The Wind and the Lion (1972) The Major General's very favorite colonial film. American woman (Candice Bergen) and her children are kidnapped a charismatic Berber chieftan (Sean Connery) in Morocco, 1902. The scene shifts back and forth from Morocco to Washington, as Teddy Roosevelt and the North Africans weave the crisis into their political agendas. Stirring action sequences involve American Marines, Moroccan and German colonial troops, Berbers, and bandits. Studly-intellectual director John Milius does love his fin de siecle weaponry, and it's all done right. Still, the complex romantic-political story is at least as fascinating, and Milius manages to combine a heroic-idealistic worldview with a skeptical, sardonic cast on both imperialism and native aristocracy. Do not miss it.

"When men fight, they like to use swords, so that they can see each other's eyes. Sometimes, this is not possible -- and then they use rifles. But the Europeans do not fight as men. They have guns which fire many times promiscuously, rending the earth. There is no honor in this. Nothing is settled from this." -The Raisuli, in The Wind and the Lion

Young Winston (1972) Highly enjoyable film about the great statesman's early days as a youthful publicity seeker in uniform. Good combat sequences: an ambush at a northern Indian village, a Boer attack on an armored train, and an outstanding rendition of the charge of the 21st Lancers in the Sudan. Plus a boyhood scene with lots of toy soldiers (even if they are full-round anachronisms). And Anne Bancroft. How can one resist? 

Khartoum (1966) Charlton Heston plays the charmed, charismatic Gen. Charles Gordon and Sir Laurence Olivier is cultivatedly menacing as the Mahdi in this thumping tale of the siege of Khartoum and the death of history's classiest fallguy. Great action sequences throughout: the assault on the city, the relief expedition, the attempt of the river steamers to run the Dervish gauntlet.

The Four Feathers (British, 1939) Thoroughly stunning film of a young man reclaiming his honor in the 1898 Sudan campaign. The scenes of the Dervish troops flowing across the land are spectacular, as are the beautiful Nile cataract sequences with dhows and steamers. There are also some urban scenes, including one in which the Mahdi's tomb takes an artillery hit in the background. -Patrick Wilson comments: - "Superb Technicolor classic about young Harry Faversham's distaste for war but devotion to honor. Omdurman battle scenes filmed on location with actual Fuzzy Wuzzies and Sudanese/Egyptian troops. The original Nile gunboat Melik appears, being towed over a cataract! You gotta see this one!"

The Four Feathers (1977) Patrick Wilson comments - "Made-for-TV betrayal of a great story. Antiwar theme grows to self righteousness and contempt for all things military. Battle scenes don't hold a candle to the '39 version. You gotta miss this one!"

The Light That Failed (1939) Patrick Wilson comments: - "Kipling story about a war correspondent/illustrator wounded Mahdists and eventually going blind. Great final action scene with 'the playful children of the desert.' Good cavalry charge and armored train."

The Last Outpost (1935) Ross Macfarlane comments: "British armored car patrol fights in the Soudan during WW. A great flick - Fuzzies charging dismounted MGs holed up in an old fort. Mounted cavalry charge saves the day."

The Mummy (1999) Rather standard 18-shots-out-of-two-revolvers adventure with some very nice Colonial-era knick-knacks and effective but repellent special effects (the Major General wishes to declare a 20-year moratorium on rotting corpses in movies, especially ones that crawl into one's bed to make hubba-hubba). Exciting battle scene, with the Foreign Legion defending an Egyptian temple (beg pardon?).

Alan Welch comments: - "At the bitter end of the colonial period, a Foreign Legionnaire on an archaeological dig accidentally awakens the Mummy. Excellent battle scenes and good historical weaponry, and the film has a lovely, rich feel to it."

The Mummy Returns (2001) The sequel loses the period feel of The Mummy, and stakes everything on special effects and nonstop action, which everyone else in the world finds very exciting, and I find intrusive and tiresome. It has been suggested that I didn't sit close enough to the screen when I saw it; maybe that's why I didn't enjoy this movie at all.

The African Queen (1951) Beloved classic film of a missionary and a reprobate who take a battered steam launch downriver and end up attacking a German gunboat in the African interior.

Black and White in Color (1977) Peculiar French satiric film in which bumbling French colonists in the interior of Africa belatedly learn of WWI, and decide it is their patriotic duty to organize local natives to attack the fort in the neighboring German colony.

