Sirocco (1951)

Director:

Curtis Bernhardt

Writers:

A.I. Bezzerides (writer)
Hans Jacoby (writer)

Release Date:

13 June 1951 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Action

Tagline:

BEYOND CASABLANCA . . . Fate, in a Low-cut Gown, Lies in Wait for Bogart!

Plot:

A cynical American expatriate gets involved in smuggling and gun-running for the rebels during the 1925 Syrian insurgency against French occupation.

Plot Keywords:

Rebel | 1925 | Syria | Smuggling | Gun

Cast

Humphrey Bogart	...	Harry Smith
Märta Torén	...	Violette
Lee J. Cobb	...	Col. Feroud
Everett Sloane	...	Gen. LaSalle
Gerald Mohr	...	Major Jean Leon
Zero Mostel	...	Balukjiaan
Nick Dennis	...	Nasir Aboud
Onslow Stevens	...	Emir Hassan
Ludwig Donath	...	Flophouse proprietor
David Bond	...	Achmet
Vincent Renno	...	Arthur

Runtime:

98 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Arabic

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

Norway:16 | Australia:PG | Finland:S | Sweden:15 | USA:Approved (PCA #15117)

Company:

Santana Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

According to actor Jamie Farr, the movie debuted on Saturday night at the Rivoli in his home town of Toledo. Most of Toledo's Arab-American community turned out to see it. As a scene where Bogart walks though a crowded bazaar begins to fade, an Arab voice is heard shouting, "Ya hallah deen bayak!" which caused most of the audience to collapse in laughter. The non-Arabs in the house did not understand why everyone else was laughing until the line was translated for them: "Goddamn your father!"

Goofs:

Continuity: Toward the end of the film, Col. Feroud walks around with Maj. Leon. Then they stop for a while and Leon takes the cigarette from his mouth with his left hand. In the next shot, he takes the cigarette from mouth again, this time with his right hand.

Quotes:

Harry Smith: I sure thought you were a goner.
Col. Feroud: Buying my freedom was your idea, I suppose.
Harry Smith: Yes, it was.
Col. Feroud: Why did you do it? I should think you'd want to see me out of the way.
Harry Smith: I made a little money on the deal.
Col. Feroud: I see.
Harry Smith: I saved your life and you seem to resent it.
Col. Feroud: I do.
Harry Smith: Maybe you should have had me shot after all.
Col. Feroud: I agree.

A Bogart hidden treasure..

I totally enjoyed this film. I wasn't expecting much from what I had previously read (on here) and if you can try and not think about some of Bogart's other triumphs, this is a quick moving, interesting enough film with underlining truths..

Basically Bogart has been presented with a choice of doing right or wrong in a war torn city in Syria, trying to mind his own business and continue to profit himself with supplying guns to rebel fighters, he is steered towards helping the French. Of course this would also help him get out of the city and onto better places..but the story unveils complications for him..

Bogart's role is similar to his other characters but not entirely, he's definitely got that "cynic on the outside, but heart pointing in the right direction on the inside" thing going on.

Also, the film does have other strong roles, in particular the very beautiful Märta Torén as Violette, she trys to resist Bogart's outlaw charm but in the end like the rest of us, cant get enough..she is also a good choice of casting, definitely an unusual beauty about her with a presence to match.

My only glitch about this film and I noticed it right away, was that the French / Foreign army officers and in particular Everett Sloane as Gen. LaSalle speak with American and British accents. Could they not even try and break out in a French accent? What was the director thinking (You will notice in the glorious 'Casablanca', every nationality was played with the utmost truth to where they had come from, even a line or two in their given language)? However, overlooking that, this is a great film and I can't see why any Bogie fan would not dig it.

~paul browne.