I am posting a warning about this film. While it clearly states that no animals were harmed in making the movie, there are elephant hunting scenes early in the story which are rather upsetting to see. Just be prepared and remind yourself that these animals weren't killed for the movie...though the footage COULD be stock footage of real elephant deaths (and this is what it appears to be).
The story begins in 1913...just before the First World War. A heavy-drinking adventurer, Flynn (Lee Marvin), has a scheme to harvest elephant ivory...though it is in German-ruled Tanzania. So, with the help of an Englishman, Sebastian (Roger Moore), they sneak into the country and go on a very successful hunt. However, soon the German military governor, the Commissioner, arrives...killing many of Flynn's men. Flynn, Sebastian and a few others manage to escape...but later their small boat is run over by a German cruiser...and their treasure in ivory is gone. And, after another attempt, Sebastian must flee for his life! He then marries Flynn's daughter...and what follows REALLY makes Flynn and Sebastian hate this Commissioner.
When WWI is declared in 1914, Flynn and Sebastian see a chance to get revenge...and set out to destroy the S. M. S. Blücher---the cruiser that sunk their boat and nearly killed them. What's next?
This story is very BROADLY based on the actual sinking of a German cruiser in East Africa...but the original story and the film are so different that it really is pretty much fiction. It's also played mostly for laughs...despite all the carnage and a scene involving a baby that certainly CAN'T be seen as funny. It makes for a strange combination of serious and silly.
So is it any good? It's not bad, though I think I would have enjoyed the story more if they hadn't played it mostly for laughs but simply told the story of the sinking and the people who really did it. But, this would have pretty much been an entirely different tale since the film takes so many liberties when it comes to the actual details...even the name of the ship and who did the actual sinking!
The story begins in 1913...just before the First World War. A heavy-drinking adventurer, Flynn (Lee Marvin), has a scheme to harvest elephant ivory...though it is in German-ruled Tanzania. So, with the help of an Englishman, Sebastian (Roger Moore), they sneak into the country and go on a very successful hunt. However, soon the German military governor, the Commissioner, arrives...killing many of Flynn's men. Flynn, Sebastian and a few others manage to escape...but later their small boat is run over by a German cruiser...and their treasure in ivory is gone. And, after another attempt, Sebastian must flee for his life! He then marries Flynn's daughter...and what follows REALLY makes Flynn and Sebastian hate this Commissioner.
When WWI is declared in 1914, Flynn and Sebastian see a chance to get revenge...and set out to destroy the S. M. S. Blücher---the cruiser that sunk their boat and nearly killed them. What's next?
This story is very BROADLY based on the actual sinking of a German cruiser in East Africa...but the original story and the film are so different that it really is pretty much fiction. It's also played mostly for laughs...despite all the carnage and a scene involving a baby that certainly CAN'T be seen as funny. It makes for a strange combination of serious and silly.
So is it any good? It's not bad, though I think I would have enjoyed the story more if they hadn't played it mostly for laughs but simply told the story of the sinking and the people who really did it. But, this would have pretty much been an entirely different tale since the film takes so many liberties when it comes to the actual details...even the name of the ship and who did the actual sinking!