The 7th Dawn (1964)

Based on a now forgotten novel entitled The Durian Tree (by Michael Keon), The 7th Dawn emerges an absorbing, involving and fairly interesting political adventure movie. At the time the film wasn't greeted with much enthusiasm by the critics but looking back there are several factors that make their negative outlook of the film seem somewhat inaccurate. For starters, the film takes a surprisingly damning stance against the way the British deal with terrorism and anarchy in far flung corners of the world. One would expect a cosier, more flattering representation but The 7th Dawn has the courage to be critical of the British handling of such situations. Add to that some strong performances, luscious cinematography (by Frederick Young), and a number of memorable scenes and you're looking at a film that has been largely under-rated down the years.At the end of WWII, freedom fighters in the Malayan jungle are finally able to leave their dens and hideouts in the undergrowth and get back to something resembling normality. One fighter, the American Ferris (William Holden), decides to buy a patch of land and turn it into a rubber plantation, taking his old lady guerrilla friend Dhana (Capucine) as his mistress. Meanwhile another guerrilla named Ng (Tetsuro Tamba) heads off to Moscow to learn about communism. Fast-forward several years and Ng returns to Malaya a whole-hearted communist to fight against his former allies, the British, for the country's independence. Ng's men wreak havoc against the rubber plantations in the country but leave Ferris's alone because of their old comradeship. The British approach Ferris and ask for his help in stopping Ng's campaign of terror. Initially reluctant, Ferris nevertheless attempts to make his old friend see reason but to little avail. Matters are complicated further when Candace Trumphey (Susannah York), daughter of the British governor, falls in love with Ferris. When Dhana is accused of sympathising with the communist terrorists and sentenced to execution, Candace foolishly offers herself as a hostage to the communist forces in the hope of saving her…. and the battle weary Ferris faces a race against time and the elements to save them both.The 7th Dawn has its share of faults for sure. Karl Tunberg's script wanders a lot and seems in need of a little tightening-up; York's character isn't always convincing and upsets the solid characterisation found elsewhere in the film; the final scene virtually plagiarises the ending of Casablanca. But there's still a good deal to enjoy in this exotic jungle romp – Holden is fine, Capucine plays a refreshingly strong female character, the action is exciting enough. One particularly powerful sequence features the British burning to the ground a village which has been unsuspectingly harbouring terrorists and their explosives; another shows hundreds of Malayan cyclists carrying out a protest ride against the British governor for ordering for a night-time bicycle curfew. Undeservedly forgotten and almost never screened nowadays, The 7th Dawn is a worthwhile watch if you can find it!

This film was made in Malaya in 1963. Because it was to show scenes of burning a malay kampong, the British government refused permission for their troops to take part. Australia was approached and agreed. Myself and about 80 other soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, the royal Australian regiment, who were based at terendak camp, malacca, malaya were selected. We got to meet bill holden and beautiful cupacine the french actress and many other people on the set (directer camera men and so on). it was all very exiting and over 40 years ago. I still have a number of black and white photos taken at various times. by the way when it was released it was called "the year of the dragon" evidently it was thought not a good title for America and changed to the "seventh dawn" when i attend battalion re-unions on the gold coast in queensland, those of us who were in the film still enjoy a good laugh about our parts, but then again the subject was very close to our hearts. it is the only fight against communist terrorist that was a full success, although Vietnam was, only for what the press did at tet.

..the terrific opening titles by noted artist Maurice Binder. He is most famous, of course, for the BOND film titles. This movie is indeed overlooked, though I remember seeing it on more than a few occasions on TV. Nowadays older movies don't make it on the tube in the U.S.; at least on regular (commercial-laden) channels.I hope to acquire a copy of this movie someday, either tape or DVD. Format doesn't matter to me. The way old movie stars of this era (40's-50's-60's) are dropping like flies it's important to grab up as much of their work as possible. The up-and-coming generation of movie goers probably won't demand this kind of material unless they get a chance to view it.

Odd, that I don't recall the word 'communist' being uttered throughout this picture. Anyone notice if it was? It was pretty clear from the references and the red stars the Ng and his guerrillas were communists. This is an entertaining film from a jungle war that has been largely forgotten in the shadow of Vietnam. The British spent 12 years eradicating the elements they called "communist terrorists" before Malaysia became independent. Most of their enemies weren't convenientlyuniformed like Ng's forces, but were more like the grenade-tossing chauffeur. The SAS played a key role in suppressing the communists, and the British pretty much wrote the book on how to deal with these sort of insurgencies, lessons theAmericans too often seem to forget (though they slowly seem to be figuring it out in Iraq and Afghanistan). Saw this movie years ago and liked it, liked it more in a recent viewing, in spite of its flaws. Always liked Holden, have a real soft spot for Susannah York - and Capucine was splendid. Some great cars in this movie, too (and a Gloster Meteor, too, I think). And yes, superbly photographed.