Picturegoer – Feb 2nd 1955
Simba ✭✭✭✭
Virginia McKenna, Dirk Bogarde, Donald Sinden
The full force of the Mau Mau terror in Kenya is brought vividly to the screen in this intelligent, moving and, at times, terrifying film.
What is the solution to the Mau Mau problem? Is strong, drastic action the only way out? Or would a more sympathetic approach to the natives pay off in the end? The picture poses that question. But it doesn’t answer it.
Dirk Bogarde gives one of his best performances as a young Englishman who, arriving to farm in Kenya, finds that his brother – a man who dealt gently with the natives – has been brutally slaughtered.
He also meets Mary, the daughter of an elderly colonist, a girl with whom he fell in love when she visited England. The friendship – and potential romance – are renewed. Virginia McKenna plays Mary with intelligence.
She believes in the velvet glove approach to Mau Mau and helps a native doctor, educated in this country, who is suspected by both the whites and his own people. Her appeasement clashes with Bogarde’s anger.
The action builds up to a terrific climax, in which the doctor – brilliantly played by Earl Cameron – proves to be a hero and Bogarde and Mary determine to try to bring peace and understanding to the unhappy country.
Excellent support comes from Donald Sinden, as a police inspector, Marie Ney and Basil Sydney, as Mary’s parents who are pioneer farmers, and Joseph Tomelty as a white doctor.
It’s a film for those who like to think while they are entertained. I cannot recommend it too highly.
L.C.
Howard . . . . Dirk Bogarde
Drummond . . . . Donald Sinden
Mary . . . . Virginia McKenna
Mr. Crawford . . . . Basil Sidney
Mrs. Crawford . . . . Marie Ney
Dr. Hughes . . . . Joseph Tomelty
Karanja . . . . Earl Cameron
Headman . . . . Orlando Martins
Kimani . . . . Ben Johnson
Joshua . . . . Huntley Campbell
Waweru . . . . Frank Singuineau
Chege . . . . Slim Harris
G.F.D. – A Peter De Sarigny Production
“A.” 99 Mins EASTMAN COLOUR
PRODUCER: Peter De Sarigny
DIRECTOR: Brian Desmond Hurst
PHOTOGRAPHED BY Geoffrey Unsworth
MUSIC: Francis Chagrin
SCREENPLAY: John Baines
IN RELEASE
