The 7th Dawn (1964)

Director:

Lewis Gilbert

Writers:

Michael Keon (novel)
Karl Tunberg (screenplay)

Release Date:

23 October 1964 (West Germany)

Genre:

Adventure | Drama | War

Tagline:

A STRANGE LAND SLEEPS LIKE A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN - SO STILL...SO MYSTERIOUS...SO UNTOUCHED- UNTIL THE FIRST LIGHT OF DAWN AWAKENS THE PASSIONS OF MEN AND THE FURIES OF WAR!

Plot:

Political and personal intrigues surround a group of characters in Malaya, after the close of the Second World War. |

Plot Keywords:

Malaya | Explosion | Mp 40 Machine Gun | Combat | Machine Gun Nest

Awards:

Nominated for BAFTA Film Award.

Cast

William Holden	...	Major Ferris
Susannah York	...	Candace Trumpey
Capucine	...	Dhana Mercier
Tetsurô Tanba	...	Ng (as Tetsuro Tamba)
Michael Goodliffe	...	Trumphey
Allan Cuthbertson	...	Cavendish
Sydney Tafler	...	Tom, Chief Petty Officer
Maurice Denham	...	Tarlton
Beulah Quo	...	Ah Ming
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Christopher Allen	...	CID Agent (uncredited)
Griffiths Alun	...	Sedgwick (uncredited)
Kip Bahadun	...	Japanese Prisoner (uncredited)
Ibrahim Bin	...	Capt. Chey (uncredited)
Tony Cheng	...	Waiter (uncredited)
Noel Chow	...	Capt. Kiat (uncredited)
Hew Thian Choy	...	Lt. Nelson (uncredited)
Yap Mook Fui	...	Lim - Ferris' Servant (uncredited)
David Keith	...	Aide (uncredited)
R. William Koh	...	Gen. Osaki (uncredited)
James Massong	...	Malay Engineer (uncredited)
Tony Price	...	Morley (uncredited)
Hugh Robinson	...	Judge (uncredited)
Seow	...	Chinese Unionist (uncredited)
David Weinman	...	Tamil Cyclist (uncredited)
George Zakhariah	...	Indian Unionist (uncredited)

Directed by
Lewis Gilbert

Writing credits
Michael Keon		(novel "The Durian Tree")
Karl Tunberg		(screenplay)

Produced by
John Dark	....	associate producer
Karl Tunberg	....	co-producer
Charles K. Feldman	....	producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Riz Ortolani

Cinematography by
Freddie Young		(photographed by) (as Frederick Young)

Film Editing by
John Shirley

Production Design by
John Stoll

Art Direction by
Herbert Smith

Set Decoration by
Josie MacAvin		(as Jose MacAvin)

Makeup Department
John O'Gorman	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Morris Aza	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jack Causey	....	assistant director
Harold Haysom	....	second unit director
André Smagghe	....	second unit director (as Andre Smagghe)

Art Department
Harry Arbour	....	construction

Sound Department
Basil Fenton-Smith	....	sound
Chris Greenham	....	sound editor
Red Law	....	sound
Terry Sharratt	....	sound

Special Effects by
Cliff Richardson	....	special effects

Camera and Electrical Department
Harry Gillam	....	camera operator
Douglas Webb	....	still photographer (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Betty Adamson	....	wardrobe supervisor
Hylda Gilbert	....	costumes

Music Department
Riz Ortolani	....	conductor
Riz Ortolani	....	musical director (uncredited)

Other crew
Maurice Binder	....	title designer: main titles
Joan Davis	....	continuity (as Joan Davies)
Charles K. Feldman	....	presenter
John Gilbert	....	second unit assistant

Production Companies

• Holdean

Distributors

• United Artists (1964) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1967) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• United Artists Corporation (1964) (UK) (theatrical)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2011) (USA) (DVD) (DVD-R)

Other Companies

• The People and Government of Malaysia  our deep appreciation for their help in the making of this film

Also Known As:

Runtime:

123 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | West Germany:16

Filming Locations:

Malaysia

Company:

Holdean

Trivia:

The resettlement of the Chinese villagers depicted in the film was part of an ongoing program called the Briggs' Plan named after its developer General Sir Harold Briggs.

Goofs:

Factual errors: Sydney Tafler is credited as "Tom, Chief Petty Officer". In fact, his character is Chief Police Officer, a police rank still used in Malaysia.

Quotes:

Ng:Even magic cannot protect you against stupidity.

Soundtrack:

The Seventh Dawn

Criminally Underated

For years I would notice this in television guides rated as one check or one star, right down there with Attack of The Killer Tomatoes. I have often puzzled at who is responsible for this and other way-off subjective ratings I have seen.

This movie was a two star movie just for Freddie Young's photography.

While not up there with The Bridge On The River Kwai, I believe this film is worthy of being rated higher than hundreds I have seen rated with two and three stars.

This film has some fine performances by Susannah York, Capucine, and Tetsuro Tamba, as well as William Holden.

This film has one of the most beautiful opening scenes of any picture I have seen, coupled with the music of Riz Ortolani, which I believe only Freddie Young's gifted artistic photo talents could have accomplished.

The only possible reason for it's low rating that I could think of, was the era it was released, when anti-war sentiments were building towards Viet Nam. At any rate, personal point of views should not affect the grading of art forms, and is a travesty to truth.