South of Algiers

A British adventure; A story about a British archaeologist and an American philanthropist searching for an ancient, fabled golden mask in a Roman tomb in Algeria. They have to contend with dangerous looters out to steal the artefact. This schoolboy style tale lacks originality, but it gains for being colourful, with marvellous scenery and locations, and the cinematography of desert scenes are stunning. It was mostly filmed on location in Algiers and Tunis which are the main attractions for viewers. Scholarly Eric Portman and jaunty Van Heflin provide good contrast and conflict. Wanda Hendrix provides adequate support and all the supporting and local players are impressive for all their contributions. All in all, it is crisply directed but low key for its subgenre.

Watchable. Interesting footage of actual local culture, journeys through the desert. Lacks character development, apart from Van Heflin's character, and one poignant scene between Wanda Hendrix and Jacques, Heflin's rival for her affection.

I like to research backgrounds to films after I watch them, so some actual history would have given the film a bit more depth for me. I looked up the character Marcus Manilius- there was a famous poet/astrologer by that name, and one famous general with a similar name, but no connection to the plot here. Same with the places Rifka and Sadamis- nothing turns up.

Racism is implicit in this movie: the cast and crew must have smelt the coming rebellion against French colonial rule. All the Arab characters were played by Europeans, albeit the main Arab role, "Thank-you", was played by an Indian-Englishmen, who'd gone to Oxford, was probably the most educated person on the set. He seemed to be heavily made up, with skin darkening, which reminds me that the English in India sometimes referred to Indians as "blacks" (one of the nicer terms). There was one name in the cast, "Abdie", whom I cannot remember, who was played by "Massoud". Well, how did the audience like it? How did the audience react to little Jasmine and her brother with their donkey? How did these two "desert Arabs" come to speak English? Racism is a sort of romance, where at the end the romantic ones slaughter those about whom the romance is written. That's the plan, anyway. In actual life, usually it is the racist-romantics who get slaughtered, or at least lose their empires. Can we say that the plot, concerning an ancient Roman, "Marcus Manelius", a looter of a city of the other ancient empire in the region, Carthage, successor to Phoenecia, warns us of the fate of all empires? Is that the actual message of the movie with Van Heflin's gentle humor?

The thing that struck me about this movie was how much it set itself apart from similar 'treasure hunt' movies of its day. None of the acting was so overdone that it became unbareable. And the authenticity of the setting and location were extremely refreshing, peeking through the dusty cotton print that has survived. Van was actually cool. He didn't do any big cliches that was criminal. The Egyptian cast was first rate. No Peter Lorre's and miscast Europeans playing the native tongue to the ground. Jack Lee. BAM.

When a film location has to change from Egypt because a fresh revolution going on there to Algeria and Tunisia where revolutionary activities were just getting into high gear against the French you know this has to be one hard luck film.

American novelist Van Heflin looking for material for a new book teams up with archeologist Eric Portman on a desert dig near the ruins of Carthage. The hunt is for a legendary Golden Mask belonging to a Roman conqueror back in the day.

Along for the ride is Portman's daughter Wanda Hendrix, Portman's daughter who Heflin falls for. There are also a couple of crooks along to try and steal this archeological treasure.

This film was Van Heflin's first foray into European film making and it looks like his paycheck cleared. I saw this film over 50 years ago on television and remember being colossally bored with it. It's not come out on DVD or any other media so I can only write this review from distant memory.

Van Heflin risked revolution for this. He's a reliable and competent aqctor, but even he's entitled to a Thanksgiving feast.