Joseph Conrad's Lord Jim made it to the big screen for a second time, the first being a silent screen version. The tale which is about the split second difference between being a hero and a coward which is the time it takes to either give in or control your fears.
Peter O'Toole who recycled some of his Lawrence Of Arabia persona plays the title role of the cashiered British merchant marine officer who abandons his ship during a storm with the rest of the white crew leaving a boatload of Moslem pilgrims to Mecca to fend for themselves. The ship doesn't sink however, it's survives and is salvaged by the French in the Red Sea.
In fact O'Toole further compounds his problems by owning up to the decision forcing a court martial and a cashiering.
But fates give him a chance to redeem himself somewhat when he becomes a deliverer of sorts to a Malaysian tribe being subjugated by a bandit general played by Eli Wallach recycling his bandit character from The Magnificent Seven.
Other folks in the cast are Paul Lukas, Curt Jurgens, Akim Tamiroff playing parts they are well typecast for. Although he doesn't come in until 80% of the film is done James Mason is memorable as a rather cultured but deadly river pirate who Wallach makes common cause with to regain control in his area. Mason to be compensated by some hidden treasure the natives are reputed to possess.
In the end O'Toole has set some impossible standards of human behavior for himself and feels he has to live up to them.
Conrad as author is almost as difficult to translate as Hemingway. This was certainly a better effort than the version of Victory that Fredric March did. I think that O'Toole was fortunate to have burst on the big screen in a breakout role of T.E. Lawrence that was similar to his character here. It was well brought out by director Richard Brooks.
Fans of the listed players should like Lord Jim.
Peter O'Toole who recycled some of his Lawrence Of Arabia persona plays the title role of the cashiered British merchant marine officer who abandons his ship during a storm with the rest of the white crew leaving a boatload of Moslem pilgrims to Mecca to fend for themselves. The ship doesn't sink however, it's survives and is salvaged by the French in the Red Sea.
In fact O'Toole further compounds his problems by owning up to the decision forcing a court martial and a cashiering.
But fates give him a chance to redeem himself somewhat when he becomes a deliverer of sorts to a Malaysian tribe being subjugated by a bandit general played by Eli Wallach recycling his bandit character from The Magnificent Seven.
Other folks in the cast are Paul Lukas, Curt Jurgens, Akim Tamiroff playing parts they are well typecast for. Although he doesn't come in until 80% of the film is done James Mason is memorable as a rather cultured but deadly river pirate who Wallach makes common cause with to regain control in his area. Mason to be compensated by some hidden treasure the natives are reputed to possess.
In the end O'Toole has set some impossible standards of human behavior for himself and feels he has to live up to them.
Conrad as author is almost as difficult to translate as Hemingway. This was certainly a better effort than the version of Victory that Fredric March did. I think that O'Toole was fortunate to have burst on the big screen in a breakout role of T.E. Lawrence that was similar to his character here. It was well brought out by director Richard Brooks.
Fans of the listed players should like Lord Jim.