The Southern Star (1969)

In 1912 West Africa, diamond tycoon Kramer hires penniless American fortune hunter Dan Rockland, who's posing as a geologist, but when a huge diamond is found, everyone wants to steal it.

Directors:

Sidney Hayers, Orson Welles (uncredited)

Writers:

David Pursall (screenplay), Jack Seddon (screenplay)

Stars:

George Segal, Ursula Andress, Orson Welles

Cast

Complete credited cast:
George Segal	...	Dan
Ursula Andress	...	Erica Kramer
Orson Welles	...	Plankett
Ian Hendry	...	Karl
Johnny Sekka	...	Matakit
Michel Constantin	...	Jose
Georges Géret	...	Andre
Sylvain Levignac	...	Louis (as Sylvain)
Charles Lamb	...	Todd
Guy Delorme	...	Michael
Harry Andrews	...	Kramer

Storyline

Comedy adventure based on a Jules Verne novel about the ups and downs of jewel thieves in the wilds of Africa circa 1900. George Segal is the appealing hero-heel and Ursula Andress is visually stunning as the lady in the proceedings. Orson Welles has a small role.

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Plot Keywords:

diamond | africa | geologist | foreign language adaptation | shower | 

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Taglines:

Jules Verne's diamond-hunt adventure...filmed on location in Senegal!

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Genres:

Adventure | Comedy | Crime

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Certificate:

M

Details

Country:

UK France

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 May 1969 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Southern Star

Filming Locations:

Pinewood Studios, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Capitole Films, Columbia Pictures Corporation, Euro-France Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

104 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor: France) Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

While living in exile in London, author André Laurie, pseudonym for politician Paschal Grousset (1845-1909), wrote the original version of the book which was later published as The Southern Star Mystery (1884). André Laurie legally renounced title to the story, rewritten and published by Jules Verne. Laurie and Verne would collaborate on at least two other novels. It was a logical collaboration. Verne was also very liberal and wrote several novels and one very popular play denouncing imperialism and promoting Africans and Asians.

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Quotes

Erica Kramer: I'm trying to wash away a memory!

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Soundtracks

Erica Takes A Bath
Written and Performed by Georges Garvarentz Et Son Orchestre

User Reviews

All kinds of fortune hunting

I hope Orson Welles enjoyed himself far more than he and the rest of the cast did when Welles was in Africa making The Roots Of Heaven. On that location nearly everyone in the cast became ill and Eddie Albert almost died. But that was a much better film than The Southern Star.

The title refers to a really big diamond that was found on the lands belonging to Harry Andrews who's an old Boer and old boor. While at a big clambake Andrews is throwing someone snatches the big jewel from under his nose and suspicion falls on Johnny Sekka who is a native and friend to fortune hunting George Segal. Segal is seeking his fortune by marrying Ursula Andress who is Andrews's daughter and that's not a match made in heaven.

So when Sekka runs the rest of the cast is seeking him for their own agendas. One of them is Orson Welles who used to be Andrews's head of security which is a euphemism for the private police that Andrews employs. And the current head of security Ian Hendry is seeking the big rock and Ursula both.

This is based on a Jules Verne novel, one of his lesser known works. Even being a Frenchman I doubt Verne meant any of the double entendres and only somewhat humorous lines that are present in this film. Someone decided this novel was good for satire and the results fell flat.

The location cinematography of Senegal standing in for South Africa is the best thing The Southern Star has going for it. Also Orson Welles knew he was in one of those films he did for the money to finance his own work and had himself a bit of fun with his role.

Not the best jungle feature out there.