Set in the Malayan jungle, circa 1945, the pic uses as its background a three-way struggle between Communist-inspired Malayan terrorists, British governors and the people of Malaya along with outsiders who have vested interests in the country. All are interested in freedom for the place but their motives vary considerably.

Set in the Malayan jungle, circa 1945, the pic uses as its background a three-way struggle between Communist-inspired Malayan terrorists, British governors and the people of Malaya along with outsiders who have vested interests in the country. All are interested in freedom for the place but their motives vary considerably.

Pivotal characters in the film each represent a faction, a fact which leads to some rather predictable problems and solutions as time passes. Personal relationships aren’t helped much either by co-producer Karl Tunberg’s screenplay, based on Michael Keon’s novel The Durian Tree. Although the script moves fairly fluently through the action passages, harmful slowdowns develop during personal moments between the characters.

William Holden handles himself in credible fashion as a Yank co-leader of local guerilla forces during World War II who stays on after the war’s end to become a major local land owner and who gets involved in the new politics because of his old-time friendshp for the leader of the Red terrorists, played by Tetsuro Tamba. Holden is further involved because of his mistress, a Malayan loyalist portrayed by Capucine. These three had worked together on the same side during the previous combat. For further plot there’s the blonde and attractive daughter of the British governor, a role essayed by Susannah York.

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The 7th Dawn

UK

  • Production: United Artists. Director Lewis Gilbert; Producer Charles K. Feldman, Karl Tunberg; Screenplay Karl Tunberg; Camera Freddie Young; Editor John Shirley; Music Riz Ortolani; Art Director John Stoll
  • Crew: (Color) Extract of a review from 1964. Running time: 123 MIN.
  • With: William Holden Susannah York Capucine Tetsuro Tamba Michael Goodliffe Allan Cuthbertson

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