Guns of Darkness ** (1962, David Niven, Leslie Caron, James Robertson Justice, David Opatoshu) – Classic Movie Review 13,255

Director Anthony Asquith’s 1962 British drama film Guns of Darkness is based on on the 1960 novel Act of Mercy by Francis Clifford, and stars David Niven, Leslie Caron, James Robertson Justice, and David Opatoshu.

David Niven reunites with his Carrington VC director Anthony Asquith for this worthy rather than exciting South American escape drama with a sluggishly handled, uninteresting script by John Mortimer that has even Niven often at a loss. Subdued turns from Leslie Caron and James Robertson Justice sink it even further.

Boorish ex-pat plantation owner Niven and his wife Caron agree to smuggle wounded South American president David Opatoshu across the border to escape a revolt. This story produces an intelligent though uninspired movie that sets its pacifist message against a backdrop of heightened dramatics and exotic locations. Asquith unfolds the thoughtful, upmarket drama with some tension and visual flair, but, still, it is often tedious.

It is shot in Almería and Málaga, Andalucía, Spain, and at Associated British Elstree Studios, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England.

Release dates: July 19, 1962 (UK) and August 17, 1962 (US).

The cast are David Niven as Tom Jordan, Leslie Caron as Claire Jordan, James Robertson Justice as Hugo Bryant, David Opatoshu as President Rivera, Derek Godfrey as Hernandez, Ian Hunter as Dr Swann, Richard Pearson as Bastian, Eleanor Summerfield as Mrs Bastian, Sandor Elès -s Lieutenant Gomez, Tutte Lemkow, and John Carson.

Guns of Darkness is directed by Anthony Asquith, runs 102 minutes, is made by Cavalcade Films, is released by Associated British, is written by John Mortimer, is shot in black and white by Robert Krasker, is produced by Thomas Clyde, and is scored by Benjamin Frankel.

Francis Clifford is the pen name of Arthur Leonard Bell Thompson (1 December 1917 – 24 August 1975), a British writer of crime and thriller novels.

© Derek Winnert 2024 – Classic Movie Review 13,255

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