The box office success of The Overlanders inspired Gainsborough to try a British Western in South Africa. And you know something? It wasn't a terrible idea. The story of Stafford Parker is an interesting one - a man who set himself up as head of the short-lived Diggers Republic around the time of the diamond rush in the 19th century.
And David Farrar is acceptable in the title role. He was an exciting actor at the time, coming off The Black Narcissus - in an era where so many British leading men were wet, he had a Stewart Granger style swagger. He never made it as a star - in part because he made too many movies like this.
It's a mess. I blame the script which is all over the place. There's too many repetitive scenes where Niall MacGinnis tries to undermine Farrar and Farrar easily beats him. The MacGininis comes back and it starts again. There's also too many repetitive scenes of Farrar giving speeches to extras who cheer.
There's also an unpleasant ending where the black who owns the land turns up with the Boers (MacGinnis) and Farrar scolds him for being a naughty black and that if he goes back on his deals with British and Boers will team up and blow them away.
The film is undercast in key roles. Honor Blackman is far too young to play a Salvation Army officer. Also Diana Dors is too young to play a brassy barmaid. In five to ten years both would have been fine (Dors would have been perfect) but the parts are clearly meant to be played by Phyllis Calvert/Pat Roc/Jean Kent and they should have been.
I guess it's a neat twist that Blackman dumps Farrar for Andrew Crawford... but it kind of makes the whole Blackman-Farrar romance hollow. Also, what are we meant to think about Farrar and Dors - she's so keen for him, and he keeps knocking her back. Why not take her back at the end?
Still, it's fascinating,with British adaptation of Western tropes in South Africa, and its depiction of South African history.
David MacDonald directed a lot of flops in British cinema. This, Bad Lord Byron, Christopher Columbus.
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