6.0
An American engineer reaches Mombasa to finish the works of an African railroad and to find his predecessor, who has mysteriously disappeared. While the work continues, will have to face several obstacles, especially violent local tribes, Arabs slave traders and wild animals.
Robert Taylor
Robert Adamson
Anthony Newley
Hooky Hook
Anne Aubrey
Jane Carlton
Grégoire Aslan
Ben Ahmed
Allan Cuthbertson
Sexton
Martin Benson
Ali
Orlando Martins
Chief
Donald Pleasence
Captain
Earl Cameron
Witchdoctor
John Dimech
Pasha
Martin Boddey
Gunther
Harry Baird
Boraga
Anthony Jacobs
Mustaph
Director
Richard Thorpe
Book
Daniel P. Mannix
Book
J.A. Hunter
Screenplay
Earl Felton
Screenplay
John Gilling
Story
Richard Maibaum
Story
Cyril Hume
May 16, 2023
6
It's an hybrid of many things, this - and all set in the not very politically correct scenario of late 19th century colonial Africa. Robert Taylor is "Adamson" - a railway engineer tasked with completing a dangerous stretch of track between Mombasa and Lake Victoria. No mean feat as he must face duplicity from some, slave-trading, locals with vested interests and some hostility from the natives whose land he must cross. Adding to his difficulties, he is engaged by "Jane" (a pretty unremarkable Anne Aubrey) to try to track down her engineer brother - a man charged with the same task earlier, but who has disappeared. It's a solid boy's own adventure story this with plenty of stereotypes of the time peppering a tale that has little jeopardy but just enough action and beasties to sustain it for ninety minutes. The one thing I did struggle with was the curious casting of Anthony Newley as his assistant "Hooky" but otherwise this is just a sort of "King Solomon's Mines" meets "Northwest Frontier" type of film that lauded the pioneering spirit of empire at a time when that's what cinema audiences wanted. It's entirely forgettable fayre, and very much of a time long gone - in just about every fashion.
Status:
Released
Original Language:
English
Budget:
$0.00
Revenue:
$0.00