Guns at Batasi
| Guns at Batasi | |
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 Cinema poster |
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| Directed by | John Guillermin |
| Produced by | George H. Brown |
| Written by | Robert Holles |
| Starring | Richard Attenborough Jack Hawkins Flora Robson |
| Music by | John Addison |
| Cinematography | Douglas Slocombe |
| Editing by | Max Benedict |
| Distributed by | Twentieth Century Fox |
| Release date(s) | September 1964 (UK) 16 November 1964 (U.S.) |
| Running time | 103 min |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
Guns at Batasi is a 1964 drama film starring Richard Attenborough, Jack Hawkins, Flora Robson, John Leyton and Mia Farrow. It is set in an overseas colonial military outpost during the last days of the British Empire in East Africa.
The film, which is based on the novel The Siege of Battersea by Robert Holles, was directed by John Guillermin and filmed at Pinewood Studios despite being set in Africa.
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[edit] Plot
A group of veteran British sergeants, headed by an ultra-correct, order-barking Regimental Sergeant Major, are caught between two dissident factions in an unnamed newly-created African state (most likely Kenya, since the character of RSM Lauderdale mentions that the Turkana people live in the north, which is where they live in Kenya). The story neatly exposes the feelings of the professional NCOs, their officers and the African soldiers and officers, who are still painfully new to both guns and political slogans. When the post-colonial government of the unnamed African country is overthrown by a populist uprising, troops loyal to the new administration take over the barracks, arrest the commanding officer and seize weapons. With the British NCOs cut off in the Sergeants' mess during the mutiny, the action boils down to the initiative and confusion of the griping, duty-hardened British soldiers in defending Captain Abraham (a wounded African officer), and themselves, against their former allies. The mess situation is further complicated by having to temporarily accommodate a female British MP and a UN secretary, the latter providing some love interest.
Eventually the minor action comes to anti-climactic end when the country's new administration allows the senior British officers to return to the barracks at Batasi and end the siege, but not before the RSM and a private involve themselves in some 'action'. The film concludes with the news that a new government is in power. The film illustrates an erupting new world where the so-called common man, both black and white, no longer has a clear idea of the realpolik due to the social revolutions in a post-colonial world.
[edit] Performances
Richard Attenborough plays the R.S.M. brilliantly as a ramrod and an unblinking slave to the letter of military law. He is a proper hero, albeit a boring one, to his tough mates who are not averse to mimicking him. In the face of attack by African troops with a Bofors gun or a showdown with the African leader of the revolt, he proves his mettle in unflinching, steely style. Attenborough's opportunities to ham it up are many, but even in the face of climactic orders to return to England he delivers a shaded performance that gives stature and meaning to what could have been a stereotyped role. He won a BAFTA Film Award for his performance.
Errol John, as the mutinous officer and Earl Cameron, as the African commander he arrests, are portrayed as hard and relentless men who are acting on ideologies.
Percy Herbert, David Lodge, Bernard Horsfall, John Meillon and Graham Stark are tough, efficient and wise-cracking British NCOs. Jack Hawkins contributes typical British restraint as the commandant of Batasi.
John Leyton as the youthful Private Wilkes and Mia Farrow (eldest daughter of the late director John Farrow and Maureen O'Sullivan) as a United Nations secretary, lend a touch of youthful romance to the proceedings in the roles of a couple of voyagers stranded in the barracks during the clash.
Flora Robson, as a visiting Member of Parliament, provides a restrained performance as the shocked and confused politician caught up in the sudden turn of events. Robson's sympathetic portrayal balances the action with the political motivations. Her character states the film's theme precisely when she says to Attenborough's character: "I disapprove of their methods as I do of yours"; the character appears to share (at least in theory) the revolutionary objectives of the rebels while not understanding what such objectives commit the men to do.
[edit] Cast
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[edit] Production notes
The film, although set in Africa, was shot entirely at Pinewood Studios (at the same time as Goldfinger). The exterior night scenes were filmed on a sound stage and opening scenes were done on Salisbury Plain.
Britt Ekland was originally cast as Karen Eriksson. Shortly after filming began, she went to Los Angeles. She had just married Peter Sellers who apparently was afraid she would have an affair with Leyton: her role was recast and completed by Farrow.
Three-packs-a-day smoker Jack Hawkins' voice is audibly fraying: it was almost the last film he made before surgery for throat cancer removed his vocal cords and left him with little more than a whisper as a voice.
John Leyton provides the DVD commentary on the making of the film.
Music was recorded by the Sinfonia of London orchestra.
[edit] External links
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