Katanga (1968)

Katanga: Directed by Jack Cardiff. With Rod Taylor, Yvette Mimieux, Peter Carsten, Jim Brown. A band of mercenaries led by Captain Curry travel through war-torn Congo across deadly terrain, battling rival armies, to steal $50 million in uncut diamonds. But infighting, sadistic rebels and a time lock jeopardize everything.

“Call it u0026quot;Dark of the Sunu0026quot; (the better title, I think) or u0026quot;The Mercenariesu0026quot;–but under any title this film moves fast. A great example of a guyu0026#39;s type of film where the editing, direction, and storyline all compliment one another in the effort towards a fast-paced action flick. It a raw, gritty, and satisfying action yarn. Rod Taylor is really choice in this role: he was easily in his best shape ever and utterly confident as the hardboiled mercenary leader. Jim Brown is fine as well as his sidekick. The two make a good combination together.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eu0026quot;Dark of the Sunu0026quot; is also one of the more memorable films involving a train as a locus for the action. Train films have a charisma all their own, in my opinion, and this one is no exception. In this venue, a band of mercenaries utilizes a steam engine to blitz across the border into rebel-held territory. The story is set in South Africa and they been enlisted to to rescue citizens cut off by the revolt and also, to nab some diamonds for themselves, of course.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eHowever, dont think that with this storyline its at all meatless in emotion values, or gratuituous in terms of its violence.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eWith regard to emotion, there are definitely some nice story elements and a chance for the actors to apply their skill. There are poignant little moments of humanness amid all the tumult. The characters suit, and have been devised (by the author Wilbur Smith) to correctly add balance and measure to the story. Its not all gunfire and explosions. The violence is kept within acceptable, old-school bounds and the focus is on heroism and loyalty rather than sadism.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003enThere is an interesting, thought-provoking subplot to the story that eventually factors into the conclusion of the movie. This thread comes from the fact that one of the mercenaries is an ex-Nazi. As a mercenary, he really u0026quot;enjoys his worku0026quot;. But his views raise all sorts of disturbing questions about prejudice and hate and u0026quot;where to draw the lineu0026quot; for Rod Taylor, who, as leader of the mercenaries, has to set an example of ruthlessness. The two develop a vicious enmity and finally go at it u0026#39;mano a manou0026#39;. The end of the film is a surprise u0026quot;man learns betteru0026quot; type of ending–but still quite satisfying.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe film overall is a better-than-average-quality product, and definitely a must-see guy-movie; its a 1960u0026#39;s action pic that does a better job of keeping you interested and absorbed than any twenty action pictures made more recently.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eBelieve it!”