Rating: 
Summary: It may not be great, but
Review: I bought this one for Olivier's performance. And it is a gem. Sir Larry never failed to find a characterization to hold your interest in the many things he did over his career. Unlike so many of today's "actors", Sir Larry is never visible under the make-up. He knew how to become whomever he was portraying. This is an OK movie, but for me the highlight is Sir Larry.
Rating: 
Summary: New film to me, but I was not disappointed
Review: I had never known that they made a film about this subject until I saw it sitting on the shelf at a local store. It was made well before my time, you see. But, being an avid history reader, and by coincidence, reading a book on the Victorian colonial wars at the time, I took a chance and bought it without having viewed it before. The previous reviews here flesh out the historical merits and flaws well, so the only thing I can say is that it does have that glossy, "historical epic" touch of 60's Hollywood, but is an all around solid film. Maybe it's not as strong as other epics of the time, but the casting and their subsequent performances are stellar. The film lacks a lot of the gritty violence of today's war films, and maybe it paints a bit of a naive, politically incorrect portrait of General Gordon, but overall, it's great, and I would recommend it to anyone even remotely interested in the topic, historical epics, or the actors involved.
Rating: 
Summary: One of the best Cinerama spectaculars
Review: In 1962, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer started to use three camera Cinerama to tell stories rather than travelogues. But in 1963, three camera Cinerama was relegated to the trash heap and Ultra Panavision, a 70mm anamorphic process giving a 2.75 aspect ratio, was used for Cinerama movies. The depth generated by the technology was replaced with the director's ability to set up scenes that would not get distorted on the large curved screen. Of course, all the technology in the world can not replace an intelligent story and the story-telling Cinerama movies had its ups and downs. Here is one of the highlights. A fascinating, little-known history lesson is made into an intelligent action spectacular written by an author who specializes in African history, Robert Ardrey. In the tradition of "Lawrence of Arabia," we get a psychological and political analysis, a mixture of action set pieces directed by the remarkable Yakima Canutt (the director of the chariot race in "Ben-Hur") and character analysis directed by Basil Dearden. The acting is phenomenal. Charlton Heston does his finest acting since "Ben-Hur" and Laurence Olivier is outstanding, even frightening. But do not forget Ralph Richardson, Richard Johnson and the rest of the cast. They are all equally effective. I believe the reason that this film was not more of a success or more appreciated was a timing issue: it was released during the summer. Not a good time to release a film situated in the Sudanese desert. Even "Lawrence of Arabia" was released right before Christmas. The five star rating is for the film. Now, for the DVD, MGM continues its practice of delivering the worst product. Of course, this is a member of their less expensive collection and my criticisms are little. First, the titles have been changed. The original titles were presented on a backdrop of royal blue while the letters were thin, gold and contained jewels. Here, they appear as yellow letters from a word processing package on a black background. Why was it changed? Second, the aspect ratio is 2.35 rather than the Ultra Panavision 70mm 2.75. Third, the sound is absolutely horrendous. It must be monaural. No bass, no depth, no surround effects. The explosions shook the theatre. Here, they disappear into the background. Still, despite the presentation, with only a couple of artifacts in the film, it is still an excellent motion picture that more and more people should discover.
Rating:
Summary: It is a classic - great movie
Review: Its a great movie and story. Charleston Heston is always great. I wanted to get this before its impossible to obtain for my personal movie library. I wish they had this in DVD.
Rating:
Summary: Epic Action Film From a Lost Age
Review: Khartoum is both an African city and the name for some colorful 1884 North African history: the rise of a Messiah-like figure named "Mahdi" among the Muslims of present-day Sudan, the return of a noble general, Charles "Chinese" Gordon, who vanquished slavery in the area, and a tragic fight between the Mahdi and the noble general. That being said, the film works somewhat well as an action vehicle, but most of the more colorful events from the actual history are glossed over or not well portrayed. I found Laurence Olivier's portrayal of the Mahdi to be very weak with every kind of Muslim stereotype presented as well as some real kitschy overacting. Laurence Olivier simply doesn't pass as a radical Muslim leader. Charlton Heston should never EVER try to do accents again! His British accent more than flopped; it plummeted. The majority of the film suffers from overacting or just plain poor acting. What may have been billed as an Oscar-nominated screenplay in 1966 wouldn't fly today in 2003. The film's 134 minutes are not well arranged. The film suffers from numerous slow moments and the musical accompaniment is sleep inducing. Both my roommate and I snoozed while trying to watch this film. Some of the cinematography is breathtaking, but nowhere near the level of "Lawrence of Arabia." At any rate, even a little bit of good cinematography can't save this weak film. I'm giving this film three stars because it does a mediocre but passable job of being an action film. "Zulu" would be a much better film if you would like to watch British soldiers face off against native hordes. Then again, Charlton Heston's wooden acting might make this a camp film classic such as Heston being struck by a spear and slowly falling off a wall was pure cheese. Who knows? I don't recommend this film. Review by: Maximillian Ben Hanan
Rating:
Summary: Heston at his finest
Review: KHARTOUM is one of Charlton Heston's finer cinematic outings, and is well worth watching. Olivier's Mahdi is an added plus. Such films would be difficult to make in today's Politically correct climate. Nevertheless, the action, adventure, great camera work, and solid acting make this a must for action/historical epic fans....
Rating:
Summary: Messianic Struggle.
