Yes, it's too long and too pretentious with Richard Brook's heavy hand pounding out Conrad's philosophies about Good and Evil, Bravery and Cowardice, but the film has many redeeming qualities for those willing to sit through the longeurs, among them a sterling cast of international character actors at their very best: Russia's Akim Tamiroff, Germany's Curt Jurgens, America's Eli Wallach, England's James Mason and Hungary's Paul Lukas. Lovers of the supreme and subtle art of the British lighting cameraman (so different from the usual Technicolor gloss) can revel in Freddie Young's mastery of atmospheric color photography, some of it shot on location in Southeast Asia, but much of it reproduced magnificently at London's Shepperton Studios with perfect sets by Geoff Drake who learned his trade as Vincent Korda's assistant. The sound effects (uncredited) and native music used during the action scenes are particularly effective. Trivia fans will note that the gorgeous Asian girl played by the Israeli actress Daliah Lavi is now on her fourth marriage and apparently living in Ashville, North Carolina far from the heart of darkness.
Review of Lord Jim
