Dark of the Sun

This movie was first released in 1968(2011) in Widescreen 2.4.1, Metrocolour and runs 101 minutes. The sound and picture quality are very good and the extra is a Widescreen trailor. The film starts at the airport in Congo where many people are checking out to leave the country, some claiming their families were killed by 'Simbas'. A plane taxis the runway where the UN army is guarding. Waiting passengers rush the gates. Captain Bruce Curry(ROD TAYLOR) and his sergeant Ruffo(JIM BROWN) come out of the plane and the UN troops reluctantly allow them in, seeing orders from the President. At President Ubi's(CALVIN LOCKHART) residence, Curry is introduced to the Belgium Mining Company and Ubi tells Curry to get a train together for Port Reprieve, north, 300 miles through rebel territory. The mining company has diamonds there worth $50 million which the President also needs. Curry is given 3 days for his mission. Curry is offered $50 thousand and a pass to get through UN lines. At the pub Curry and Ruffo plan the train, troops, guns and money. They take Captain Henlein(PETER CARSTEN) and ask him to get 40 of his best men. Curry persuades alcoholic Doctor Wreid(KENNETH MOORE) to come along, after offering him Whisky and money. Whole night is spent getting the train ready. The news spreads in town that the train was going north for $50 million worth diamonds. Next morning the train leaves loaded with men, ammunition and guns into the Congo jungle. Their first hurdle comes when a plane attacks the train, but the tunnel saves them. Next they pick up Claire(YVETTE MIMIEUX), a suvival from Simbas. The train arrives at deserted Mbapa Junction, where Henlein shoots 2 children and a fight breaks between Curry and him, which Ruffo breaks. Finally at 3pm, they arrive at Port Reprieve, where people are waiting. The Superindentent tells Curry that the radio had announced that the train was coming and that the diamonds were locked in a safe, which won't open until 6 pm. As they load the train with people, the Simbas are not far away.This story of WILBUR A SMITH is beautifully photographed in Metrocolour and Widescreen by EDWARD SCAIFE and briskly directed by JACK CARDIFF. There is good background music by JACQUES LOUSSIER. The action scenes are very good, and some of the very violent scenes have been removed. The actors give good performances.ROD TAYLOR(RODNEY STURT TAYLOR) was born on 11.1.1930 in Lidcombe, Sydney, Australia. His great-great grand uncle, Captain Charles Sturt, was a famous British explorer of the outback Australia in the 19th century. Taylor decided to become an actor after seeing Sir Lawrence Olivier in Australia. He worked on radio and stage. While visiting Los Angeles, he signed up for MGM in 1954. He did many TV westerns like Cheyenne, Maverick and Wagon Train. After many films, he returned to TV in the 1970's, like The Oragon Trail, Murder she wrote and Walker Texas Ranger. He returned to Australia and did some films there in 1977, 1983 and 1997. His first wife was PEGGY WILLIAMS(1951-1954), second wife model MARY HILEM(1963-1969) and 3rd wife CAROL KIKUMURA(1980). Rod Taylor is now 81 years old.Some of Rod Taylor's films are:-(1) King of the Coral Sea, 1954(2) Top Gun, 1955(3) The Birds, 1963(4) The V.I.P's, 1963(5) 36 Hours, 1965(6) Hotel, 1967(7) Chuka, 1967(8) The Train Robbers, 1973(9) Trader Horn, 1973(10)On The Run, 1983Watch and ENJOY.

A rough and ready movie at the time of it's release with suggestions of amoral violence and male rape in one scene, it does not shy away from the brutal nature of the war in the Congo during the 1960's. Rod Taylor turns in a credible performance as Curry, the hard-bitten ex-Legionnaire turned gun for hire.The plot however struggles with Curry's relationship with his black Sergeant played by Jim Brown. It is very difficult to believe a white mercenary commander at that time would have had an almost non-judgemental friendship with a black NCO. Curry's character was loosely based on Mike Hoare, commander of the mercenary element in Congo who in modern day terms would almost certainly be considered a white supremachist. I personally know an old hand from mercenary operations in the Congo and clearly he was driven by cash, adventure and white supremacy.Overall a very good action movie with enhanced picture quality.

it's great that "warner bros" have been sifting through their archives to release the more obscure films. "dark of the sun" is one that i have been waiting for and finally, here it is.this war film is a bit like "the wild geese" of the 1960s with the simbas, political corruption, double-crosses and slim odds of success in the operation, in evidence.behind the scenes, it was a difficult shoot, what with kenneth more having some of his scenes cut before filming them and also ones that didn't make the finished film, plus rod taylor and jim brown engaging in arguments, turning up late for filming, boasting about what big stars they thought they were and petty "point-scoring" over each other. all the above led to moments of considerable tension throughout.however, the results are marvellous. there is plenty of action to keep the viewer happy and occupied, the fighting sequence between the plane and the train is one of the best.during the scene where the soldiers rescue those civilians from the clutches of the simbas, the action is both pulsating and brutal.i wouldn't be surprised if "dark of the sun" had been granted an "x" certificate for its british release as the violence content is considerable for a film of this period as it is rather barbariac and stomach-churning.my favourite performance is that of kenneth more, he was and is an under-rated actor. specialising in playing cheeky, happy-go-lucky, stiff upper lip characters, he plays a somewhat different one in this film as the slightly tragic and sad doctor who is a shadow of his former self, thanks to the demon drink. he does display moments of humour though, the scenes of him drunk and incapable are quite amusing and i love the bit where he enters a shooting contest in the bar. kenneth more was quoted as calling the filming of this film "the only unhappy experience i have had during my acting career."if you love war movies, you will love this one.

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Great to see this again, better than I remembered from having seen it many years ago on TV, Rod Taylor in good form, not the greatest movie ever made, but certainly watchable, and quite gripping in parts, since no one else has made a film about the Congo civil war, as far as I know. Confused moralising and violent action (but censored), I wonder if an uncut version still exists?

Although set in a land and time of terrible violence, this film is more about how a man can be driven to extremes as a result of living the life of a mercenary, and the effect that it has on him and those around him. I first watched this film as a result of being a Wilbur Smith (author) fan and found the film even better than the book, which is most unusual. It’s sad that it has never been re-released in it’s original full format, but even so, I loved watching the film again and I will continue to hope that eventually the full uncut version will be released soon.If, you’ve never seen the film - just buy it