Shout at the Devil (1976) WWI gets personal for a couple of ivory poachers in Tanganyika. Too cute half, but great machines -- German warship, river steamer, dhow, pusher biplane, plus a supernally beautiful Barbara Parkins going postal with a Mk. VI Webley. Definitely worth a rental. --David Timmer comments: "Features the escape from the German administrator's hanging party and a German cruiser. More comedy than drama, but I enjoy watching it." 

The Ghost and the Darkness (1996) Exciting, suspenseful film vaguely based on the true story of two man-eating lions whose depredations halted railroadconstruction in East Africa in the 1880s. Val Kilmer is the historical Irish engineer who must face the lions in order to finish building his bridge. Michael Douglas plays the fictional American hunter who bonds with him. Great soundtrack features distinctive Irish/African music.

Sanders of the River (British,1935) Roguish Nigerian chief (Paul Robeson) helps a godlike British administrator keep The Law along the river. Robeson's faux-African songs add campy appeal (and some real charm), and his grumpy nemesis, the Old King, is a dead ringer for Redd Fox. Silly and unbelievably patronizing, but surprisingly enjoyable, with elaborate village sets and native costumes. (Who but the Brits would dedicate a film to the Civil Servants of their empire?)

Out of Africa (1985) Patrick Wilson comments: "Romantic account of a Danish writer's love for a Great White Hunter. For wargamers, it's best for the sense of time and place (British East Africa in the 1920's). Mountains Of The Moon is a lot better." The Mountains of the Moon (1990) Gritty, beautiful saga of Burton and Speakes' African expeditions. --Mominman comments: "A great dramatization of Burton and Speke's search for the source of the Nile."

Five Weeks in a Balloon (1962) Ron Strickland comments: "A charming movie adaptation of the Jules Verne novel about a British expedition to Upper Volta. Comic mishaps and a hair raising finale with a group of slavers. A RON four-star rating for fun."

Beau Geste (1939) The classic French Foreign Legion film. The ever-so-noble, hyper-romantic worldview might cause groans or giggles among today's audiences, but some of us still believe it, don't we? Snappy, sparkling-clean uniforms, a model ship battle, and there's Fort Zinderneuf for the architecture fans.

Beau Geste (1966) Patrick Wilson comments: "Quickie, low budget remake has lots of action, but little real spirit. Telly Savalas as the dastardly Sergeant is the best thing in it." --Grant Sigsworth comments: "This film does credit to the original. Hard to find, but watch it if you have the chance."

The Last Remake of Beau Geste (1977) Grant Sigsworth comments: "The classic story told as a comedy, with an all-star cast of British comedians. This movie is truly hilarious, so don't watch it if you are offended spoofs of classics."

Fort Saganne (French - 1984). Lawrence of Arabia a la Francais, and, except for philosophical depth, a creditable attempt. Based on the life of an actual Legion hero, the film has color, grandeur, action, great lighting, endless panning of beautiful dunescapes and a love affair with Catherine Denueve (take that, Lawrence). It even matches LoA for length - but easily worth it. French language with English subtitles.

David Hoover comments: "One of the best French North African films, featuring French regulars, and lots of colonial troops facing those pesky tribesmen. Terrific scenes include French North African Cavalry and every other type of unit in all kinds of uniforms, even colonial troops in the trenches of World War One."

March or Die (1977) Tough French Foreign Legion commander must protect an archeological dig which the locals see as desecration. Exciting final battle sequence.

Morocco (1930) Cabaret singer Marlene Dietrich falls hard for Foreign Legionnaire Gary Cooper. Classic exotic romance film.

Under Two Flags (1936) Patrick Wilson comments: "Englishman joins the Legion over a woman (sound familiar?). Neat action sequences, good cast, set in 1920's Morocco." 

Legionnaire (1998) Grim Foreign Legion film sacrifices all to cliche and pyrotechnics. Least colorful Arab chieftain ever committed to celluloid. Good fort, Lewis gun from hip. Why do the Riffs always beat feet the minute it becomes obvious they've won? Tim Balzer comments - "Jean Claude VanDamme is a boxer who hides from mobsters in the Legion in 1920s Morroco. Not as bad as it sounds. Large battle scenes. Nicolas Farrell is great as the disgraced Guards officer."

Outpost in Morocco (1949) Besieged legionnaires and spahis hold out against thirst and rebellious locals. Less-than-inspired action and an obnoxious love story, but the film has lots of fine architectural detail - two forts, a town, and great oases. Filmed at an actual Legion advance outpost in Morocco. Take notes.

Ten Tall Men (1951) Legion sergeant Burt Lancaster and his buddies kidnap a sheikh's fiery daughter to forestall a native attack, and the inevitable occurs. The Legionnaires have national accents, but all the Arabs talk like Americans. Warning: cutesy fights (many people bonked on the head).

