Sirocco (1951)

Director:

Curtis Bernhardt

Writers:

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

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:

Jewelry | Night Club | Belly Dancer | Catacombs | Gunrunner

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
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Abdullah Abbas	...	Arab singer (uncredited)
John Bleifer	...	Hungarian (uncredited)
Peter Brocco	...	The barber (uncredited)
Argentina Brunetti	...	Woman (uncredited)
Tristram Coffin	...	Guard (uncredited)
Edward Colmans	...	Col. Corville (uncredited)
Jeff Corey	...	Feisal (uncredited)
Carmen D'Antonio	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Al Eben	...	Sergeant (uncredited)
Harry Guardino	...	Lt. Collet (uncredited)
George Khoury	...	Cart driver #1 (uncredited)
Eddie Le Baron	...	Syrian (uncredited)
Peter Mamakos	...	Merchant businessman (uncredited)
Louis Merrill	...	Egyptian (uncredited)
Marta Mitrovich	...	Hysterical woman (uncredited)
Jay Novello	...	Hamal (uncredited)
Peter Ortiz	...	Maj. Robbinet (uncredited)
Leonard Penn	...	Rifat (uncredited)
Julian Rivero	...	Master Sergeant (uncredited)
Joe Sawaya	...	Cart driver #2 (uncredited)
Sam Scar	...	Sergeant (uncredited)
Dan Seymour	...	Wealthy Syrian (uncredited)
Sammy Shack	...	Bartender (uncredited)
Felipe Turich	...	Soldier (uncredited)
Martin Wilkins	...	Omar (uncredited)

Directed by
Curtis Bernhardt

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
A.I. Bezzerides		writer
Hans Jacoby		writer
Joseph Kessel		novel "Coup de Grace"

Produced by
Henry S. Kesler	....	associate producer
Robert Lord	....	producer

Original Music by
George Antheil

Cinematography by
Burnett Guffey

Film Editing by
Viola Lawrence

Art Direction by
Robert Peterson

Set Decoration by
Robert Priestley

Makeup Department
Clay Campbell	....	makeup artist
Helen Hunt	....	hair stylist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Earl Bellamy	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Lodge Cunningham	....	sound engineer

Music Department
Ernest Gold	....	orchestrator
Morris Stoloff	....	musical director

Production Companies

• Santana Pictures Corporation

Distributors

• Columbia Pictures (1951) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (1995) (USA) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar (2004) (Brazil) (DVD)

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:

Emir Hassan: [to Feroud] We do not fight to win. You will win, but it will be a victory you will regret.

Disagreement with first comment

Bogie's role was not really unsympathetic unless you happen to be a Francophile. This can be looked at as a prequel to Casablanca. Harry is very much like a young Rick would have been in 1925. Problem is, Bogie is 10 years older and is basically playing Rick as he was in the 20's. The woman is,though, one of the most unsympathetic creatures ever in films. High maintenance, manipulative, out for everything she can get wherever she can get it. Damn sexy too. Not by any means a great picture but if you like Bogie and you like older films, it is worth a summer night.