mortlich

Like so many of the other reviewers, I rate this film highly, as it has a powerful story to tell, and the actors do full justice to their roles. It is also extraordinary, in that it is shown in black and white, then in colour, and finally in black and white again, the changes occurring as the time-setting changes, from 20th century to 19th and back again. Many of my fellow reviewers lament the fact that they cannot lay their hands on a DVD of this film, "which is never shown on TV", and this is what propelled me to write, because it IS available (Region 2) from a UK supplier, called "Old Rare Films". This is not a commercial for them, not at all.

Others have done this film justice in their rave reviews. To these, I would add that, to understand more fully the deep-seated desire for revenge on the part of the OAS against De Gaulle, and their many attempts to assassinate him, one needs to learn about the French in Algeria, the history of the conflict (1954 -1962) which ended in De Gaulle's virtual capitulation to the nationalists / terrorists. "A Savage War of Peace", by Alistair Horne, is a good start.

The film consists almost entirely of a merchant navy captain's first voyage in charge of a ship with a passenger on board. How that voyage turns out - and it lasts about thirty days - makes for gripping viewing, as passions run high on several issues, by no means only on account of the comely female passenger. There are many well-known British actors on duty here, and they turn in solid performances.