A Twist of Sand ** (1968, Richard Johnson, Honor Blackman, Roy Dotrice, Peter Vaughan, Jeremy Kemp, Clifford Evans) – Classic Movie Review 9797

Despite some decent action, director Don Chaffey’s 1968 film A Twist of Sand is a routine adventure with not too many twists and some rather dull acting from very decent British actors saddled with caricature roles and flat dialogue.

The cliché-ridden, old-fashioned plot, based on the novel by Geoffrey Jenkins, is about Geoffrey Peace (Richard Johnson)’s Maltese smuggling gang, David Garland (Dotrice) and Harry Riker (Kemp), falling out as they look for diamonds hidden on a Spanish galleon in a sand dune on the African coast. Peter Vaughan helps as Johann, a German war survivor, with a secret past that keys in to the present plot.

It stars Richard Johnson, Honor Blackman as Julie Chambois, Roy Dotrice, Peter Vaughan, Jeremy Kemp, Clifford Evans, Tony Cautner, Kenneth Cope, Jack May as Inspector Seekert, Guy Doleman and James Falkland.

The screenplay is by Marvin H Albert.

A Twist of Sand is directed by Don Chaffey, runs 91 minutes, is made by Christina Films, is released by United Artists, is written by Marvin H Albert, based on the novel by Geoffrey Jenkins, is shot by John Wilcox and Stephen Halliday, is produced by Fred Engel, is scored by Tristam Cary and is designed by John Stoll.

Honor Blackman died of natural causes at the age of 94 on 6 April 2020, surrounded by her loved ones at her home in Lewes, Sussex. Her family said: ‘Honor was an actor of hugely prolific creative talent with an extraordinary combination of beauty, brains and physical prowess, a unique voice and a dedicated work ethic.’

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 9797

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