A Sétima Aurora

This film was made in Malaya in 1963. Because it was to show scenes of burning a malay kampong, the British government refused permission for their troops to take part. Australia was approached and agreed. Myself and about 80 other soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, the royal Australian regiment, who were based at terendak camp, malacca, malaya were selected. We got to meet bill holden and beautiful cupacine the french actress and many other people on the set (directer camera men and so on). it was all very exiting and over 40 years ago. I still have a number of black and white photos taken at various times. by the way when it was released it was called "the year of the dragon" evidently it was thought not a good title for America and changed to the "seventh dawn" when i attend battalion re-unions on the gold coast in queensland, those of us who were in the film still enjoy a good laugh about our parts, but then again the subject was very close to our hearts. it is the only fight against communist terrorist that was a full success, although Vietnam was, only for what the press did at tet.

As others have noted, The 7th Dawn is a surprisingly good film and deserves more attention. It opens with a stunningly photographed title sequence that evokes the haunting atmosphere and strange tension of Henri Rousseau's jungle paintings. As soon as the titles fade, however, we are suddenly thrust into the middle of a brutal mass execution towards the end of World War II in Malaysia. The entire film plays off of this combination of sudden violence and the mysterious, unearthly beauty of the jungle.

In its quest for national independence for Malaysia, a guerilla army threatens British colonial society with acts of terrorism that leave the good civilized folk on edge. They ask an American ex-pat, William Holden, to intercede with the leader of the rebels, played by Tetsuro Tamba, because the two are old friends and served together in a guerilla army on the side of the Allies when they were all fighting the Japanese. Capucine also served with the two men in their guerilla days, and these three form an interesting romantic triangle that goes much deeper than those found in most films, involving loyalty to and betrayal of friends, lovers, family, nation, and ideology.

Though we've seen Holden's character, Major Ferris, in other movies (from Rick in Casablanca on down), it's a great role for the actor, who fills it with vigor, intelligence, and the necessary animal sensitivity. It helps that he has good writing behind him, and, in fact, the screenplay is one of the strengths of the movie, with complex characters involved in murky moral situations, a plot that keeps you intrigued and guessing, and some larger themes right out of Joseph Conrad. Susannah York's character may be a weak point of the film, but the acting in general is quite good. The Malaysian setting is quite exotic, and Freddie Young's (Lawrence of Arabia, Doctor Zhivago, etc.) incredible photography adds to the moody, violent and lush atmosphere of the film. It all adds up to action, adventure, mystery, political intrigue, some refreshingly mature romantic relationships, and even a touch of humor. Though it doesn't quite rank up there with The Bridge on the River Kwai or Lawrence of Arabia, people who liked those films should find The 7th Dawn a surprisingly strong film and definitely worth watching.

This movie deserves a better rating,that's for sure.Capucine's character is arguably the stand-out as she portrays an uncompromising proud pure heroin,à la Joan of Arc,with dignity and grandeur.Her last scene particularly impresses as the cinematography does.Lewis Gilbert is not a seventh art genius but he avoids pathos and melodrama by using ellipsis :Holden and York are still in the jungle,desperately trying to arrive before it's too late and abruptly,the story takes us forward,several days after they returned.

That said,York's character in not really credible,and Tamba's part is too cardboard when it demanded an ambiguous, in depth psychology.But interest is sustained till the end and I think the movie should be restored to favor.

When the old KCOP Channel 13 in Los Angeles showed matinées (afterschool for me then), I saw this engrossing movie. Who could resist the lushness of the Malay jungle juxtaposed with the British Governor's pristine lawns? Not to mention the fascinating interweaving of the old love triangle amongst Ferris, Dhana, and Ng with an anti-colonial rebellion? I may have been a precocious child, but these things were clear to me amidst the Vietnam War. It's good to see others who recall this movie for what it remains--a trenchant comment on nationalist insurgents fighting their imperialist overlords. The irony is that, despite the purity of their intentions, the guerrillas destroy what they fight for: control of their own destiny. One might read the lovely Dhana as the fragile Malayan countryside laid waste in the ensuing skirmishes. True enough that the British colonial government executes Dhana. Yet both Ferris and Ng lose their dreams as well: Ferris leaves Malaya without Dhana (or even Candace), and Ng is dead.

When I found the LP recording of the beautiful Riz Ortolani score about 20 years ago, I snatched it up. I won't expect a CD version, but Ortolani deserves to be lauded for music that supports the storyline. We may well remember "More" from Mondo Cane, but the haunting theme from The 7th Dawn can hold its own.

Now, if only one could include this movie in a grouping of films with the broad theme of protesting war (Live for Life, Year of Living Dangerously, Torn Apart, Indochine)and show them to politicians....

Odd, that I don't recall the word 'communist' being uttered throughout this picture. Anyone notice if it was? It was pretty clear from the references and the red stars the Ng and his guerrillas were communists. This is an entertaining film from a jungle war that has been largely forgotten in the shadow of Vietnam. The British spent 12 years eradicating the elements they called "communist terrorists" before Malaysia became independent. Most of their enemies weren't conveniently

uniformed like Ng's forces, but were more like the grenade-tossing chauffeur. The SAS played a key role in suppressing the communists, and the British pretty much wrote the book on how to deal with these sort of insurgencies, lessons the

Americans too often seem to forget (though they slowly seem to be figuring it out in Iraq and Afghanistan). Saw this movie years ago and liked it, liked it more in a recent viewing, in spite of its flaws. Always liked Holden, have a real soft spot for Susannah York - and Capucine was splendid. Some great cars in this movie, too (and a Gloster Meteor, too, I think). And yes, superbly photographed.