Sanders of the River

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Sanders of the River
Alternate title: Bosambo
Sanders River 35.jpg
Film poster
Directed by Zoltán Korda
Produced by Alexander Korda
Written by Lajos Biró
Jeffrey Dell
Edgar Wallace
Arthur Wimperis
Starring Leslie Banks
Paul Robeson
Cinematography Osmond Borradaile
Louis Page
Georges Périnal
Editing by Charles Crichton
Release date(s)
  • 8 April 1935 (1935-04-08)
Running time 98 minutes
Country United Kingdom
Language English

Sanders of the River is a 1935 British film directed by Zoltán Korda, based on the stories of Edgar Wallace.

Contents

Plot [edit]

Sanders is a British colonial District Commissioner in 1930s Nigeria. He tries to rule his province and the various tribes comprising the Peoples of the River fairly. He is regarded with respect by some and with fear by others, known as "Sandi" and "Lord Sandi". He has an ally in Bosambo, a literate and educated chief, but when Sanders goes on leave, another chief, King Mofolaba, spreads the rumour that "Sandi is dead." Intertribal war seems inevitable and the situation is made worse by gun-runners and slavers.

"Lord Ferguson" his relief, is unequal to the task, so Sanders returns to restore peace. Bosambo's wife Lilongo is kidnapped, and Bosambo furiously tracks down her kidnappers. Captured himself, he is about to die when a relief force, commanded by Sanders, arrives to save them, and Mofolaba is killed by Bosambo.

Cast [edit]

Paul Robeson disowns the film [edit]

The African-American singer and actor Paul Robeson accepted the role of Bosambo while he was living in London and was engaged in the academic study of the roots of pan-African culture through studies of language and music. He felt that if he could portray the Nigerian leader, Bosambo, with cultural accuracy and dignity, he could help audiences—especially Black audiences—to understand and respect the roots of Black culture. The filmmakers even took an unusual step towards authenticity by sending a film crew on a four-month voyage into remote areas of the African continent to record traditional African dances and ceremonies. These would be interwoven with the studio scenes.

After the filming, Robeson was asked back to the studio for retakes of some scenes. He discovered that the film’s message had been changed during editing; it seemed to justify imperialism and upholding the "White Man's Burden"; the finished film is dedicated to "the handful of white men whose everyday work is an unsung saga of courage and efficiency".[1] Bosambo was changed from a Nigerian leader to a servile lackey of British colonial rule. Robeson was furious and complained:

"The imperialist plot had been placed in the plot during the last days five days of shooting...I was roped into the picture because I wanted to portray the culture of the African people and I committed a faux pas which convinced me that I had failed to weigh the problems of 150,000,000 native Africans...I hate the picture."[2] In 1938, Robeson also added disparagingly: "It is the only film of mine that can be shown in Italy or Germany, for it shows the negro as Fascist states desire him - savage and childish."[3]

Robeson was so disillusioned by the picture that he attempted, but failed, to buy back all the prints to prevent it from being shown.[4]

It was later parodied in the Will Hay film Old Bones of the River, which also featured the characters of Commissioner Sanders, Captain Hamilton and Bosambo seen in this film, but played by different actors.

References [edit]

  1. ^ "Korda and Empire", BFI screenonline page
  2. ^ Duberman, Martin, Paul Robeson The Discovery of Africa, 1989, p. 182.
  3. ^ Duberman, Martin, Paul Robeson The Discovery of Africa, 1989, p. 180.
  4. ^ Robeson, Susan, A Pictorial Biography of Paul Robeson: The Whole World in His Hands, 1981, p. 73.

External links [edit]