Promo still found for "Storm Over Bengal" — Is this the smoking gun that proves the movie was filmed on the Iverson Movie Ranch?

"Storm Over Bengal" (1938)

I was lucky enough to track down a copy of the promotional still you see above, which is from the Republic production "Storm Over Bengal" — a movie I've found impossible to locate.

"Army Girl" (1938)

I did some comparing between the "Storm Over Bengal" photo and screen shots from "Army Girl," another Republic production from the same year. "Army Girl" was released just three months before "Storm Over Bengal."

I was able to determine that the "Storm Over Bengal" promo shot depicts the same building seen in "Army Girl," which is known to be a part of the Sheep Flats adobes at the Iverson Movie Ranch.

Here's another shot from "Army Girl," showing the side portion of the building that also appears in the "Storm Over Bengal" promo shot, in addition to another angle on the front of the building.

In this version of the shot from "Army Girl" I've marked the sections of the building that are also visible in the "Storm Over Bengal" promo shot.

This shot points out an angular section of wall adjoining the side of the building in "Army Girl." This same section of wall is partially visible in the "Storm Over Bengal" shot, as noted below.

This section of wall, seen both in "Army Girl" and in the "Storm Over Bengal" promo still, is one of the keys to matching up the locations in the two productions. Even though only a tiny portion of the area behind the wall is visible in this "Storm Over Bengal" shot, it's enough to reveal that the structure's irregular shape is a match.

Another key point of comparison is what appears to be a slightly dented area in the front of the building. This area is plainly visible in the "Storm Over Bengal" promo still, at left, and appears to be represented by a slightly shaded area in "Army Girl," at right. (You may not be able to see it without clicking on the photo for a larger view.) This shot also points out the irregularity in the shape of the tapered pillar that forms the corner of the building.

So is the promo still for "Storm Over Bengal" the smoking gun that proves the movie was shot at Iverson? Unfortunately, I would have to say no, only because it can be a mistake to equate where a promotional photo was shot with where a movie actually filmed. The two events often take place in different locations.

However, because the promo shot prominently features the building — implying that the building would have been featured in the movie itself — and with all the actors conveniently on the set in costume, the weight of the evidence points to the still being shot during a timeout from production. So even though the ultimate proof will have to come from the movie itself, if it can be found, the promo still does make a strong case that the movie was filmed at Iverson.

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Ditulis Itsuyasuzukige — Minggu, 16 November 2014 — Add Comment — Army Girl, Sheep Flats adobes, Storm Over Bengal