Archive for March 2023
Zulu 1964 – Empire triumphs
Director: Cy Endfield. Cast: Stanley Baker, Nigel Green, Michael Caine (introducing) In the early to mid-1960s, massive worldwide shifts happened. All the “colonies” were becoming independent. Old timers could see their nations crumble in front of their eyes. No wonder, in this atmosphere, the English-speaking world took to a gentleman named James Bond,…
Read MoreZulu Dawn (1979). Empire’s Disaster
Director: Douglas Hickox. Cast: Burt Lancaster, Peter O’Toole, Simon Ward, Bob Hoskins Films on the British Empire usually have a familiar trope – the “Empire brought civilisation “and “progress”. Rarely are the subjects of the Empire treated with respect. Mostly the “local natives” are treated onscreen with ridicule and scorn. Wicked local villains usually…
Read MoreThe Odessa File (1974) – Lost in adaptation
Director: Ronald Neame . Script: George Markstein (also an excellent spy fiction writer) Cast: Jon Voight, Maximilian Schell, Mary Tamm Israel has always considered itself to be facing existential threats from everywhere. Historically the state of Israel seemed at its most fragile from its declaration of independence in 1948 till the 1967 Seven-Day War.…
Read MoreTo End All Wars (2001) – From despair and anger to Forgiveness.
World War 2 usually has a one-sided, one-dimensional portrayal of the Allies. Very rarely are the enemies humanised – even if they are evil. Rarely do the onscreen sufferings translate into a personal, almost spiritual salvation for the person undergoing severe torture and terrible health, yet emerging victorious in spirit at the end of the…
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