Sammy Going South (1965)
After he is orphaned by an air raid on Port Said during the Suez Crisis, a young boy attempts to go by himself from the Suez Canal to Durban in South Africa where his nearest relative, Aunt Jane, lives. On the way he meets a variety of different people who help or hinder his journey - including an ageing diamond smuggler.
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Found this little gem on DVD via Amzon.co.uk.The film is about a little boy (excellently played by a very young Fergus MacClelland), whose British parents die under a British bombing of Port Said during the Suez crisis, and he is left to his own devices to, if possible, get to and to find his aunt in Durban, near the other end of the African continent. After many adventures he gets there, involving life and death, but on his way there he meets many people, including an old diamond smuggler, excellently played by Edward G. Robinson, at that time around 70 years old, and doing his very best of acting. The supporting cast is equally good, by the way. The masterful director is the man who made British classics like 'The Guns of Navarone', 'Lady Killers', and 'The Man in the White Suit', Alexander MacKendrick.On the DVD there is an excellent interview with the lead actor, Fergus MacClelland (now with the Royal Shakespeare Company), and with an American director, who had had MacKendrick as teacher in directing.Well worth watching both! You learn that originally the film was over three hours long, but the released copy is just under two hours!
This is exemplary adventure "EPIC" even.I 1st viewed this movie as a ten year old myself in the 1970's so i was really enthralled and influenced by this role of Sammy.In fact in 1976 i ran away to the great superior lake and the accompanying forests in my attempt to match Sammy's feat in Africa,I even had a Russian ship in harbor offer to take me aboard...good thing i didn't.he he. Eventually i did manage to get to new york via L.I facing Connecticut and managed to get aboard one of the tall ships in the bicentennial. I don't believe i am the 1st person to be so influenced by a movie. Could My story could become a movie???
Sammy Going South, aka A Boy Ten Feet Tall, is one of the greatest movies not available for purchase. A cross-continent (the hard way) adventure story, full of interest, very special not prosaic stuff. With Edward G. Robinson on board, how could it not be on VHS/DVD?
This film was my first cinema experience, seen together with my grandmother.It made an impression on me that has lasted for years. I strongly identified with the main character in the film.It has taken years to find any reference to this film.A good view for anyone and an adventure that's very suitable for children.