robertguttman

Derring-do in the desert, re-teaming Anthony Quale and Sylvia Sims, who previously appeared together trekking across the desert in "Ice Cold in Alex" (1958). Along for the ride are Derek Fowlds (from "Yes Minister") and a young Jenny Agutter, whom viewers may remember from "Logan's Run" (1976). This time, however, instead of trying to stay one jump ahead of "Jerry" in the Western Desert, Tony and Sylvie are on the run from Dervishes, Arab slavers and Fuzzy-Wuzzies in 1880's Sudan.

Most of the action sequences are lifted straight out of the 1939 film version of "The Four Feathers." However, that is not a bad thing, since "The Four Feathers" was one of the greatest action-adventure films ever produced and, unlike the dreadful 2002 remake, actually was filmed entirely on location in the Sudan, something which would be impossible today.

Anthony Quale plays an experienced British "Squaddie" trying to escape to Khartoum after his entire unit has gotten the chop. En route he falls in with a green young Lieutenant (Fowlds) along with a prudish British governess (Sims) and her Egyptian charge played by young Jenny Agutter in her first film role. Quale quickly demonstrates that he is the only one of the mismatched group who is able to distinguish his sphincter from his medial brachial joint. However, his principal difficulty is in persuading his upper-class companions to accept the leadership of a mere "prole". This film may not quite be up to the quality of "The Four Feathers", nor even of "Ice Cold in Alex", but it is an entertaining journey nonetheless.

This is one of those movies which has sadly been almost completely forgotten. I suspect that is probably due to the fact that there aren't any "stars" in it. Instead, in this film the sort of character actors who usually appeared in the secondary and supporting roles take center stage and are given a rare opportunity to shine, and they certainly succeed in doing so. The inimitable Zasu Pitts takes center stage as a singer who makes Florence Foster Jenkins sound like Maria Callas. Nevertheless, she has gained one devoted fan, a Damon Runyonesque gangster who is determined to use his money and his muscle to place her on a Broadway stage. The dialogue is razor-sharp and hilarious, and it is delivered by some of the best character actors in the business. This one is not shown very often any more but, if you ever get the chance to see it, it definitely is worth seeing.

There is no question that "The Magnificent Ambersons" is a magnificent film. However, when one considers the context of what was going on in the country at the time when this movie was released (July 1942) one can easily perceive why it was doomed to failure. The country had recently entered World War II and, at that point, the fortunes of war were not going well for the Allies. Back home, moviegoers wanted to see "Yankee Doodle Dandy", they wanted to se "Casablanca". What they did NOT want to see was a down-beat movie about the decline of a late-19th-Century upper-class Midwestern family. Under those circumstances, one can easily see how this movie was foredoomed to flop.