Escape from Zahrain

There are a few cynical digs at American meddling in oil-producing states in the Middle East. But the appearance early on of Jay Novello rolling his eyes indicate what direction we'll be going in this slick retread of 'The Wages of Fear' in which the stirring footage shot by the second unit fights a losing battle with scenes that look as if they were shot on the same soundstage as 'Star Trek'.

Yul Brynner adds yet another still-life to his gallery of mysterious non-Europeans, while Madlyn Rhue fresh from playing a young jewess in 'A Majority of One' here plays a nice Arab girl. Jack Warden convincingly plays an Ugly American, but Lynn Murray's noisy score feels obliged to keep reminding us this is all taking place in the Middle East.

Most of the bit players (including our old friend Vladimir Sokoloff) are dubbed; except of course the authentic Anglo-Saxon who briefly appears unbilled as 'Johnson'.

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.

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!

I saw this movie when it came out back in the early 60's. Thought it was a very good movie with a splendid cast and lots of suspense. Would like to be able to buy a copy of it either on DVD or VHS. Is there any chance it will soon be available? Have jeeped many times in the Mojave desert where the filming took place. The exact location was east of Barstow, California. Whoever did the driving of the ambulance did an excellent job in some very difficult terrain. The plot was excellent. It gave a very good account of the situation in the middle east at that time. Yul Brynner did an excellent job in the film, as did Sal Mineo and Jack Warden. Please make this great film available.

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!