This attractive picture deals with a group of military Sergeants : Perry Herbert , Grahame Stark , David Ledge , among others , stationed in in Africa during the anti-colonial Sixties , they are under orders of a stiff-upper-lip Sergeant-Major named Lauderdale : Richard Attenborough and ultimately all of them become involved into a local coup d'etat in the emergent African state . Surprisingly , things go wrong when the regiment is threatened and heavily sieged by the African rebels . These were the last of the great adventurers , suddenly besieged in a jungle powderkeg hall way between heaven and hell ! The battle lines have just been redrawn . Brothers of Vengeance . Outnumbered a hundred to one -Yet fighting like a thousand heroes in a hell spot called Batasi ! . On Parade a tyrant ..in a hot spot , a hero ! Outnumbered , but never outfought !
A nice film with intelligent dialogue about military life , drama , thrills , adventure and emotion . Sir Richard Attenborough draws the regiment sergeant-Major to life in this sympathetic drama with action , intrigue and surprises . Fine interpretations make this rather predictable movie very watchable . Cast is frankly fabulous , Richard Attenborough is magnificent as the tough and strict Sergeant Major stealing really the show , Flora Robson as a meddler senator , a very young Mia Farrow , John Leyton as an unfortunate Private and other prestigious secondaries as Earl Cameron, Cecil Parker , David Ledge , John Meillon and Percy Herbert .
It displays an evocative and atmospheric cinematography in black and white by great cameraman Douglas Slocombe , and shot on location . As well as adequate and brilliant musical score by John Addison . The motion picture was competently directed by John Guillermin . This Brit craftsman filmmaker directed several films of all kinds of genres , getting several hits and some flops , as he made the following ones : "The Blue Max" , "Walz of the Toreadors" , "Never Let Go" , "Death on the Nile" , "King Kong" , "King Kong lives" , "Towering inferno" , among others . Rating : 7/10 . Better than average . Essential and indispensable watching for British cinema enthusiasts . The flick will appeal to Richard Attenborough fans .
A nice film with intelligent dialogue about military life , drama , thrills , adventure and emotion . Sir Richard Attenborough draws the regiment sergeant-Major to life in this sympathetic drama with action , intrigue and surprises . Fine interpretations make this rather predictable movie very watchable . Cast is frankly fabulous , Richard Attenborough is magnificent as the tough and strict Sergeant Major stealing really the show , Flora Robson as a meddler senator , a very young Mia Farrow , John Leyton as an unfortunate Private and other prestigious secondaries as Earl Cameron, Cecil Parker , David Ledge , John Meillon and Percy Herbert .
It displays an evocative and atmospheric cinematography in black and white by great cameraman Douglas Slocombe , and shot on location . As well as adequate and brilliant musical score by John Addison . The motion picture was competently directed by John Guillermin . This Brit craftsman filmmaker directed several films of all kinds of genres , getting several hits and some flops , as he made the following ones : "The Blue Max" , "Walz of the Toreadors" , "Never Let Go" , "Death on the Nile" , "King Kong" , "King Kong lives" , "Towering inferno" , among others . Rating : 7/10 . Better than average . Essential and indispensable watching for British cinema enthusiasts . The flick will appeal to Richard Attenborough fans .