East of Elephant Rock (1978)

In 1948, a new British governor takes over a Far Eastern colony after his predecessor is murdered by terrorists.

Director:

Don Boyd

Writers:

Don Boyd (screenplay), Richard Boyle (based on a treatment by)

Stars:

John Hurt, Jeremy Kemp, Judi Bowker

Cast

Cast overview:
John Hurt	...	Nash
Jeremy Kemp	...	Rawlins
Judi Bowker	...	Eve Proudfoot
Christopher Cazenove	...	Proudfoot / Robert Proudfoot
Anton Rodgers	...	Mackintosh / MacKintosh
Tariq Yunus	...	Inti
Vajira	...	Sharmani
Sam Poythress	...	1st Governor General
Edward De La Mare	...	2nd Governor General
Geoffrey Hale	...	District Commissioner
J.B.L. Gunasekara	...	Sharmani's Uncle (as J.B.L.Gunasakera)
Upali Attanayaka	...	Rawlin's Houseboy (as Upali Attanayeke)
Philip Grice	...	Man in Rickshaw

Storyline

In 1948, a new British governor takes over a Far Eastern colony after his predecessor is murdered by terrorists.

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Plot Keywords:

male rear nudity | male nudity | male frontal nudity | independent film | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

January 1978 (UK)

Also Known As:

Anatolika tou Elephant Rock

Filming Locations:

Sri Lanka

Company Credits

Production Co:

Boyd's Company, Kendon Films, Trident

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Bryan Forbes was a staunch defender of the film, later joking that it cost him good reviews for his subsequent own movies. The British film industry seemed to be in terminal decline at the time of the film's production and Forbes felt it was unfair to take potshots at a young director trying to get ahead when the odds were so heavily stacked against him.

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Crazy Credits

Opening credits prologue: A Far Eastern Colony, 1948.

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Soundtracks

Put out the Flame
Composed and sung by Peter Skellern

User Reviews

The dark, forgotten days of the colonial British Empire

This tale of murky deeds in the British colonial era is no WHITE MISCHIEF, although it'll do as a warts-and-all retelling of life, love, and deceit during that era. It benefits hugely from casting the ever-great John Hurt in the leading role. Hurt plays an idealistic young man who discovers himself fighting racism and intolerance in an unnamed colony in the Far East, while at the same time falling in love with a forbidden woman.

EAST OF ELEPHANT ROCK is a virtually forgotten film today although it's not all that bad. The Sri Lankan filming locations are fantastic at least and there are numerous familiar faces in the cast list, all of whom contribute decent performances. I would've preferred a little more Anton Rodgers, but Jeremy Kemp (DR TERROR'S HOUSE OF HORRORS) is fine as the blustering old timer. Best of all is Judi Bowker, who manages to capture something oddly ethereal in her character.

The plotting is a little slow and stodgy, and it's clear that Don Boyd was just starting out on his directing career because his direction is pedestrian. But for those who enjoy dark tales of murder and betrayal in the long-forgotten days of the British Empire, you might just like it.