JohnHowardReid Copyright 1957 by Batjac (John Wayne)/Robert Haggiag/Dear Film Productions. Released through United Artists. New York opening at the Capitol: 21 December 1957. U.S. release: 17 December 1957. U.K. release: 2 March 1958. Australian release: 31 July 1958. Sydney opening at the Plaza (ran two weeks). 9,757 feet. 108 minutes. SYNOPSIS: Ill-matched trio seek treasure in the Sahara.COMMENT: Despite wondrous location shooting in the Libyan Desert around Gaudames and Tripoli, and in the ruined Roman-built city of Leptis Magnor, this ends up as a rather dreary movie, which certainly partly deserves its poor reputation. Admittedly, it starts promisingly. Kurt Kasznar makes a good impression as a venal official and the bizarre situation looks like developing into an intriguing "unlikely partners" yarn of dangerous adventures and hair-breadth escapes. Alas, for this sort of caper to take off – especially as it involves only three persons – well-rounded characters are absolutely essential. And these the two scriptwriters signally fail to supply. But not only are the principals forced to enact one-dimensional stereotypes, one cardboard cut-out (Brazzi) is suddenly thrown away in the last 20 minutes and a different bit of paste-board substituted. Unfortunately, Brazzi cannot handle the sudden transition at all credibly. Not that we blame him.On the credit side, however, the movie cost $3 million and a lot of that investment is right up there on the screen in Jack Cardiff's superb Technicolor renderings of the exotic desert locations. Lavagnino's eerily atmospheric music score also helps allay the tedium.The action set-ups occasionally reveal traces of director Hathaway's customary vigor. His handling of the players, however, leaves much to be desired. Brazzi is excellent right up to the end of the Leptis Magnor sequences, Wayne is content to swagger around in much his usual latter-day style, but Miss Loren proves a big disappointment. She starts ably enough, but once in the desert, she contributes virtually nothing.

vincentlynch-moonoi I thought I had watched this before and didn't like it. But, I decided to at least start watching it again, and overall I liked it. Must have been confusing it with some other film.When I was a kid I thought Sophia Loren was the most beautiful woman in the world. After watching this film I can see that while she may have been the most beautiful woman in the world, it took a little work to make her that way. She looks a little ratty here...but that does go along with her character. But still very entertaining.The biggest problem with this film is that there is so much time trudging across the Sahara. It's part of the plot, of course, and had to be done, but those parts get just a bit tedious.Otherwise, this is a pretty enjoyable film, and the ending provides real surprises...including that, for once, John Wayne doesn't save the day.The plot involves Rossano Brazzi whose father may have discovered treasure in a lost city in the Sahara Desert, and Rossano is out to reclaim the treasure, possibly find his father, and -- with religious fervor -- save Sophia Loren from life as a prostitute. He hires John Wayne as his guide, and Sophia Loren tags along because she wants to the "saved" by both Brazzo, but at various times falls in love with both Brazzo and Wayne. They do find the treasure, which turns Roassano into...well, we'll let you find out that for yourself.John Wayne, who I enjoy...or not...depending on the film, is pretty good here; it's sorta classic John Wayne, just a different desert. The messy Sophia Loren is good here, also, although I think the writers and directors didn't develop a particularly deep character. Rossano Brazzi is excellent...at least in the earlier parts of the film, but I though his character changed a bit too much later in the film, but again, that would be the fault of the writers and director, not Brazzi. Kurt Kasznar is decent early in the film as a local official.This won't end up on my DVD shelf, but I did like it. Give it a try.

dearsteve-60412 I'm surprised that others have referred to the script, by Ben Hecht, as being good. Ben was having an off day when he wrote this one. The adventurers run into a hostile group of Bedouins, who have a medical problem with one of their number. Rossano heads into their camp with his medical kit, and we're expecting to see him pull a chicken bone out of the guy's throat and save his life. But no! All of a sudden it's morning and the three adventurers go on their way. But the one I love is when they're in the ancient lost city of Timgad, and Rossano steals the water, the donkey, and the supplies and sneaks off into the night, while the Duke is sleeping off his nightly booze-out. So in the morning, Sophia and the Duke follow him on foot, with no water. And you would never in a million years guess what happens next! They catch up with him! By this time, without Joe January's desert know-how, Rossano is staggering around aimlessly. Then, a friendly caravan happens along and saves them. And then, movie's over!It's a gorgeous movie, especially with Sophia to look at, and the photography is terrific. But you know right away when the main character has a phony name like "Joe January," they were running out of ideas. The cast does the best they can. Worth watching once for John Wayne completists, and I'm one.

ma-cortes Timbuktu is the background of this mostly entertaining tale about three characters , an adventurer scout named Joe January (John Wayne) , an archaeologist (Rossano Brazzi) and a gorgeous girl (Sophia Loren ) in search for a lost city in the desert called Ophir and a fabulous treasure hidden.John Wayne leaves his Stetson and horse for a camel in this exotic adventure set in Sahara desert plenty of Tuaregs , sandstorms , mirages and amazing dangers . This exciting picture is packed with adventures, action , thrills , a loving triangle and is quite amusing . Interesting screenplay by Ben Hetch , Billy Wilder's usual writer. Breathtaking cinematography with luminous and bright colors by Jack Cardiff . Atmospheric and evocative musical score by the Italian Angelo Francesco Lavagnino . The motion picture is professionally directed by Henry Hathaway. He had a reputation as being difficult on stars, but some actors such as Cary Cooper , Marilyn Monroe -Niagara- and especially John Wayne , The Duke , benefited under his direction . Big John played for Hathaway various films as ¨The sons of Katie Elder (65), ¨Circus World (64) ¨ certainly not one of his memorable movies , ¨How the west was won (62) ¨, ¨ North to Alaska (60)¨ , but his greatest hit smash was ¨True grit (69)¨ in which Wayne won his only Academy Award . Although Hathaway was a highly successful and reliable director film-making within the Hollywood studio system , his work has received little consideration from reviewers . Rating : Acceptable and passable , well worth watching . The film will appeal to adventure buffs and John Wayne and Sophia Loren fans .