Desert Sands (19??) Jerry Lannigan comments: "A standard Hollywood Foreign Legion film - brave American officer, evil Arab sheikh, his beautiful sister, assorted loyal underlings. The concluding battle scene actually is a lot of fun - if you enjoy Hollywood's idea of what a battle looks like."

The Desert Song (1953) -Jerry Lannigan comments: "Classic operetta, totally unrealistic, but notable for the "Riff Song" and "One Alone." The Rift are the good guys(!) who save the Legion from really bad Arabs in the finale." (The Major General's apologies to the other person who suggested this film; the email was lost. There was also a 1929 version and a 1944 version with a wartime spin - guess who are the villians).

The Flying Deuces (1939) Mark Henry comments: "Laurel and Hardy in the French Foriegn Legion."

The Road to Morocco (1942) - Bob and Bing horn in on a Ruffian sheikh's princess-fiancee. Forties idea of zany comedy.

Lion of the Desert (Lybian/British,1981) Tim Balzer comments: "It's freedom fighters versus Mussolini's Italians in 1920's Libya. Big battle scenes, impressive period tanks and armoured cars. Gory Fascist atrocities are frequent and sickening, but ultimately tedious."

Stanley and Livingstone (1939) Patrick Wilson comments: "Highly romanticized version of a cynical journalist's search for a living saint and conversion to fire breathing explorer bent on opening all Africa to civilization. Some action, fine performances, but a bit dated in its paternalism."

King Solomon's Mines (1937) Patrick Wilson comments: "British made version with Paul Robeson (!) playing UmBopa and singing pseudo-African songs and American Spirituals! Some location footage showing the climactic final battle, but with a dubbed and unsynchronized soundtrack. This film didn't know if it wanted to be a musical, a travelogue, or the film version of a great book."

King Solomon's Mines (1950) Patrick Wilson comments: "Second version of classic H. Rider Haggard story teams Deborah Kerr (wolf whistles) and Stewart Granger. Filmed on location with great live action scenes but no great battle at the end. An Adventure Film the way it ought to be."

King Solomon's Mines (1985) Patrick Wilson comments: "The most ghastly, lingering, humiliating murder of a literary classic in film history. I was on the point of walking out (which I had never done) after 15 minutes, but decided to stay only to see if it could get any worse. It could. Flee!" 

Trader Horn (1931) Va-va-voom! Travelogue, African wildlife documentary, wilderness survival, twin rhino-charge, 8-bore double express rifles, guys with lion-claw headdresses, strange musical instruments, grand convocation of all the tribes (gotta use all that dance footage!), flagellation foul-tempered white tribal goddess with skull between mammaries, noble and stoic native companion, inverted crucifixion torture, intercultural romance, and irritating Hispanic stereotype (Caramba!). It's a wonder Hollywood ever bothered to make another adventure film after this one. Yas, oh yas. "Ohhh, what's a man without his weapons?... Why, that sort of beast don't rate even with a hyena" -Aloysius Horn, in Trader Horn

Trader Horn (1973) Ken Hafer comments: "Dull movie with Robert Taylor and Rita Hayworth in Ramar of the Jungle outfits, bearing precious little resemblance to the original story. Half-hearted remake of "King Solomon's Mines" actually."

White Cargo (1942) Tondelayo, an appalling bundle of culture and gender stereotypes who has mastered the subjunctive mood but can't get the hang of the nominative case, has the white guys on the rubber plantation at each other's throats. With roles like this, it's no wonder Hedy Lamarr quit Hollywood. Luscious black and white cinematography and lighting make it a real pleasure to watch (with the sound turned off).

Sundown (British,1941) Allen Hansen comments: "British officers in east Africa work to foil a Nazi plot to supply rebel natives with guns. Post-Victorian, but great action sequences with askaris and Somali natives; don't miss it."

Guns at Batasi (British, 1964) Ken Hafer comments: "At the extreme end of the colonial period, British officer's sense of duty compels him to start a little war over the guns he's supposed to turn over to the new African government. Excellent acting, great film, great British cast!"

Dark of the Sun (1968) Well, yes, the 1960s is a bit outside the period, but please indulge the Maj. Gen. on this one. White mercenaries and black national troops take a militarized steam train into the African interior to rescue civilians and diamonds from savage insurgents. Lots of action, even more tension. Did I mention the train?

The Movies! Hollywood's Take on Colonialism

India
China and the Far East
Northern and Central Africa
Southern Africa