37 of 37 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
PLEASE GET THIS MOVIE UN-CUT & ON DVD!!!!, May 6, 2006
Although at first glance, Dark of the Sun (1968, starring Rod Taylor, Yvette Mimieux, & football star Jim Brown)seems to be your typical fiction book made into film, it is, in fact, a very realistic portrayal of similar events which ocurred during the Katanga rebellion in 1964 in the newly created Republic of the Congo. It was about diamonds, it was about a proxy war between the East and the West, and Jim Brown's acting, although a bit stiff at times, actually comes off quite well. Rod Taylor was a veteran actor by this time, and it shows clear through as he takes on the portrayal of the tough and hardened, veteran mercenary soldier.
The Simbas DID eat their victims, they did kill hundreds of foreigners (mostly Belgian). The only thing that is not portrayed in the movie is the fact that the Simbas actually used some French mercenaries on their side (although very few), but this historically unknown bit of data is OK to be missing from the movie, since it would only confuse the viewer.
I am sorry to say that I paid $40 for my VHS copy and that the movie's gory scenes were completely deleted - but that is because the producer of the 1994 video (MGM) wanted to sell this movie to as wide an audience as possible.
Perhaps in the future someone in the movie industry will decide to release this film (1) in its entirety as it deserves and (2) on DVD. I for one would be in line to buy a copy or two! The only other mercenary movie that is as realistic is "The Dogs of War", which is, thankfully, on DVD and un-cut.
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33 of 36 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
A Good Film, April 10, 2001
By A Customer
I first saw this movie when it was originally released and enjoyed it very much. It is an excellent action packed movie. The purpose of this review is I was very disappointed because the movie I received has been edited. That's the reason for my rating of 3 stars versus 5. Certain action scenes have been cut, either partly or altogether, and some dialog has been voiced over or deleted. Even the final scene, which is the culmination of the anger of Taylor losing his friend was altered. If you do order this movie attempt to make sure it is the original cut, which is much better than the version I received.
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15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Wait for the DVD, March 30, 2004
By A Customer
Closely based on the early novel of the same name by Wilbur Smith (River Gods, The Seventh Scroll), this dark, probing story realistically portrays the rebellious period of the Belgan Congo during the 60's. Bruce Curry (Taylor) is the white mercenary leader of a force of black government troops sent inland by train to rescue Europeans cut off in a mining town by anti-government Simbas-and more importantly to retrieve the diamonds stored in the town. As one might expect, Curry's plans quickly go awry. His troops are not dependable, and he has to fight not only Simbas but also his fellow mercenaries and hostile UN peace-keeping forces. As the author intended, there are no heroic characters, and the ending leaves the viewer totally unsatisfied. Taylor is well-cast, but the rest of the acting is very weak. The most brutal scenes have been cut from VHS versions, making the film choppy. One can only hope that this film will make it to DVD.
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