ESCAPE FROM ZAHRAIN

US, 1962, 93 minutes, Colour.
Yul Brunner, Sal Mineo, Madlyn Rhue, Jack Warden, James Mason.
Directed by Ronald Neame.

Escape from Zahrain is a pleasing action adventure, sometimes slow moving, but attractively and authentically photographed - with a screenplay still relevant decades after its original writing. Its insight into oil problems, Arab countries and violence and oppression is perennial material.

Yul. Brynner is effective in the central role and there is a good supporting cast, especially Jack Warden. Direction is by English director Ronald Neame who moved to Hollywood with a variety of popular entertainments in the '60s (A Man Could Get Killed, Mister Moses, Gambit) and then moved on to more spectacular films in the '70s with The Poseidon Adventure and The Odessa File. Later films were domestic comedies: Hopscotch, First Monday in October. His friend James Mason took an uncredited role as an oil supervisor.

1. Interesting and entertaining action adventure? Relevance to world situations in the '60s? Later decades?

2. The importance of location photography, Panavision photography? The background of the Arabian Peninsula? Cities? The desert locations and their ruggedness? Special effects and editing? Musical score?

3. The conventions of the Third World and political upheaval? Military regimes and oppression? Popular heroes and revolution? Critique of American intervention? The development of oil and wealth in the Arabian Peninsula? The small group escaping through difficulties and interacting with one another? How well were the conventions combined?

4. The atmosphere of realism about the situation in Zahrain? The opening with the military power and dictatorship, cruelty? The university students and the ambush? The taking of the Red Cross truck? The small group and their composition? Interaction? Their ability to survive in the desert against pursuit? The final confrontation? The final escape and the possibility of a revolution in Zahrain?

5. The focus on Sharif as hero? His being condemned to death? His rescue? His strong power of command? His manoeuvres and knowledge of the land? Taking control? The risks, deciding where to go in the desert - over the mountains, to the oil station? The finale? A leader of his people? Yul Brynner's strength and dignity in the character?

6. Sal Mineo as Ahmed, the university student with enthusiasm, his help in the trek, his courage, his infatuation with Laila? Muslim background and intensity? Mother and concern? The clashes with the group? His going to sleep on guard? His sense of failure? His wanting to redeem himself? His going back for Laila? The pathos and dignity of his death?

7. Laila and her being an Arab woman, European education. moving against the oppression of Muslim women? Work with the Red Cross? Her heroics? Antagonism? Participating in the journey? Attraction towards Ahmed? Attack on Sharif and then admiration for him? Her deciding not to stay at the oil station? Her helping? Her staying with Sharif? The points made about feminism and the Arab world? A credible heroine?

8. Houston and the American background, the breakout, skill with guns, forcing himself on the group, his help with the driving, clashes with Sharif? Admiration for him? The drinking sequence (with the contrast of the Arabs not drinking and Laila's taking the whiskey)? His ingenuity? Attack on Hassan and the others? The participation in the raid, helping the truck to go? His final escape? The ambiguity of his being an embezzler - of the American multinational oil company?

9. The Arabs - the brutal Arab and his trying to get control, drink the water, his giving himself to save the others against the armoured car pursuers? The old Arab who escaped but was killed? The pursuit of the military in their armoured cars and planes? The Arabs in the village and their warnings, giving their jeep etc.? The film's presentation of the Arab world?

10. The military and the despotism and the paternalism of control? The use of the military and violence? The comparisons with Americanised development of Arab countries? Technology? Oil wealth? The computerisation and mechanical control of the resources? The Arab people wanting to participate in their wealth? James Mason's guest role - the pompous Englishman helping, looking down with disdain on the ruffians etc.? A humorous but telling vignette? The intention of the film as a straight-out action adventure rather than relying on an exploration of themes? How well did it communicate its themes through the straightforward story?