The Sea Wolves: The Last Charge of the Calcutta Light Horse (2000) from CK Roach
Based upon a true story that was kept as a secret of the Crown until 1978, this movie was made in 1980 just after the official secrecy ended. It involved a cloak and dagger operation to remove a clandestine German radio operation in the neutral port of Goa.

NUDITY REPORT
Brief breast flash by Barbara Kellerman as she throws a champagne bottle at one of her own moronic local operatives as he tries to kill Roger Moore.
This story is a mixture of romance, espionage, action and a twist of humor. The Brits suspect a German intelligence operation, based in Goa, is transmitting information on Allied shipping movements in the Indian Ocean. This information is used by a submarine to intercept and sink the British shipping involved. Alas, Goa is a possession of ostensibly neutral Portugal. In order to shut down the German intelligence operation without overtly violating the port's neutrality, retirees from an inactive light cavalry unit in India are recruited for a clandestine operation with no medals, recognition, or other official glory.

The group poses as a bunch of drunken British retirees involved in a fishing party that somehow happens to show up late at night boarding the German vessels. Not only do these "drunks" end up on German flagged vessels, but also armed to the teeth with grenades, submachine guns and limpet mines.

The movie runs sort of slow at first. Alternating between the spying operation (involving Roger Moore and Gregory Peck) and the recruitment of the bored pensioners of the "Calcutta Light Horse Cavalry." Part of the fun occurs while the geriatric assault unit is training for the mission. One member's wife wonders about his sudden absence and interest in athletic conditioning. Her conclusion is that he is sneaking another woman on the side.

Roger Moore blunders about trying to run the spying operation in Goa while unwittingly getting romantically involved with Mrs. Cromwell (Barbara Kellerman), the head of the German Abwher unit.

DVD info from Amazon

  • full screen and widescreen versions
The movie is loaded with great, older British actors such as David Niven, Trevor Howard, and Patrick Macnee. Gregory Peck delivers a valiant attempt at speaking with a British accent.

Definitely well made, and filmed on location in India. For those who like action based upon true events, it's worth picking up the DVD as they are found as a bargain in stores that carry it ($4.99 at Wal-Mart) or from Amazon at a slightly higher price.  

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IMDb guideline: 7.5 usually indicates a level of excellence, about like three and a half stars from the critics. 6.0 usually indicates lukewarm watchability, about like two and a half stars from the critics. The fives are generally not worthwhile unless they are really your kind of material, about like two stars from the critics. Films under five are generally awful even if you like that kind of film, equivalent to about one and a half stars from the critics or less, depending on just how far below five the rating is.

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