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Dark of the Sun
(1968)
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Title: Dark of the Sun (1968)
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Cast
| Complete credited cast: | |||
| Rod Taylor | ... | ||
| Yvette Mimieux | ... |
Claire
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Peter Carsten | ... |
Henlein
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| Jim Brown | ... |
Ruffo
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| Kenneth More | ... |
Doctor Wreid
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| André Morell | ... |
Bussier
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Olivier Despax | ... |
Surrier
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Guy Deghy | ... |
Delage
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Bloke Modisane | ... |
Kataki
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| Calvin Lockhart | ... |
Ubi
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Alan Gifford | ... |
Jansen
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David Bauer | ... |
Adams
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Murray Kash | ... |
Cochrane
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John Serret | ... |
Father Dominic
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Danny Daniels | ... |
General Moses
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Plot Synopsis
Storyline
A band of mercenaries led by Captain Curry travel through the Congo across deadly terrain, battling rival armies, to rescue $25 million in uncut diamonds.
Taglines:
A strike force of crack mercenaries fight the hottest battles in all the blazing fury of today's strife-torn Congo! See more »Parents Guide:
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Details
Release Date:
3 July 1968 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
Dark of the Sun See more »Company Credits
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Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
MonoColor:
Color (Metrocolor)Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1
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Sergeant Ruffo: [to Curry, smiling] Captain, the Doctor.
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Did You Know?
Trivia
In the scene leading up to the fight between Curry and Henlein alongside the train, the German is dubbed by Paul Frees. See more »Goofs
Apparently no blank ammo was available for the .50 caliber heavy machine guns carried on the train. When they are "fired" at the attacking UN plane, there is no recoil or movement of the ammo belt. The muzzle flash was painted onto the film later. See more »Quotes
Doctor Wreid: [thrown onboard the train in a drunken stupor] Aah, piss off!Sergeant Ruffo: [to Curry, smiling] Captain, the Doctor.
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This is an excellent film and definitely one of Rod Taylor's best performances. Taylor is Curry, a mercenary commander in the Congo, during the Katanga secession. Jim Brown is his friend and number two, a US educated Congolese. Taylor plays Curry as a true mercenary of the period: ruthless, greedy, loyal to his comrades, and distrustful of his rivals and employers.
The film mixes two different periods of the civil wars in the Congo; the Katanga secession in 1960 and the Simba revolt in 1964. The original book is set squarely during the Katanga period and involves the Baluba war, not the Simba's. However both periods were exemplified by brutality on all sides. The film accurately portrays the enmity between the Katanga forces and the UN troops sent to intervene. It also accurately depicts the Belgian interests in Katanga.
Much like the train the mercenaries ride, the film starts out slow and builds up steam along the route. By the end, it's a runaway that comes crashing to its end. This is war and humanity at its worst, make no mistake. The closest I can come to finding a "good guy" is Jim Brown, the soldier who wants his country to be free and have its place in the modern world.
The Nazi character was based on an actual German mercenary in the Congo, Siegfried Mueller. Mueller was noted for wearing the Iron Cross, which he earned in the Second World War, on his uniform. The film makers changed it to a swastika for greater effect (I presume). There is a slight problem with the continuity of this character, as part way through the film, his voice is obviously dubbed by another actor. Presumably, this was due to sound problems and the unavailability of the actor to loop his lines (It sounds like Paul Frees).
All-in-all this is a great film; vastly superior to others of the genre, such as The Wild Geese and The Dogs of War. Just remember, war more often brings out the worst in humanity, rather than the best.