Rating: 
Summary: The story is five stars but,,,,,
Review: The sound is what my review is about. I was working at the Cinerama Theatre in West Hartford, Ct where this film was playing. It was shown in 70mm and 6 track magnetic sound. Why was the transfer only done in two channels?I have noticed lately the botched up transfers of magnetic film either 4 channel or 6 channel to DVD to be rather slopy. Doesn't anybody check this stuff before it's released to the public?I was very disappointed with the sound of this film. Why did they ever do away with flogging?
Rating: 
Summary: Oversimplified miscast epic. I didn't like it.
Review: This 1966 film is one of those Cinerama epics that were popular in the sixties. The stars cast in leading roles, Charlton Heston and Laurence Olivier, were popular too. The story is based on an incident from British history when, in 1885, General Charles Gordon was sent to the Sudan to protect British interests. It's over-simplified and filled with Gordon's heroism and I question its historical accuracy. But that was not the only reason I didn't like it.Charlton Heston is cast as General Gordon. He never quite gets the British accent right. And, as the script called for more than just leading the troops into action, he just couldn't get any real emotion into his long and boring conversations. His whole performance was wooden. Laurence Olivier was cast as "The Mahdi", a Moslem religious fundamentalist. But dark makeup
and a turban could not hide the fact that he's a well-known British actor in costume. He sure is no Osama ben Laden. The story dragged so much that I actually fell asleep several times, missing some of the plot. I woke up for the battle scenes though with their casts of thousands, camels, swordplay and unrealistic death scenes. At 134 minutes, it was much too long and there weren't even features on the DVD to give any background. Clearly, I disliked this miscast epic. Except for a bit of good cinematography it is not worthwhile on any level.
Rating: 
Summary: Gordon of Khartoum
Review: This excellent movie provides much food for modern thought. Inspired by the events of the Soudan in 1885, that troubled region (when has it not been) errupted into rebellion against the corrupt and inefficient Turco-Egyptian rule of the Khedive. Gen. Charles Gordon of China fame was sent by the British as a gesture to try and stabilize the region. He would directly confront the new Mahdist Movement of the Soudan which was one of the first Islamic Fundimentalist idealogies of its kind. We confront similar demagogues in Islam today. Although the movie romanticizes Gordon a bit, allowing Heston to ham it up, the film is remarkably accurate in its depiction of the history. Olivier's Mahdi is chilling and really shows us how evil these demagogues of the Koran can be. The Arabian swine Bin Laden is said to have been inspired by the fanaticism of the Mahdi and certainly had visions of emulating him when he was headquartered in the Sudan in the mid-1990s. The only slight drawbacks of the movie are the imaginary meetings which take place between Gordon and the Mahdi. These never occured, but it provides a dramatic vehicle for Heston and Olivier to play off against each other and it does add to the intensity of the movie. Naive moslems today look upon the Mahdi as some kind of nationlist/religeous hero. They seem to conveniently forget what a monster he was. It's no small wonder that they should as it would cast doubts on all their views of radical Islam today. Yet I beleive every moslem should see this movie and perhaps learn how their religion has been twisted by people like this. Unfortunately today we don't have the British empire any more to deal with these kinds of vermin. Even the British put off addressing their slight of Gordon's death until 10 years later when Kitchener finally crushed the Kalifah, another murderous son of Islam at the climatic battle of Omdurman. There is much to learn by watching this great movie made during the last hurrah of epic film making. Learn and enjoy.
Rating: 
Summary: An epic from the True Tales of the Empire period
Review: This film had a big impact on me when I saw it as a 12 year old in 1966 at the State Wayne Theater. I am sure that I did not understand all of the political conversations, though as an adult I find them the best parts of the film. I am sure that I did not understand Gordon's motivation for going to the Sudan nor his attachment to it.
The big action scenes and particularly the famous scene of Gordon facing the mob at the end of the movie without a weapon and freezing them all in place (for a bit), always stayed with me. I liked the military considerations and was angered that the army would not get to Gordon in time.
