Commemorating Rod Taylor, we turn to Dark of the Sun, routinely dismissed as a nasty slice of thick-ear but admired by Scorsese for its unflinching brutality and lean, efficient technique: possibly the best film directed by great cinematographer Jack Cardiff, who otherwise could be said to have squandered years on dreck like Girl on a Motorcycle (lovely to look at, inane and obnoxious) and The Mutations (ugly to … Dark of the Sun (also known as The Mercenaries in the UK) is a 1968 adventure war film starring Rod Taylor, Yvette Mimieux, Jim Brown, and Peter Carsten.The film, which was directed by Jack Cardiff, is based on Wilbur Smith's 1965 novel, The Dark of the Sun.The story about a band of mercenaries sent on a dangerous mission during the Congo Crisis was adapted into a screenplay by Ranald MacDougall. Dark of the Sun came out a year before The Wild Bunch but plays like a movie that came out in Peckinpah’s wake, a film carved from mean ‘70s grit. MOVIE CALL SHEET: Righteous Bros. to Star At the same time, MGM was filming Graham Greene's The Comedians (1967) in Africa, though the original took place in the Caribbean. 1968’s Dark of the Sun has been coming into its own as a kind of watershed action film, a picture that presents a real-world problem — political and racial unrest in former African colonies — but treats it as just another place to stage violent escapist thrills. Calling him a coward, his girl friend and 3 officer friends give him a white feather. I saw you sail across a river Underneath Orion's sword In your eyes there was a freedom I had never known before [Chorus:] Hey, yeah, yeah, in the dark of the sun We will stand together Yeah we will stand as one in the dark of the sun - Order by Phone 1-800-336-4627 Only Ruffo is able to stop Curry from killing Henlein. Beyond the Prism Pentad, by Bill Slavicsek. When they run low on fuel, Curry leaves to find more. Read 9 reviews from the world's largest community for readers. [14], Rod Taylor signed on to make the film in September 1966 by which time the script had been rewritten by Adrian Spies. I'd guess that because of its utter racism, a lot of people would have found it embarrassing, so they just ignored it. The film, which was directed by Jack Cardiff, is based on Wilbur Smith's 1965 novel, The Dark of the Sun. However, his real mission is to retrieve $50 million of diamonds from a mine company's vault. † Taylor's fictional character is a light homage to Congo mercenary leader "Mad" Mike Hoare, who led the Congolese 5 Commando during the actual Simba rebellion and was a technical consultant on the film. Intro Aired: May 2016 Dark Sun is an original Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) campaign setting set in the fictional, post-apocalyptic desert world of Athas. An animated action film and rather led well, inspired by authentic events, bound to the decolonization of Congo and to its procession of atrocities. Use the HTML below. Los Angeles Times 8 October 1966: 22. Dark of the Sun. I was 30 years of age, single again, and I could take the chance. Keep track of everything you watch; tell your friends. Intro Aired: May 2016 But infighting, sadistic rebels and a time lock jeopardize everything. Lawyer Tommy Farrell is a defender of crooks. Dark of the Sun DVD. One contemporary reviewer was moved to comment that the director's main objective appeared to be to pack as much sadistic violence into the film's two hours as he could. (1968). Title: British commando, Captain Curry, is hired by President Ubi of war-torn Congo, to steal $50 million in uncut diamonds from a time-locked vault before the separatist Simba army that's fighting Ubi's forces and the UN peacekeepers overruns the remote town where the bank that holds the vault is located. Take elite commandos, send them on a do-or-die assignment and sit back and watch the action explode. Give me hope, give me comfort, get me to A better place? But infighting, sadistic rebels and a … The German version is misleadingly entitled Katanga, implying the film takes place during the first Congo emergency in 1961–64, when mercenaries like Müller and 'Mad' Mike Hoare were involved. The first time I had seen Dark Of The Sun was on late night television and it was edited. MOVIE CALL SHEET: Rod Taylor to Star in 'Sun' Dark of the Sun fits into the “mercenary” subgenre of the mission flick, which also includes The Wild Geese (1978), with Richard Burton, Roger Moore, Richard Harris, and Hardy Kruger in combat fatigues, and Christopher Walken in the film version of The Dogs of War (1981). [7] In the English language version, Peter Carsten was dubbed by Paul Frees. A band of mercenaries led by Captain Curry travel through war-torn Congo across deadly terrain, battling rival armies, to steal $50 million in uncut diamonds. The answer to everything is "kill."