Guns At Batasi (1964)

As a revolution wages in an East African country with ties to the British Commonwealth, a native Lieutenant (Errol John) who is part of the new government and his loyalist troop take over a British barracks. But a small group of soldiers led by a career military man (Richard Attenborough in a BAFTA winning performance) refuse to hand over a wounded native Captain (Earl Cameron) who is wanted by the new government for treason and a showdown ensues. Based on the novel THE SIEGE OF BATTERSEA by Robert Holles (who adapted his book for the screen) and directed by John Guillermin (DEATH ON THE NILE). Like ZULU, which was released the same year, this is a story of white colonialists defending their turf against a native majority in their own country. But the screenplay isn't black and white but allows a well rounded look at all issues surrounding the situation. The native rebels aren't faceless but merely want their own government with as little bloodshed as possible while Attenborough's stiff upper lip career soldier does what he perceives as his duty to country. All sides get their moment. It's a solid film with two distractions: the cliched militaristic underscore by John Addison and an unnecessary romance between a soldier (John Leyton) and a UN secretary (Mia Farrow in her film debut) that slows down the film. With Jack Hawkins, Flora Robson, Cecil Parker, Percy Herbert and Graham Stark.