There were any number of big movies made from tales of the British Empire. Lots of pageantry, color, war, and heroism that is bigger than life. While there are obvious things to criticize in a film that is nearly forty years old (the flooding of the protective moat is particularly obvious to today's eyes and probably were in 1966), I prefer to look at the things that work. Heston does pull off the strange charisma of Gordon, Richard Johnson is fabulous as Col. Stewart, Olivier does a characterization of the Mahdi that would not be acceptable today, but provides a clear villain for this 60s film. Ralph Ricahrdson, one of the great actors of all time, does a superb job as Gladstone and Johny Sekka was wonderful and memorable as the wise, brave, and witty Khaleel.
This is not a great film, but a pretty sound depiction of historical events that we would be better off retaining in our memories. Gordon dies, and so did the Mahdi a few months later, but Gordon was a strange and amazing man as was the Mahdi. It is a strange twist of history that brought them on a collision course. Kitchener went back to the Sudan and conquered Khartoum a couple of decades later and rebuilt it as Gordon had done earlier.
When people only criticize the British Empire they should remember the suffering and misery it tried to alleviate in places like the Sudan and balance that with perceived acts of less nobility.
Rating:
Summary: Khartoum
Review: This film has probably one of the best scripts in years. Since heavy exposition is needed in the beginning, it is handled with witty and brilliant dialog, delivered with aplomb by an experienced British cast. Oliver's performance is somewhat over the top, but the best performance is given by Richard Johnson, as Charlton Heston's military aide. A good, old-fashioned spectacle, with a fine music score, rousing when it has to be and fully melodic when capturing the mystery of Egypt.
Rating:
Summary: Khartoum
Review: This film has probably one of the best scripts in years. Since heavy exposition is needed in the beginning, it is handled with witty and brilliant dialog, delivered with aplomb by an experienced British cast. Oliver's performance is somewhat over the top, but the best performance is given by Richard Johnson, as Charlton Heston's military aide. A good, old-fashioned spectacle, with a fine music score, rousing when it has to be and fully melodic when capturing the mystery of Egypt.
Rating:
Summary: Underrated historical adventure !
Review: This film recalls the British defeat in nothern Africa by Arab tribemen circa in 1833 .
And the fine actings of Olivier as Mahdi and Heston as Gordon are not enough to hold the slow paced script .
There are terrific edition problems . Notice for instance the previous moment to the attack at dawn and notice the landscape , in Gordon side we have night but in the other side we have a radiant sunshine .
Basil Dearden was a talented filmmaker but not in these waters . Since Lawrence de Arabia became a hitherto in what desert movies concern , you should wait a real twist of road to avoid be compared with that David lean's giant film.
Dearden gives a theatrical approach to this film and the dialogues are very slow paced ; there are unforgettable moments as the the speech between Mahdi and Gordon in the first quarter of the film and it seems the film will fly , you feel an uncomfortable sensation of incoherence through the script .
Gordon is in a real trouble with the reduced scope of the Minister but the film lacks expression and force .
You are capable to experience the absence of the organic flow in the drama ; the battle scenes are too short and so far to be credible .
The climax ending is extremely cold and predictable.
The film will be reminded in the future as a clear management default , but definitively it is not a great film, due its inner weakness.
Rating:
Summary: Serviceable
Review: This is a decent movie about an interesting moment in African history. It's a bit too talky and dated looking. (I was watching LAWRENCE OF ARABIA recently, and that DOESN'T look dated, even though it was made in 1962. Khartoum was made in 1966, and DOES look dated.) Anyone who knows LAWRENCE OF ARABIA well, will spot points "stolen" from the LAWRENCE script that are in the KHARTOUM script (references to Gordon's vanity parallel in likeness a bit too closely the references to Lawrence's vanity in the respective movies). But the LAWRENCE influence was a positive one. It's an intelligent script. I saw Lord Kitchener's sarcophogous recently in St. Paul's Cathedral in London. So it was interesting to see this movie on that score. If it weren't based on an historical incident I was interested in, I think I would have liked the movie far less. But that it was "educational" makes me recommend it (if weakly) if you're interested in historical movies.
