GUNS AT BATASI
UK, 1964, 103 minutes, Black and White.
Richard Attenborough, Flora Robson, Mia Farrow, Jack Hawkins, John Leyton, Errol John, Cecil Parker, John Meillon.
Directed by John Guillermin.
Guns At Batasi is an adventure set in South Africa and reflecting the tensions and adventure of the racial pressures in that country. An interesting British cast acts very well - Mia Farrow was introduced in this film and it would seem had not found her acting feet too well. Direction is by John Guillermin who had directed many films in England, moved to France after this with Rapture, and then to America with such films as The Blue Max. He was to become a very popular director of action films e.g. House Of Cards and El Condor, and then in the '70s made such films as Towering Inferno, King Kong, Death On The Nile. This film is quite an entertaining South African adventure.
1. What was the purpose of this film? Military entertainment? An exposure of British traditions? Something on the army? A picture of modern African turmoil?
2. Where did audience sympathies lie? How much sympathy was there with Lauderdale?
3. How well was the picture of contemporary Africa caught? How real was it? Were the issues of modern uprisings well presented? The atmosphere of fear in uprisings?
4. What did the film present about British traditions? The role of the British army in overseas territories? The role of the modern British army outside of England? Did the film take a stand on this?
5. How sympathetic was the presentation of army life? What did the film show in favour of the array? What did it show against the array? What were your final impressions? Why?
6. How was the character of Lauderdale the central character of the film? Comment on Richard Attenborough's performance. From the first time we see him on the drill yard to his final marching off to a new assignment? How pedantic was he? How unimaginative? How much a product of army discipline? How did he show the virtues of army discipline? How did he show what is wrong with too much discipline? Did his character change and develop during the film?
7. Miss Barker-Wise: what kind of woman was she? Was she a real politician or was this a satire on politicians? How unreal was her experience of Africa? Her being duped? However, was she a sufficient counter-balance to Lauder~ dale's extreme positions? As regards the situation and crisis was she right or wrong? Why did she clash with Lauderdale? How was she disillusioned by her experience with Boniface?
8. Deal and the command of the troops in Africa? Was this presented realistically or not? The nature of Deal's decisions? His placing Abraham in charge? Was this a sensible decision? The irony of Deal's arrival when the trouble is over and Lauderdale is trying to cope with the crisis?
9. How interestingly were the black leaders presented: Abraham and his loyalty? Boniface - the traitor? How ironical was it that Abraham could be hounded and killed on one night and then there be a truce on the next? What comment does this make on changing African states?
10. Comment on the Sergeants' Mess and the personalities there: Digger, Dodger, Ben, Muscles? What particular aspects of military life did they represent? Their relationships among themselves? Their attitudes towards Lauderdale? The participation in the coping with the situation? The final attempt to blow up the guns?
11. How well did the film show the nature of the riots by contrasting and intercutting with the celebration of the Queen's Birthday? How ironic was this?
12. Did the sub-plot about Wilkes and Karen add anything to the film? Did it add human interest? Human interest in a time of crisis? Was this relationship explored in any depth?
13. How successful was Lauderdale's idea of blowing up the guns? Did it add to the suspense of the film? How was the peace and the truce an anti-climax?
14. How sympathetic did you feel towards Lauderdale when the army had to take notice of African complaints about his behaviour? How well did Lauderdale cope with this? His flinging the glass at the Queen? Was this only a momentary aberration? What future would Lauderdale have?
