TRIPOLI

US, 1950, 95 minutes, Colour.
Maureen O'Hara, John Payne, Howard Da Silva, Lowell Gilmore.
Directed by Will Price.

Tripoli is a routine costume drama, the type of which Maureen O'Hara made in great frequency during the '50s. As always, she is the fiery heroine. John Payne is a Marine captain. Howard de Silva is a Greek mercenary. There is a good cast - but essentially the film is a horse opera in the African desert. The film was directed by Maureen O'Hara's then husband, Will Price. It has as its background the American presence in Tripoli - and the basis for the lyrics in the Marines Hymn.

1.Popularity of this kind of costume drama? Based on history?

2.Location photography, the atmosphere of the 19th century, Africa, Arab peoples? The American Marines? Battle sequences? Score?

3.The title, its focus, African politics, the American presence? To the shores of Tripoli?

4.O'Bannen and the Americans, his going on the mission, with Tripp? The contacts with the Tunisians? The civil war, the plan of attack? Meeting the countess, his severity with her, falling in love? The desert journey, encounters with the prince? Dimitrios and the Greek mercenaries? The American general? The difficulties, the trek through the desert without water, the final battle? Happy ending?

5.Maureen O'Hara as the fiery countess, her ambitions, her maid, wanting to marry the prince, on the expedition, humiliated by O'Bannen, attracted by him? In love with him?

6.Dimitrios, gung-ho attitudes, the Greeks? The prince and his double-dealing? The Arabs?

7.The American general, the presence of the Marines? Keeping peace in that part of the world?

8.Popular routine action adventure?