In the frequently fighting Democratic Republic of the Congo, manly mercenary Rod Taylor (as Bruce Curry) arrives to consider a dangerous assignment. He is asked to organize a crew and retrieve $50,000,000 in diamonds from rebel territory. A relatively cheap hire, Mr. Taylor doubles the offer of $25,000 and takes the job. Considering the fortune in diamonds, he shouldn't have accepted anything less than a million. Chief among Taylor's crew is brawny Jim Brown (as Ruffo), his right hand man. The main recruits are: nasty neo-Nazi Peter Carsten (as Henlein), handsome young Olivier Despax (as Surrier) and alcoholic doctor Kenneth More (as Wreid). Along the way, they pick up pretty blonde Yvette Mimieux (as Claire), who appears to have survived a rebel assault. Men like to yank off Ms. Mimieux' clothes...
While tame by today's standards, "Dark of the Sun" goes to the edge in its depiction of violence...
Young children are shown after they are shot, a young man is raped, another torched, some pierced It is an action-filled, quick-paced story. Accepting the violence is necessary part of the story (and the camera moves away during the most gruesome moments), the story has some problems. Expert cinematographer-turned-director Jack Cardiff and his editor Ernest Walter are often too choppy. The man committing double suicide is nicely done, from establishing shots to a final shot; many other events are brief and presented without detail. There are some extremely exciting sequences that are made less exciting in their presentation. Original novelist Wilbur Smith's basic story, involving the lead actors and their relationship with the Congo, is a good one. Jacques Loussier's music and the film's sound are obvious assets.
***** Dark of the Sun (The Mercenaries) (1968-02-08) Jack Cardiff ~ Rod Taylor, Jim Brown, Yvette Mimieux, Peter Carsten
While tame by today's standards, "Dark of the Sun" goes to the edge in its depiction of violence...
Young children are shown after they are shot, a young man is raped, another torched, some pierced It is an action-filled, quick-paced story. Accepting the violence is necessary part of the story (and the camera moves away during the most gruesome moments), the story has some problems. Expert cinematographer-turned-director Jack Cardiff and his editor Ernest Walter are often too choppy. The man committing double suicide is nicely done, from establishing shots to a final shot; many other events are brief and presented without detail. There are some extremely exciting sequences that are made less exciting in their presentation. Original novelist Wilbur Smith's basic story, involving the lead actors and their relationship with the Congo, is a good one. Jacques Loussier's music and the film's sound are obvious assets.
***** Dark of the Sun (The Mercenaries) (1968-02-08) Jack Cardiff ~ Rod Taylor, Jim Brown, Yvette Mimieux, Peter Carsten