The Long Duel (1967)

To protest against British oppression and tyranny a tribal leader becomes a bandit.

Director:

Ken Annakin

Writers:

Peter Yeldham (screenplay), Ranveer Singh (story),

Stars:

Yul Brynner, Trevor Howard, Harry Andrews

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Yul Brynner	...	Sultan
Trevor Howard	...	Young
Harry Andrews	...	Stafford
Andrew Keir	...	Gungaram
Charlotte Rampling	...	Jane
Virginia North	...	Champa
Laurence Naismith	...	McDougal
Maurice Denham	...	Govenor
Imogen Hassall	...	Tara
Paul Hardwick	...	Jamadar
Antoñito Ruiz	...	Munnu (as Antonio Ruiz)
David Sumner	...	Gyan Singh
Rafiq Anwar	...	Pahelwan
George Pastell	...	Ram Chand
Shivendra Sinha	...	Abdul

Storyline

Superintendent Stafford of the United Provinces Police, has his men arrest an entire tribe on vague allegations of poaching and theft in British India. Their leader, Sultan, father of a young boy, Munnu, whose wife, Tara, is expecting their second child, is also arrested and held in a cell with criminals in Fort Najibabad. Sultan, Tara, and many others manage to break out, but Tara and the newborn both pass away. Sultan, with the help of his men, decides to revolt against the oppressive British - who create a mobile unit, led by Freddy Young, to counter this revolt as well as announce a reward of Rs.500.00 - but Sultan manages to elude them. Then amidst clashes between Freddy and Stafford, and the entry of Jane Stafford, it is made known that Sultan's tribe will be transported by train to a compound in Delhi. This news reaches Sultan and he prepares to attack the train and free his people - little knowing the trap he and his men will soon be walking in to.

---

Plot Keywords:

british | india | horse | bald hero | cannon | 

---

Taglines:

A conflict of ideals - a conflict of arms - fought out in the Himalayas and across the scorching plains of India. [UK theatrical]

---

Genres:

Action | Adventure | Drama

---

Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English Hindi

Release Date:

12 October 1967 (West Germany)

Also Known As:

Bitmeyen Kavga

Filming Locations:

Pinewood Studios, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Rank Organisation, The

Technical Specs

Runtime:

115 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Suzanna Leigh turned down the role of Jane.

---

Connections

Referenced in And Now My Love (1974)

---

Soundtracks

"When the World is Ready"
Lyric by Don Black
Sung by Vince Hill
Music by John Scott (as Patrick John Scott) (uncredited)
Arranged and Conducted by Johnny Arthey (uncredited)
Performed by Vince Hill and the Eddie Lester Singers (uncredited)
Courtesy of Columbia / EMI (uncredited)

User Reviews

Action and adventures developed in the India of the British Raj of the twenties

The film portrays a group people formed by Indian rebels tribes, banded together against the Brits and they're led by Sultan(Brynner). The rebels surrounded by British army which spent time in the chase. The tough leader Sultan is taken prisoner but his action led to getaway from a stronghold pursued by British military. As adversaries are Young(Trevor Howard), a honorable captain, while Stafford(Harry Andrews) is a cruel officer. The governor(Maurice Denham)assign them to capture the obstinate rebel. Meantime, Sultan is double-crossed by a beautiful dancer(Imogen Hassal). Then he takes action by aiding the tribes group in robbing, raiding and murdering British forces and the rich and higher castes. The Brits contra-attack displaying on a train a machine-gun , making a brutal slaughter.

This is a British attempt to match the US adventures spectacles of the mid-sixties, containing derring-do, spectacular battles, gorgeous outdoors and is quite entertaining, though a little overlong. It's a fiery early 20th-century adventure yarn that makes little sense but bulges with emotion that keeps coming at you, as action and adventures is maintained throughout. It's one of several adventures-action pictures made in Britain in the sixties that such Hollywood stars as Yul Brynner and previously in the fifties as Victor Mature and Robert Taylor. Brynner plays with some of sensitivity, he's habitual in exotic roles , such as Ramses, Taras Bulba, The Buccaneer, Karamazov and Salomon.There are strong performances from Trevor Howard and Harry Andrews, who have made few bad films, they're two contenders officers and Andrew Keir as rebel leader. Furthermore, three beauties, Charlottle Rampling, still successfully playing, as severe captain's daughter, and Virginia North and the early deceased, Imogen Hassal. Latterly, as very secondaries appear Edward Fox,Laurence Nashmaith, Patrick Newell, among others. Luminous cinematography by Jack Hildyard, David Lean's usual cameraman, though with abuse of transparency. The movie was glamorously shot in Spain outdoors and interior filmed in Rank studios.Emotive and atmospheric musical score by John Scott.

The motion picture is well directed by Kenn Annakin, he's a skill and successfully craftsman. He has directed numerous films ,British comedies, his most successful films are the fresh and diverting adventures( The sword and the rose, probably one of the best of his bigger films), dramas of the 1950s, for Walt Disney(Swiss family Robinson, Robin Hood and the Merry men), the Jack London adventures(Call of the wild, White Fang), warlike(Battle of Bulge, The longest day), about the long distance rally(Those magnificent men in their flying machines,The biggest bundle of them all, Montecarlo or bust) and a string of TV movies until his recent demise.