The success of Zulu saw a rash of films made in Africa, of which this was one. Like Zulu, it stars Stanley Baker (though was not produced by him) and was made for Embassy Pictures. While Baker is top billed along with Juliet Prowse (best known for being an Elvis co star though a natural South African), the lead role really belongs to Ken Gampu (who is still billed above the credits, though third), as a black tribesman who goes to the city in order to avenge his daugher’s murder. Indeed, Baker doesn’t even appear until around 40 minutes or so into the story. Then when Gampu gets sent to gaol, Baker takes over and he drives the story more.
It’s an interesting movie, although with not really enough story for a full length feature (it’s the sort of thing that might make, say, a good strong episode of Boston Legal). Because it was made by the South African film industry under apartheid its inevitably problematic, especially as it deals with notions of justice and so on.
But it is interesting, the notions of contrasting methods of justice (the Australian film and play Dead Heart dealt with similar themes). It feels a bit wonky in places – the early scenes in tribal Africa feel weird with the actors talking in English, there are a surprising number of song and dance routines in the first half of the film and at the end, the marriage plot between Prowse and Baker is a bit dull (they can’t have a baby). Baker is convincing as a lawyer and it’s nice to see Prowse playing in her native tongue.
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