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Guns at Batasi (1964)An anachronistic martinet RSM on a remote Colonial African army caught in a local coup d'etat must use his experience to defend those in his care. Director:John Guillermin |
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Title: Guns at Batasi (1964)
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Richard Attenborough | ... |
Regimental Sgt. Major Lauderdale
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| Jack Hawkins | ... |
Colonel Deal
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Flora Robson | ... |
Miss Barker-Wise
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| John Leyton | ... |
Private Wilkes
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| Mia Farrow | ... |
Karen Eriksson
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Cecil Parker | ... |
Fletcher
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Errol John | ... |
Lieut. Boniface
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Graham Stark | ... |
Sgt. 'Dodger' Brown
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| Earl Cameron | ... |
Captain Abraham
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| Percy Herbert | ... |
Colour Sgt. Ben Parkin
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David Lodge | ... |
Sgt. 'Muscles' Dunn
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Bernard Horsfall | ... |
Sgt. 'Schoolie' Prideaux
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| John Meillon | ... |
Sgt. 'Aussie' Drake
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Horace James | ... |
Corporal Abou
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Patrick Holt | ... |
Captain
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Plot Summary
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Storyline
Regimental Sergeant-Major Lauderdale is a spit-and-polish, by-the-book disciplinarian, who seems like a 19th Century anachronism in a sleepy peacetime African outpost of the modern British Commonwealth. He is ridiculed behind his back by his subordinate NCO's and must play host to a liberal female MP making a tour of the base. However, when an ambitious African officer, who happens to be a protege of the MP's, initiates a coup d'etat against Captain Abraham, the lawful African commandant, the resourceful RSM uses all his military training to arm his men despite being under house arrest and rescue the wounded commandant from a certain firing squad. When Lt. Boniface, the leader of the mutiny surrounds the sergeants mess with two Bofors guns, it looks like Lauderdale will have to surrender unless he again disobeys orders and takes the initiative. Written by Gabe Taverney (duke1029@aol.com)
Taglines:
The battle lines have just been redrawn. (dvd) See more »Genres:
DramaParents Guide:
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Details
Country:
UKLanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
30 October 1964 (West Germany) See more »Also Known As:
Les canons de Batasi See more »Company Credits
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Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
Mono (Westrex Recording System)Color:
Black and WhiteAspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1
Edit
Sgt. Dodger Brown: [singing as he drives a truck] She'll be comin' round the mountain when she comes. She'll be comin'
Colour Sgt. Ben Parkin: Can't you sing in tune?
Sgt. Dodger Brown: round the mountain when she comes!
[pause as truck bumps over rough road]
Sgt. Dodger Brown: Hey, Ben, you know I was just thinkin'. Back home they wouldn't let me drive a scooter without taking a test.
[chuckles]
Sgt. Dodger Brown: Marvelous, isn't it?
[thud as truck jolts]
Colour Sgt. Ben Parkin: Marvelous
See more »
Did You Know?
Goofs
The personal weapon used by the British is the Sterling sub machine gun which replaced the Sten in the British Army in 1953. This weapon is held with the left hand on the barrel and never the magazine or housing. Holding the magazine is a throwback to its predecessor, the Sten. The experienced senior members of the Mess are holding it incorrectly whilst the most inexperienced among them (Private Wilkes) holds it correctly and naturally. See more »Quotes
[first lines]Sgt. Dodger Brown: [singing as he drives a truck] She'll be comin' round the mountain when she comes. She'll be comin'
Colour Sgt. Ben Parkin: Can't you sing in tune?
Sgt. Dodger Brown: round the mountain when she comes!
[pause as truck bumps over rough road]
Sgt. Dodger Brown: Hey, Ben, you know I was just thinkin'. Back home they wouldn't let me drive a scooter without taking a test.
[chuckles]
Sgt. Dodger Brown: Marvelous, isn't it?
[thud as truck jolts]
Colour Sgt. Ben Parkin: Marvelous
See more »
It's the early 60's, Africa is being decolonised and a supposedly peaceful transition from colony to independent nation goes awry. All that stands between order and "enemies of the new state" being butchered is Dickie Attenborough's RSM and his Sergeant's mess. He has to defend his barracks, put up with a naive left wing politician, a young girl who's taken a fancy to a conscript private who wants his last day in the army to go without a hitch, a wounded African officer who is greatly respected by the RSM, but is an enemy of the new army he's supposed to be in charge of and a largely absent British officer corps. But this won't get Dickie down; the worse things get, the more determined and resolved he gets. Some of his dialogue is fantastic and his calm (and not so calm) put downs of those who threaten him or complain to him are brilliant. Like Anthony Hopkins in "Remains of the Day", his is a lifetime of service and duty; but one that kicks serious ass.
It's one of Attenborough's finest performances: Certainly up there with Brighton Rock.