THE BLACK TENT
UK, 1956, 93 minutes, Colour.
Anthony Steel, Donald Sinden, Andre Morell, Michael Craig, Donald Pleasence, Anton Diffring.
Directed by Brian Desmond Hurst.
The Black Tent is the typical war adventure film from the British studios of the fifties. Donald Sinden And Anthony Steele appeared in many of these films. This story is quite colourful, combining the atmosphere of the desert and World War II. It avoids the happy ending. The screen play was co-written by Bryan Forbes who wrote many screen plays and was to go on to become a very successful director.
l. An interesting and entertaining war film? Conventional? Authenticity contributed by the Libyan background and the atmosphere of the desert people?
2. A war film of the fifties? memory of the war, the contemporary setting? The war style with the action sequences, the presentation of the Arabs? Conventional presentation, differences?
3. Importance of the colour photography, English and desert locations? Atmospheric music?
4. How credible was the plot? The English background, the role of the sheik, and their people in the desert during the war? English prisoners and their place with the people in the desert? particular battle sequences and strategies? The unhappy ending instead of the conventional romantic happy ending? sufficient for the purposes of the film?
5. The initial focus on Charles Holland and the information about his brother? Holland as the traditional British gentleman, his background, wealth, the honour of his family? His search for the truth and his presence in Libya? The effect of the story on him, his appeal to his nephew? As a character, as a type for his role in the film?
6. The main focus of attention on David Holland - audience expectations on him and his presence with the desert people, the possibility of his being a traitor in the war? The introduction to his plight, personality? His friendship with the people, the friendship with the sheikh, the love for Mabouka, the marriage and the child ? His feeling at home with the people? The presence of the Germans and his strategy? The importance of the English defeat by Rommel, the change after El Alamein and his rejoining the fighting? His making the promissory note? the will and his diary? A conventional British hero, how well presented?
7. The portrayal of the people of the desert - the sheik and his wise rule of his people, his help to David Holland, shielding his memory from Charles, the revelation of the truth, his helping him during the war, his disappointment with Faris as a son in law? his hold over his daughter and his grandson - his pleasure in his grandson deciding to remain with the people that he knew? Mabouka and her love for David, her leaving her decision to her son? The boy and the dilemma with which he was faced? his decision and the reasons for it?
5. The incidental British characters, the officers and those who gave the information to Charles Holland?
6. The war sequences and their vivid presentation? The African locations and desert settings?
7. Themes of human nature, race? the attitudes of the British and their heritage? The contrast with the desert people and their heritage? The significance of the ending?
8. How much insight into human nature via this very British adventure story?
