Escape from Zahrain

Released in 1962, "Escape from Zahrain" is a survival-in-the-desert flick that takes place in the fictitious Arabian country of Zahrain. Yul Brynner plays Sheriff, a righteous Arab revolutionary, while Sal Mineo plays his young disciple who sets him free from captivity and certain death. An Arab nurse (Madlyn Rhue), an embezzling oil worker (Jack Warden) and a mad Arab (Anthony Caruso) are also along for the ride. Can they make it to a bordering nation and freedom or will they all perish in the desert?

Although it's Grade B (and cartoony) in comparison to the way more popular and sophisticated desert film "Lawrence of Arabia" (also from '62), "Escape to Zahrain" is actually more compelling, which is different than saying it's better, it's not. It's just more immediately satisfying. Two other survival-in-the-desert films that "Zahrain" brings to mind are "Flight of the Phoenix" and "Sands of the Kalahari", both released in 1965. If you like those two films, you'll definitely like this one. As great as they are "Zahrain" is as good or better.

There's some serious action at the beginning and end of the film, but the heart of the picture is the long trek through the desert and the interplay of the characters. Sheriff (Brynner) and Ahmed (Mineo) have had it with the corrupt officials of Zahrain who rape the land with the technology of the Americans but then greedily keep the cash for their own filthy rich lifestyles; meanwhile the citizenry wallows in poverty and ignorance. The nurse (Madlyn) was educated in Europe and doesn't understand the reckless passion of the revolutionaries. She's against them because she's nursed the wounded & dying followers of Sheriff, mostly youths. The American, Huston (Warden), is viewed as part of the problem by the revolutionaries, but they need him to escape and survive. And then you have the freakin' crazy Arab, Tahar (Caruso), also called "Frankenstein" or "Franky" by Huston. Is he friend or foe, or neither? Also on hand is a pleasant cameo by a major star from that time period, but I don't want to give it away.

The film was shot in the Mojave Desert, California, but you'd hardly know as the filmmakers did a great job of giving the illusion that it's somewhere in the Middle East. My wife, for instance, guessed that it was shot in Egypt.

At 93 minutes the film doesn't overstay its welcome.

FINAL WORD: Despite being a serious Grade B picture, "Escape from Zahrain" is Grade A in heart. The film is bookended by quality action sequences, but its core is character-driven. You get to know these characters as they trek through the sweltering desert. Their strengths and weaknesses are revealed and you can't help but start to care for them, just as they develop a sense of community amongst themselves.

Criminally underrated and unknown, "Escape to Zahrain" ranks with the best desert films, Grade B though it is. It's also one of Yul's best and the other principles. No kidding.

GRADE: A-

Not at all a bad film, reminiscent of "Ice Cold in Alex", in that an ambulance and its occupants have to make a perilous journey across inhospitable terrain. At first the colour seemed a bit garish, but I was interested to see that outdoor filming was in the Mojave Desert, which was a very convincing substitute for the Middle Eastern country of "Zahrein". Madlyn Rhue seemed a bit insipid as the nurse, and James Mason stole the short scene he was in (which contributed nothing to the plot, save to allow Jack Warden to steal his whisky, the consumption of which did add something later on).

Quite why the treacherous Anthony Caruso ("Tarah") was tolerated by his fellow fugitives was a bit puzzling. The final action sequence was not convincing, in fact it was contrived.

But overall an enjoyable film to watch.

Plot wise this movie stretches it to keep your attention however the cast is cool. Madalyn Rhue is a natural beauty however she comes off a bit nasty and uptight in the two films I've seen her in, "Escape from Zahrain" and "A Majority of One." Both were on as weekend midday movies so my expectations wernt too great.

Sal Mineo is really hot. He was a spunk for his time. Perfect skin and just enough buff. Unfortunatly the sexual tension between him and madlyns character was never realised. One of the reasons i had kept with this movie, but oh well.

Well half the sets are obviously fake however it isn't that noticeble. They wern't so bad to a cynic like me who now demands location shots or at least computer animation.

Not bad for the time, a tad over dramatic at times but watch it for Sal Mineo!

Here's a movie that few have watched in which you can regale your old-movie- watching friends with the mention of this flick. Lots of action for a 1962 low budget film. A younger Jack Warden does a fine job as does a young Madlyn Rhue. Yul Brynner is...well... Yul Brynner. A nice cameo by James Mason too! One can only imagine if this film had a bigger budget. Unless you're an expert on global dessert terrain the last scene is really the only one where it is apparent this was shot in California and not in the middle east. Definitely worth watching!

This not a review per se. I saw it a long time ago when it first came out, at our local drive-in theater. I have been looking for it from time to time ever since because I liked it. It was exciting, had a great chase scene and held my interest throughout.

Time has dimmed my memory - that, and the fact that I was partially distracted at the time (I was at a drive-in, recall), and so I have lost the main thread of the plot.

And so, I just wonder, why has it not been released in any format? Many, many worse have been available in many forms. I am always shocked when I stop by this site and see the dismal grade this picture has been awarded. I would like to see it again to find out if I really liked it or if the extracurricular activities attendant to drive-in going affected or enhanced my viewing pleasure.