Dark of the Sun (1968)

http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title.jsp?stid=3109
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0062863/

Dark of the Sun is described as, "A mercenary band fights to get refugees and a fortune in diamonds out of the Congo." That's an understatement.

What the movie is really about is testosterone.

I missed the opening. When I turned the channel Rod Taylor had just saved Yvette Mimieux. And she was pissed. Not really sure what's going on at this point. Rod Taylor looks military. Then Jim Brown shows up and he's got a different military uniform. All this is taking place inside an old steam powered train in the jungle. I'm only half paying attention at this point.

Jim Brown comes out of the jungle with two kids under his arms, and the kids are screaming in whatever language they speak in that part of the Congo. Jim is laughing. Rod asks why. Jim says they're asking not to be eaten. It's a good, well written scene. Rod asks the kids about the area through Jim and I find out that they're deep in Indian territory, so to speak. Not only does this bring me up to speed on the plot but it reveals Rod and Jim's relationship. Rod is a mercenary, Jim is the local Military. In western lingo Jim is the Sheriff and Rod is the gun for hire.

After talking to the kids Jim and Rod turn the kids loose and head back to the train. Suddenly there's gunfire. Jim and Rod head back to the clearing where the kids were. They're dead. They've been shot by a merc named Henlein who's dubbed with Paul Frees' german voice. Henlein says he had to shoot them to stop them from going back and reporting to the enemy camp. There's a really really tense moment between Rod, Jim and Henlein. Epic glaring macho stuff. Then Jim picks up the bodies of the children and carries them into the jungle.

Okay movie, you've got my attention.

I don't wanna give it away, but this is a really good movie. And it's a damn shame it's not out on DVD. Jim Brown and Rod Taylor have some really good scenes together. And the machismo goes to insane levels in the final reel. Damn but I wish I'd taped that.