South of Suez

19401940
ApprovedApproved
1h 26m

Greedy diamond mine owner Eli Snedeker, resentful that his ex-foreman John Gamble stopped him from taking over kindly, but drunken, mine owner Roger Smythe's mine just as he was about to str... Read allGreedy diamond mine owner Eli Snedeker, resentful that his ex-foreman John Gamble stopped him from taking over kindly, but drunken, mine owner Roger Smythe's mine just as he was about to strike it rich, kills Smythe and blames it on Gamble. Grabbing the diamonds, Gamble flees Afr... Read allGreedy diamond mine owner Eli Snedeker, resentful that his ex-foreman John Gamble stopped him from taking over kindly, but drunken, mine owner Roger Smythe's mine just as he was about to strike it rich, kills Smythe and blames it on Gamble. Grabbing the diamonds, Gamble flees Africa to England where he changes his name and begins a new life. What he hasn't counted on,... Read all

6.4/10

189

Director
- Lewis Seiler
Writers
- Barry Trivers(screenplay)
- Sheridan Gibney(story)
- Michael Hogan(contributor to dialogue)
Stars

Top credits

See production, box office & company info

See more at IMDbPro

George Brent, Miles Mander, Brenda Marshall, and Prince Modupe in South of Suez (1940)

Director
- Lewis Seiler
Writers
- Barry Trivers(screenplay)
- Sheridan Gibney(story)
- Michael Hogan(contributor to dialogue) (uncredited)
All cast & crew
See more cast details at IMDbPro

Greedy diamond mine owner Eli Snedeker, resentful that his ex-foreman John Gamble stopped him from taking over kindly, but drunken, mine owner Roger Smythe's mine just as he was about to strike it rich, kills Smythe and blames it on Gamble. Grabbing the diamonds, Gamble flees Africa to England where he changes his name and begins a new life. What he hasn't counted on, though, is meeting and falling in love with Smythe's daughter Katherine, who falls in love with him but can't marry him until she can deal with her hatred of John Gamble, the man she believes killed her father. —Doug Sederberg <vornoff@sonic.net>

uncut diamond diamond diamond mine town name in title place name in title 41 more

Taglines
- An exciting film of adventure in a South African diamond mine. Hundreds of natives slaving in tropic heat for diamonds! Reckless adventure fighting, murdering for diamonds. (Print Ad- The Journal, ((Wood River, Ills.)) 17 April 1941)
Genres
- Mystery
- Drama
Certificate
- Approved
Parents guide
- Add content advisory

Trivia
According to contemporary articles in The Hollywood Reporter, George Raft was originally cast as John Gamble, but he turned down the role because he didn't like the story. Warner Bros. then assigned Dennis Morgan, but RKO objected because Morgan was to be loaned out for Kitty Foyle (1940). Warner Bros. then suspended Raft and the production was delayed for rewriting the role to suit George Brent.

Goofs
The title and tagline of this film seem to be intentionally misleading, branding the movie as an adventure film when it's more of a crime melodrama. Audiences were probably surprised that more than half of the film involved a romance and trial in England (which is extremely far North of the Suez Canal).

Soundtracks
A Life on the Ocean Wave
(1838)
Music by Henry Russell
Lyrics by Epes Sargent
Sung a cappella by Eric Blore

Top review

Passable programmer is better than average B-film...

GEORGE BRENT was never more stoic in giving a wooden performance than he is in this programmer in which he and BRENDA MARSHALL have almost no chemistry together. Marshall is a strictly by-the-numbers sort of actress with severe limitations and never made it to full-fledged stardom. See her in this one and you'll understand why.

Surprisingly, the most vivid performance in the film is given by LEE PATRICK as the wife of greedy gold-miner owner (GEORGE TOBIAS) who sets Brent up for the murder of a fellow miner who discovered a diamond Tobias covets. Her courtroom scene toward the end gives her a chance to emote in Ida Lupino style. Only eight years later she would be one of the almost unrecognizable inmates of THE SNAKE PIT.

All of the sets look like leftovers from THE LETTER which took place on a rubber plantation. Still, for all its faults, this little programmer delivers some interesting melodramatic moments.

And a scene-stealing monkey supplies some much needed humorous moments.

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