I Watch Films: The Long Duel

 

The Long Duel (1967)

In British India in the 1920s Sultan (Yul Brynner) is the leader of a tribe of nomads. Accused of poaching, Stafford the Superintendent has the entire tribe arrested. Sultan is away visiting his wife who is expecting his second child. Returning he’s arrested and thrown into jail with criminals. They escape, along with the men of the tribe and become brigands after Sultan discovers his wife and child have died. Young (Trevor Howard) had warned Stafford against this.

With the British unable to stop the raiders, they put a price on Sultan’s head. When this doesn’t work they finally let Young have a force of his own to try and capture them. This also keeps Young away from Stafford’s daughter Jane (Charlotte Rampling), the two developing a romance. After some escapades Stafford sets a trap of his own, letting out a rumour that the women and children of the tribe will be going by train to Delhi. Sultan attacks, leading to a final confrontation between Sultan and Young (who didn’t know about this) and the two men demonstrate their respect for each other.

All this is fairly straightforward adventure stuff, a little like a Western. The actors lift it a little, but even the attempt to offer both sides of the conflict seems perfunctory. Some good action, but also some mediocre stuff as well.

Watch This: Leader driven to banditry is hunted by policeman with too much empathy for him
Don’t Watch This: Very silly story about British India that is interested only in fights and men caught between honour and duty