment heads for France. His unexplained absence damages his reputation. The assignment brings him into conflict with Yasmani, a leader preparing resistance to British rule, and attraction complicates his duty.

Cast

Victor McLaglen

Myrna Loy

David Torrence

Roy D'Arcy

DirectorsJohn Ford

Inspirations

John Ford's first all-talking film adapts Talbot Mundy's King of the Khyber Rifles. Its adventure is framed through a British imperial viewpoint, with local resistance presented as the danger the hero must defeat.

Sources and availability

General references identify the work and its copy. A reference beside an editorial section is linked to the claims checked in that section.

Wikipedia — film reference Wikidata — film identity and credits

Work catalogued as public domain in the United States.

The public-domain references concern the original films in the United States. Rights can differ for other countries, editions, restorations, music or translations. Sources are listed on each film page.

Availability checked on September 15, 2026.

Photograph credit

Photographs cropped, resized and optimized as WebP, displayed in monochrome.

Victor McLaglen — Los Angeles Times · CC BY 4.0
Myrna Loy — George Hurrell; eBay · Public domain
David Torrence — Universal Pictures; Universal Weekly (1922) at the Internet Archive · Public domain
Roy D'Arcy — Unknown author · Public domain

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