Review: Laurence Olivier and Charlton Heston star in a colorful historical drama that details the fall of Khartoum in 1885. In the mid-'60s, the film industry was winding down its interest in portraying historical spectacles on the big screen. A late entry in this cycle is this intelligent British film. Heston plays the Victorian hero "Chinese" Gordon, who viewed himself as the deliverer of the Sudan. Previously, Gordon had ended slavery in the region, and he feels connected to his loyal minions. Olivier is equally messianic as The Mahdi, the spiritual leader of hordes of Moslem warriors. God has commanded The Mahdi, he says, to worship in mosques as far afield as Constantinople. His war in the Sudan is a mere prelude to greater conquests. The conflict is essentially between two fanatic men. One inspired by faith, the other by ego. The immediate cause of conflict is the city of Khartoum. Besides indigenous people, the city is populated by Egyptians and Europeans. For political reasons, Gordon goes to the Sudan to sort it all out, and evacuate the non-native inhabitants. All the while preserving British dignity without entangling Her Majesty's government. Heston does well as the proud Gordon. Olivier seems amused by his role. Their scenes together are among the high points of the film, but they also stretch historical credibility. Ralph Richardson is good as British P. M. Gladstone, resisting Gordon's attempts to expand the British role in the Sudan. The large-scale battle scenes will please action-adventure fans. The director does an effective job of capturing the Victorian atmosphere of England in the 1880s. Location filming in Egypt and along the Nile enhances authenticity. An interesting sub-theme is the folly of foreign adventure, ironic for a film produced in the early Vietnam era. Recommended viewing. ;-)
Rating:
Summary: History for Dummies Like Me
Review: One of the fun things about going to the library is that you never know what you are going to get. They have a wide selection of DVDs, but very few are available at any given time. I was surprised this last time when I actually had a choice to pick from. Albeit it was a choice between 2 films (the few others available were either foreign films translated into French, or straight French films). The choice was between the Gary Cooper version of A Farewell to Arms and an unheard of by me Charlton Heston/Laurence Olivier adventure called Khartoum. Not in the mood for Hemingway, I decided a Heston/Olivier picture might be a treat.
To say this is a Laurence Olivier picture is to say too much. Though he gets top billing, and his character plays an important part in the picture, his actual screen time is minimal. He plays a part known only as The Mahdi, who is a Muslim that rose out of the dessert to claim his place as the chosen one. I believe Olivier is a African Muslim like I believe Heston is a Mexican cop. But we suspend our disbelief and all that for the sake of the story.
As it is the story is a grand one. Based on historical events, of which, sadly, I've never heard a lick of until this film, where the Mahdi attempts to take control of British ran Sudan. The mysterious General Gordan (Charlton Heston) is sent down to help things along. A standoff evolves and it is wit against wit.
It is not a bad film, but neither is it a great one. There are some truly beautiful shots of the scenery. Heston plays Gordan without as much conflict as the character requires, but with enough gusto to make it believable. Olivier is, as always, near perfect. With simple facial expressions he carries the convictions of a man who believes himself a prophet. The scenes between Olivier and Heston, though historically inaccurate, add a much needed emotional punch. The direction is a bit plodding, nothing particularly bad, but nothing exceptional either.
When watching a historical films such as Khartoum, having some connection with the actual events helps bring meaning to the picture. Films based on the holocaust are often forgiven some of their cinematic sins due to the weight of the history behind the story. Yet, historical films that are not as well known can also entrance the viewer through the weight of its story. Knowing that the events actually happened often stir the viewer to greater emotional depths than a depiction of completely fictional events. It is here that Khartoum failed for me. As I said there was nothing particularly wrong with the production, but it never really captured my emotions. Admittedly I know very little about British history, or the struggles of the Mid East beyond the years of my own life. This is a fault of my own, yet a film should be universal in its undertaking. If it fails to move an audience unfamiliar with its history then it must resign in relative obscurity. For those familiar with this particular history, the film may bring more to you than it did me. As for me, though it was a mostly entertaining, and interesting couple of hours in my life, it will be one that will largely be forgotten in time.
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Rating:
Summary: The Madhi and Gordon never met in real life but who cares!
Review: Superb film, with some licence on the historic facts, but after all that makes for superb scenes between Heston and Olivier...
A must have if you are building a DVD collection about Military History (or plain History).
Great battle scenes (a pity no more time is used on the relief expedition and the Abu Klea wells battle) but the worlds's not perfect!.
Get it, you won't be disapointed.
Rating:
Summary: THIS WAS JIHAD
Review: The mahdi, the extremist leader of his muslim followers, said so. He called it Jihad, a muslim holy war. This story took place in Sudan in the 1880's; I believe it was filmed there too. I bet seeing this film on the big screen was something spectacular, especially the scenes of boats and sails along the Nile and the vast, dry deserts of the Sudan. The story is true, although I always wonder if Hollywood got all of the particulars correct. From the web, it looks like this conflict started around 1881, and much negotiation, events transpired before the culmination of this conflict in the final siege of Khartoum in 1884. The main characters were real people, Gordon, the British ambassador, played by Heston, and the Mahdi, played by Olivier. William Gladstone was Prime Minister at the time of the siege, Queen Victoria was Queen of Great Britain. The siege of Khartoum lasted for 5-6 months, and interestingly, as this movie shows, the Mahdi died 5-6 months after Gordon was murdered. The movie is told from a christian standpoint; the end of the movie alludes to several stories in the bible, that of Rahab when she let down the two jewish spies from her window using a scarlet cord which would also mark her and her family as friends to not be destroyed Joshua 2:18, 21, and also of Christ's arrest in the garden of Gethsemane right before his Roman style execution in John 18:6. You'll understand what I mean if you watch this movie. Given what's happening in Sudan now, it seems important to me to remember its historical precedents.
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