DEATH DRUMS ALONG THE RIVER

UK, 1962, 90 minutes, Colour.
Richard Todd, Marianne Koch, Albert Lieven, Walter Rilla.
Directed by Lawrence Huntington.

Death Drums Along the River is an updated version of Sanders of the River, filmed in 1937 with Leslie Banks and Paul Robeson. It is based on a story by Edgar Wallace.

The film uses its West African locations quite extensively and gives a graphic picture of the colonies of West Africa in the 50s and 60s. The film stars Richard Todd, hero of many British and American films of the 1950s, the stiff-upper-lip man of integrity kind of performance. He is Sanders, the official keeping order and administering the law in the district. Marianne Koch appears as a doctor. Albert Lieven is suspicious doctor. Walter Rilla a heroic doctor.

The film focuses on diamond smuggling in the Senegal and other countries of north-west Africa. The focus is also on hospitals and their being used as a cover for the smuggling. The film gives a picture of traders, dealers, smugglers as well as those who are there working with the people of Africa.

The film presupposes a certain colonial superiority although the screenplay indicates that the colonial powers should move out and leave what they have accomplished to the locals. Otherwise, the film is an entertaining action adventure.

1. A film of north-west Africa, the location photography, the towns, the outposts, the river? The musical score?

2. The Edgar Wallace story, a film of colonial times (originally made in the 1930s)? How effective the updating to the 1960s?

3. The title, the indication of tribal life, the life of the river, the indications of violence and death?

4. Sanders and his personality, Richard Todd’s screen style? As an administrator, with his assistant – always leaving him out of things but saying that he was psychic! His suspicions about the diamond smuggling, suspicions of Pearson and the interrogations? His going up-country, meeting the doctor at the plane, escorting her? His relationship with the doctor, with Franz, with the journalist? With the nurse on the hospital station? His working with the local authorities, the police? The initial chase, death, funeral? His interrogations, indicating his suspicions? His investigating the soil, the bullets? The conclusions – his going up the river, the confrontation with Franz, Franz’s taking the doctor, the violent confrontation and Franz being taken by the crocodile? The happy ending with the doctor?

5. The diamond-smuggling situation, Pearson and his dealing, the diamond mine on the hospital site, the diamonds being used to finance the hospital? Franz and his taking over the mine, the violence, shooting the journalist? Shooting the police? The cover of the hospital? His finally being unmasked, the clash with Pearson, shooting him? The escape with the doctor, on the river, the pursuit in the swamps, his being taken by the crocodile?

6. The doctor who founded the hospital, his old age, his not getting the right medication, the doctor discovering the truth, the anxiety of the nurse, his using the diamonds, bequeathing the hospital to the tribes?

7. The doctor, her background, going up-river, serving, the attraction to Sanders, discovering the truth, her being taken as hostage, the happy ending?

8. Pearson, the trader, wanting to get in on the diamond deals, trying to bargain with Franz, Franz killing him?

9. The nurse, her love for Franz, his hold over her, not telling the truth about the medicine? The attraction to Hunter, his coming under the guise of a journalist, his knowledge about diamonds and his dealing with diamonds, his being shot by Franz? The nurse trying to escape and give the news to Sanders? The end and her leaving?

10. Sanders’ assistant, the proper Englishman, a bit slow on the uptake, the comic style?

11. Entertaining ingredients for an African adventure?