Rating:
Summary: Almost a classic.
Review: This is an excellent, thoughtful historical spectacle with two huge, charismatic stars. Seeing Mr. Heston and Lord Olivier in the same film is worth "the price of admission" in itself. When you add a compelling story, based on fact, great locations, literate script and fine production values, "Khartoum" becomes a worthy addition to your film collection.
As another reviewer has noted, the basic clash/mistrust/miscommunication between Eastern and Western culture is a very old subject, and sadly just as relevant today.
There are themes and attitudes in this film--on both sides--that gave this viewer a chill in 2002.
As a movie, I gave it four stars--as a spectacle, it is not in the same league as "Lawrence of Arabia" or a couple of other Heston films, "Ben Hur" and "El Cid"--but it still has much to offer.
I liked the way it portrays politicians as devious, unscrupulous and desperate to hang on to power, no matter what the cost to human lives and suffering. Gladstone is considered by historians as one of Britain's greatest Prime Ministers--but the superb Ralph Richardson certainly shows us the man's " dark side". Are politicians any different today ? Yes--it's a rhetorical question !
Olivier is, of course, a consummate actor, and "The Mahdi" is another in a very long line of great performances. Heston, however, more than holds his own as Gordon. Charlton Heston certainly has more than his share of critics--the word "ham" is sometimes used ! Personally, I think he's a terrific actor, and--as he proved many times--one of the few that can still command your full attention when surrounded by a " cast of thousands".
I don't like his politics--but this is one of the true "giants" of movies and I was sad to hear about his health problems.
I recently read an article that made me laugh out loud--someone in Hollywood is considering a re-make of "El Cid" with Tom Cruise--sorry, Tom--there's only one El Cid !
The DVD ? Nice wide-screen transfer--beautiful colour--the sound is acceptable for a 36 year-old film. With the reasonable price, this is a good buy. Try it.
Rating:
Summary: Almost a classic.
Review: This is an excellent, thoughtful historical spectacle with two huge, charismatic stars. Seeing Mr. Heston and Lord Olivier in the same film is worth "the price of admission" in itself. When you add a compelling story, based on fact, great locations, literate script and fine production values, "Khartoum" becomes a worthy addition to your film collection.
As another reviewer has noted, the basic clash/mistrust/miscommunication between Eastern and Western culture is a very old subject, and sadly just as relevant today.
There are themes and attitudes in this film--on both sides--that gave this viewer a chill in 2002.
As a movie, I gave it four stars--as a spectacle, it is not in the same league as "Lawrence of Arabia" or a couple of other Heston films, "Ben Hur" and "El Cid"--but it still has much to offer.
I liked the way it portrays politicians as devious, unscrupulous and desperate to hang on to power, no matter what the cost to human lives and suffering. Gladstone is considered by historians as one of Britain's greatest Prime Ministers--but the superb Ralph Richardson certainly shows us the man's " dark side". Are politicians any different today ? Yes--it's a rhetorical question !
Olivier is, of course, a consummate actor, and "The Mahdi" is another in a very long line of great performances. Heston, however, more than holds his own as Gordon. Charlton Heston certainly has more than his share of critics--the word "ham" is sometimes used ! Personally, I think he's a terrific actor, and--as he proved many times--one of the few that can still command your full attention when surrounded by a " cast of thousands".
I don't like his politics--but this is one of the true "giants" of movies and I was sad to hear about his health problems.
I recently read an article that made me laugh out loud--someone in Hollywood is considering a re-make of "El Cid" with Tom Cruise--sorry, Tom--there's only one El Cid !
The DVD ? Nice wide-screen transfer--beautiful colour--the sound is acceptable for a 36 year-old film. With the reasonable price, this is a good buy. Try it.
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