THE SEVENTH DAWN
US, 1964, 123 minutes, Colour.
William Holden, Susannah York, Capucine, Tetsuro Tamba, Michael Goodliffe, Maurice Denham, Allan Cuthbertson, Sidney Tafler.
Directed by Lewis Gilbert.
A big budget spectacular social entertainment. It was filmed in Malaysia and uses the landscapes and the jungle of that country to great advantage. Director of photography was Freddie Young, who worked on David Lean's films like Lawrence of Arabia and Dr. Zhivago. William Holden is a solid lead and there is Susannah York early in her career. Capucine has quite a good role. There is an excellent British supporting cast led by Michael Goodliffe.
There is a vigorous score by Riz Ortolani. The material has been treated in many adventure films like Richard Thorpe’s Malaya, 1950, with Spencer Tracy, James Stewart and it is the period of The Virgin Soldier stories.
Direction by Lewis Gilbert, who made a number of solid British comedies and action adventures and with films like this moved into the international league and became the director of several James Bond films, including You Only Live Twice, The Spy Who Loved Me and Moonraker.
1. The popularity of this kind of adventure, romance? The basic ingredients of the adventure films?
2. Colour and Panavision photography? The atmosphere of Malaysia and its history? The war, post-war terrorists, influence of multi-nationals? The musical score?
3. The point of view of the screenplay: Malaya and the ultimate emergence of Malaysia? The role of the British during the war? The jungle troops and their becoming terrorists? Marxist influence? The withdrawal of the British? The business role of the United States? The final attitudes towards terrorists, towards the British, towards Ferris?
4. World War II and its atmosphere? The terrorist work against the Japanese? The exhilaration of the Japanese surrender? Ng and his work? Ferris and Dhana working with him? Their tactics and the prediction of the future with the same tactics?
5. The arrival of the British and their take-over? Trumpey and the encounter with Ferris? His gesture in allowing Ng to take the flag? the British authorities after the war and their pomposity - especially Cavendish? Trumpy's return after the war and the hopes for some kind of settlement?
6. The character of Ng: during the war, sympathetic presentation, communistic leanings, his going to Moscow for training, his work as a terrorist and his values? Dhana and her decision not to go with him? her hesitations as the film went on? Ferris going to see him to plead for his stopping his terrorism? Ferris's failure?
7. The character of Ferris: William Holden and his style as American hero? During the war? His decision to stay and his prosperity? The neighbours and the terrorist destruction for example Tarlton, his confrontation with Ferris and wanting to sell his plantation, the ambush and his death? Ferris and the attitudes of the British towards him especially Cavendish and the C.P.O.? The encounter with Trumpey and the friendship from the past? Ferris and his relationship with Dhana - love, taking her for granted? His admiration of her during the demonstration? The meeting with Candace? The party and the deaths? her going to his home? His putting her off? Her being taken as hostage? His mission to Ng and its failure? The later desperation to bring Ng in to save Dhana from execution? His being too late? His refusal of a happy ending with Candace?
8. Dhana and her place during the war, her teaching work, as mistress to Ferris? The importance of the bike demonstration? lier decision to side with the terrorists? The arrest and the fact that Ng had planned her arrest? Imprisonment, trial? The visit of Candace and her substituting herself as hostage? Audience response to the group's being too late and Dhana's execution?
9. Candace as alternate heroine? As Trumpey’s daughter, her boldness in confronting Ferris on his return from the mission, her swimming? The party and the assassinations? her sexual advances and Ferris's rejection? Her visiting Dhana in the prison? Her allowing herself to be taken hostage? The hardships of the journey with Ferris and Ng? Ferris's rejecting her?
10. The picture of emerging nations after World War II, the atmosphere of the East, difficulties? The British and their role and withdrawing? The burning of villages, the demonstrations, British arrogance?
11. How satisfying an action film, the portrayal of dangers, terrorism, betrayal? Conventional material but elaborately and entertainingly done?
