Khartoum *** (1966, Charlton Heston, Laurence Olivier, Richard Johnson, Ralph Richardson) – Classic Movie Review 8535

‘They say the Nile still runs red from the Battle of Khartoum!’ ‘Khartoum — where the Nile divides, the great Cinerama adventure begins!’

Director Basil Dearden’s 1966 adventure Khartoum is an intriguing, thoughtful and well-acted historical movie of the tale of the conflict between General Gordon (Charlton Heston) and the Mahdi (Laurence Olivier) in 1884. It was nominated for one Oscar – Best Writing, Story and Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen (Robert Ardrey) – and two Baftas – Best British Art Direction Colour (John Howell) and Best British Actor (Ralph Richardson).

The Bible-reading, misogynist soldier Gordon is sent to the Sudan by the cynical British Prime Minister William Gladstone (Ralph Richardson) to save an Egyptian army trapped by 100,000 dervishes led by the Mahdi.

Rousing acting work from a blacked-up Olivier, an above-par Heston, and a scene-stealing Richardson offsets some disappointing casting in the lower orders. Other pluses are the intelligent writing (screen-writer Robert Ardrey was Oscar-nominated), lovely Technicolor cinematography by Edward Scaife and Harry Waxman (photographer: second unit), producing a great-looking movie, exciting battle scenes (courtesy inspired second-unit director Yakima Canutt) and a lavish production by Julian Blaustein.

Dearden’s surprisingly plodding direction, some acting weaknesses and the script’s failure to explain Gordon’s complexities slightly let the side down, but overall it is a good Sixties epic.

Also in the cast are Richard Johnson as Colonel J.D.H. Stewart, Hugh Williams as Lord Hartington, Alexander Knox as Sir Evelyn Baring, Johnny Sekka, Nigel Green as General Wolseley, Michael Hordern, Ralph Michael as Sir Charles Dilke, Marne Maitland, Zia Mohyeddin, Douglas Wilmer, Edward Underdown, Alec Mango, George Pastell, Peter Arne as Major Kitchener, Alan Tilvern, Roger Delgado, Leo Genn, and Ronald Leigh-Hunt.

Obviously such period ideas as Olivier’s blackface performance, Douglas Wilmer’s casting as Khalifa Abdullah and no female character would raise eyebrows today.

It cost a fairly hefty $6,000,000.

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 8535

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