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Ashanti

  • 1979
  • R
  • 1h 58m
IMDb RATING
5.4/10
2K
YOUR RATING
William Holden, Michael Caine, Rex Harrison, Omar Sharif, Peter Ustinov, Kabir Bedi, and Beverly Johnson in Ashanti (1979)
Trailer for Ashanti
Play trailer2:31
2 Videos
64 Photos
ActionAdventureDrama

Dr. Anansa Linderby (Beverly Johnson) is kidnapped in a medical mission in Africa by a slave trader. From this moment, her husband will do anything to recover her and to punish the bad guys,... Read allDr. Anansa Linderby (Beverly Johnson) is kidnapped in a medical mission in Africa by a slave trader. From this moment, her husband will do anything to recover her and to punish the bad guys, but that will be not an easy task.Dr. Anansa Linderby (Beverly Johnson) is kidnapped in a medical mission in Africa by a slave trader. From this moment, her husband will do anything to recover her and to punish the bad guys, but that will be not an easy task.

  • Director
    • Richard Fleischer
  • Writers
    • Stephen Geller
    • Alberto Vázquez Figueroa
  • Stars
    • Michael Caine
    • Peter Ustinov
    • Kabir Bedi
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    5.4/10
    2K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Richard Fleischer
    • Writers
      • Stephen Geller
      • Alberto Vázquez Figueroa
    • Stars
      • Michael Caine
      • Peter Ustinov
      • Kabir Bedi
    • 37User reviews
    • 28Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Videos2

    Ashanti
    Trailer 2:31
    Watch Ashanti
    Ashanti: There She Is
    Clip 1:26
    Watch Ashanti: There She Is

    Photos64

    Ashanti (1979)
    1 sheet movie poster
    Ashanti (1979)
    Ashanti (1979)
    Ashanti (1979)
    Ashanti (1979)
    Ashanti (1979)
    Michael Caine, Omar Sharif, Peter Ustinov, Kabir Bedi, and Beverly Johnson in Ashanti (1979)
    Beverly Johnson in Ashanti (1979)
    Akosua Busia in Ashanti (1979)
    Akosua Busia and Marne Maitland in Ashanti (1979)
    Akosua Busia in Ashanti (1979)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Michael Caine
    Michael Caine
    • Dr. David Linderby
    Peter Ustinov
    Peter Ustinov
    • Suleiman
    Kabir Bedi
    Kabir Bedi
    • Malik
    Beverly Johnson
    Beverly Johnson
    • Dr. Anansa Linderby
    Omar Sharif
    Omar Sharif
    • Prince Hassan
    Rex Harrison
    Rex Harrison
    • Brian Walker
    William Holden
    William Holden
    • Jim Sandell
    Zia Mohyeddin
    Zia Mohyeddin
    • Djamil
    Winston Ntshona
    Winston Ntshona
    • Ansok
    Tariq Yunus
    Tariq Yunus
    • Faid
    Tyrone Jackson
    Tyrone Jackson
    • Dongaro
    Akosua Busia
    Akosua Busia
    • The Senoufo Girl
    Jean-Luc Bideau
    Jean-Luc Bideau
    • Marcel
    Olu Jacobs
    • Commissioner Batak
    Johnny Sekka
    Johnny Sekka
    • Captain Bradford
    Marne Maitland
    Marne Maitland
    • Touareg Chief
    Eric Pohlmann
    Eric Pohlmann
    • Zeda El-Kabir
    Harry Araten
    • Slave Dealer
    • Director
      • Richard Fleischer
    • Writers
      • Stephen Geller
      • Alberto Vázquez Figueroa
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Sir Michael Caine has said many times that he acted in this movie purely for monetary reasons, and considers it the worst project he's ever done. Caine once said that this movie was "the worst, most wretched film I ever made."
    • Quotes

      Dr. David Linderby: This is Dr. Linderby. Not very well I'm afraid, one of our doctors has been kidnapped.

    • Alternate versions
      A copy of the film was given away on DVD by the UK Mail On Sunday newspaper. However this version was considerably edited and missing most of the violent scenes. As the BBFC have never cut the film it appears that this version has come from a pre-cut or TV print.
    • Connections
      Featured in Discovering Film: Omar Sharif (2015)
    • Soundtracks
      Don't Lose the Feeling
      (end title song)

      Music by Michael Melvoin (uncredited)

      Lyrics by Don Black

      Sung by Jimmy Chambers

    User reviews37

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    6/10
    "The worst, most wretched film I ever made."
    The above quote is from Michael Caine, who starred in "Ashanti"...a film he said he only did for money and which was pretty much crap! But is it really that bad or was Caine just using a bit of hyperbole?

    After seeing "Ashanti", I could see that it was a far from perfect movie. But I really wonder if Caine's hatred of the movie is possibly more because of the hellish shooting locations as well as his rather unexciting character. After all, being in the desert with temperatures approaching 130 (about 55C) would be absolutely horrible and I am amazed that he agreed to make a movie in such conditions. Plus his character seemed a bit like an observer than an actual participant most of the story.

    When the movie begins, Drs. David and Anansa Linderby are working in rural Africa...treating the locals for a variety of medical issues. Unfortunately, when Anansa is out bathing, she's taken prisoner by slave traders and they set off with her and other unfortunates across the continent. Her husband is determined to catch up with the slavers and rescue his wife, though he isn't exactly thinking clearly, as the trek will take him across the Sahara AND when he does find someone crazy enough to do it, it's only him and the guide against the slave traders! And, to make it worse, David is not exactly an action hero...in fact, he's pretty useless when it comes to violence. Can they possibly catch up to them AND what will they do if they do find them?

    As I already alluded to, this is NOT a terrible film. It takes on slavery which is STILL a problem despite it receiving very little publicity...and the film does show that this sick industry still exists. This is a major plus. And, the story is modestly entertaining and worth seeing. However, I'll also point out that sometimes the story makes little sense and it is silly seeing Peter Ustinov cast as a Muslim slave trader...he just seemed rather out of place here. Worth seeing but hardly a must-see.

    By the way, the best performance in the film was Kabir Bedi as Malik...the man who helps the Doctor. He was exceptional and I'd like to see him in more movies. Sadly, most of the other actors were underwritten.
    helpful•5
    1
    • planktonrules
    • Dec 13, 2020

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 6, 1979 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • Switzerland
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Sony Movie Channel (United States)
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Девојка из племена Ашанти
    • Filming locations
      • Jerusalem, Israel
    • Production companies
      • Beverly Films
      • Columbia Pictures
      • Warner Bros.
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 58 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

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    William Holden, Michael Caine, Rex Harrison, Omar Sharif, Peter Ustinov, Kabir Bedi, and Beverly Johnson in Ashanti (1979)
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