The Mercenaries [Dark of the Sun] *** (1968, Rod Taylor, Yvette Mimieux, Jim Brown, Kenneth More, Peter Carsten) – Classic Movie Review 9071

Wilbur Smith’s second published novel The Dark of the Sun (1965), about mercenaries during the Congo Crisis, was filmed as The Mercenaries (1968) starring Rod Taylor and Yvette Mimieux.

Director Jack Cardiff’s 1968 MGM British movie The Mercenaries [Dark of the Sun] is a violent, pretty exciting old-style action adventure, with a decent yarn adapted from Wilbur Smith’s novel Dark of the Sun, whizzed along in some style and at a good, driving lick by director Cardiff.

Rod Taylor makes a stiff but serviceable hero as British commando Captain Bruce Curry, who is found leading band of mercenaries, saving a train full of war-torn Congo people and stealing $50 million worth of uncut diamonds in a time-locked vault from the rebels, after being hired by Congo President Mwamini Ubi (Calvin Lockhart).

Other actors making an impression include Jim Brown as mercenary Sergeant Ruffo, Yvette Mimieux as refugee Claire and Kenneth More as drunken medic Dr Wreid.

The Mercenaries [Dark of the Sun] is a handsome-looking movie, mainly thanks to director/ co-cinematographer Cardiff’s painterly eye, shooting in Jamaica and in the MGM British Studios, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England.

Ranald MacDougall co-scripted the screenplay (credited as Quentin Werty) with Adrian Spies, adapting Wilbur Smith’s second published novel The Dark of the Sun. Smith had just written his first published novel, When the Lion Feeds, and gained a film contract. Film rights were bought by Stanley Baker but no movie resulted. However, Smith decided to quit his job in the South African taxation office, having enough money in sales and unclaimed leave not to have to work for two years. He recalled: ‘I hired a caravan, parked it in the mountains, and wrote the second book. I knew it was sort of a watershed. I was 30 years of age, single again, and I could take the chance.’

Also in the cast are André Morell, Alan Gifford, Calvin Lockhart, Olivier Despax, Guy Deghy, Bloke Modisane, David Bauer, Murray Kash, John Serret, Danny Daniels, Louise Bennett, Alex Gradussov, Paul Jantzen, Monique Lucas and Emery J Ujvari.

The Mercenaries [Dark of the Sun] is directed by Jack Cardiff, runs 101 minutes, is made and released by MGM, is written by Ranald MacDougall and Adrian Spies, based on the novel Dark of the Sun by Wilbur Smith, is shot in Metrocolor by Ted Scaife and Jack Cardiff, is produced by George Englund, is scored by Jacques Loussier and is designed by Elliott Scott.

RIP Zambian-born South African novelist Wilbur Smith, who died on 13 November 2021, aged 88.

Tony Klinger writes: ‘We made two of Wilbur’s books into films, Gold and Shout at the Devil. I knew him from his first days as a notable, best-selling author. My father [Michael Klinger] helped him set up business wise. As a teller of stories he was one of the very best.’

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 9071

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