[22]. The Dark of the Sun Lyrics: In the dark of the sun / Will you save me a place? The last coach - carrying the diamonds and most of the Europeans - rolls back into the Simba-held town as the rest of the train steams away. Dark of the Sun book. The Dark of the Sun (SIGNED 1st PRINTING of the 1st EDITION) by Wilbur Smith (Wilbur A. Smith) Seller Springbok Books Published 1965 Condition Near Fine Edition 1st Edition Item Price $ 1,675.00. Directed by Jack Cardiff. At the time of its release, Dark of the Sun was slammed by critics for excessive violence, although what we see in the picture would barely raise an eyebrow today. A view of Dark Sun. Scorsese calls the film one of his "guilty pleasures". A Tarantino favorite. Curry and Ruffo set out to retrieve the diamonds during the night. Dark of the Sun (also known as The Mercenaries in the UK) is a 1968 adventure war film starring Rod Taylor, Yvette Mimieux, Jim Brown, and Peter Carsten. Valley of Dust and Fire. Directed by Jack Cardiff. A band of mercenaries led by Captain Curry travel through war-torn Congo across deadly terrain, battling rival armies, to steal $50 million in uncut diamonds. Read 9 reviews from the world's largest community for readers. BUY NOW [13], Rod Taylor claimed he rewrote a fair amount of the script himself, including helping devise a new ending. The mercenaries reach the town by Ubi's train after surviving an attack from the UN peacekeepers, only to find a number of terrified Westerners who were driven out from their homes by force, including torture, rape and murder, by the Simba rebels. He also reluctantly recruits ex-Nazi Henlein because he needs his military expertise and leadership skills. Get a sneak peek of the new version of this page. Curry teams up with his friend Ruffo, Doctor Wreid, who's an alcoholic, and Henlein, a sadistic Nazi who left Germany after WWII to work as a mercenary. Dark Sun is a world unlike any other in the D&D cosmology–full of blazing hear, apocalyptic furor, and debilitating magic, here’s how it was born. Curry's subordinates include his black friend Ruffo and alcoholic Doctor Wreid. Dark of the Sun Photos View All Photos (10) Movie Info. [3] He elaborated: This movie-Rod Taylor vs. the Mau Maus-was the most violent I'd seen up to that time. The movie was released in France as Last Train from Katanga (French: Le dernier train du Katanga). Meanwhile, Henlein begins to cause trouble because he knows about the diamonds and resents Curry's leadership. From Wings to Parasite, here's a look back at all of the Best Picture Oscar winners in the history of the ceremony. Dark Of The Sun - (Original Trailer) Rod Taylor and Jim Brown fight to get refugees and a fortune in diamonds out of the Congo under the Dark Of The Sun (1968). Comedy. The product line began with the original Dark Sun Boxed Set released for D&D's 2nd edition in 1991, originally ran until 1996, and was one of TSR's most successful releases. During the First World War a Hunter and trader in Africa joins forces with a couple looking for a source of platinum try to survive while fleeing British soldiers, dealing with German slavers and troops, natives and cannibals. Situated at the heart of sub-Saharan Africa, it is a place where men die for diamonds. Filmland Events: Henry King to Film Story of Guadalupe. Further complications arise when the mercenaries reach the mining town. But on the path to vengeance he discovers both love and responsibility. [16], Filming started 16 January 1967. An American travels to India to avenge the murder of his business partner. At a burned-out farmhouse, they pick up a traumatised woman named Claire, who watched her husband being hacked to death by Simbas. Show Details. Canon: Dark Sun. Dark of the Sun (1968) cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. In 1961, mercenary Bruce Curry is publicly hired by Congolese President Ubi to rescue European residents from an isolated mining town about to be attacked by rebel Simbas. Description. They agree to help them leave town and befriend one of them, a pretty widow called Claire whose husband was murdered by the rebels. In the dark of the sun will you save me a place? 7 of 11 people found this review helpful. It's a truly sadistic movie, but it should be seen. View production, box office, & company info, Harry Belafonte in The World, The Flesh And The Devil Available on Blu-ray From Warner Archive, The 25 Best Classic Adventure Movies You've Never Seen. Using a Simba disguise, Ruffo carries Curry's seemingly lifeless body into the town's hotel, where harrowing scenes depict murder, torture and male rape. In redemption, he shadows his friends in war to save their lives. Elite commandos Rod Taylor and Jim Brown, mercenaries on a Congo strike mission, tangle with murderous rebels while seeking a fortune in hidden diamonds in Jack Cardiff’s ultra-violent action classic. (1995). Henlein takes advantage of his absence to kill Ruffo in the mistaken belief that he has the diamonds. TSR Inc, by L. Richard Baker III (1992). However, a mortar round destroys the coupling between the last two carriages. It wasn’t like Sam Peckinpah’s The Wild Bunch, but it could’ve been close. 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