Gutsycurene
Fanciful, disturbing, and wildly original, it announces the arrival of a fresh, bold voice in American cinema.
Kien Navarro
Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.
Scarlet
The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.
lavatch
"The 7th Dawn" was released in 1964, the year that President Lyndon Johnson took the initial critical steps in escalating the war in Vietnam. In turn, the film was based on the 1959 novel "The Durian Tree" by Australian author Michael Keon. It is remarkable to think that the novel and the film both provided lessons that could have served as warnings about the tragic war that contributed to breaking the back of the American Century.The strength of the film is the ambiguous depiction of nationalist insurgents in Mayasia (formerly known as Malaya), who are rebelling against their British overlords in the aftermath of World War II. The film distorts the historical record by pointedly avoiding the labeling of the guerrilla fighters as "communists." The leader of the insurgents, a World War II hero who fought with the allies, is portrayed sympathetically until the very end of the film.The performances are uniformly excellent with the charismatic Capuchine and the luminous Susanna York in the leading women's parts. Tetsurô Tanba conveys the patriotic zeal of the leader of the insurgents. William Holden is serviceable as the apolitical American entrepreneur who is inevitably drawn into the conflict between the British and the Mayayans.The noted cinematographer Freddie Young captures a harrowing jungle sequence with a nearly unprecedented naturalism of detail. The beauty of the natural environment of Malaysia is juxtaposed with the violence of the British military in burning a village. This was the film artist who photographed "Doctor Zhivago" and "Lawrence of Arabia." The haunting musical score of Riz Ortolani is at the heart of a breath-taking opening credit sequence.Perhaps the content of this film has become less relevant with the passing of more than a half century. On the other hand, the recurring word that is used throughout the film to describe the insurgents is not communists, not guerrilla warriors, not rebel fighters, and not nationalists. The word that is used is "terrorists." For this reason, the film may continue to speak to us in a nuanced way about vital issues in the twenty-first century.
Jonathon Dabell
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!
bkoganbing
The Seventh Dawn seemed a natural for William Holden given the spectacular success he had in that part of the world with The Bridge On the River Kwai. Unfortunately Seventh Dawn doesn't quite live up to the David Lean classic.What The Seventh Dawn is, is a sincere attempt to look at the issues confronting Southeast Asia during the Fifties. Three people, American William Holden, and natives Capucine and Tetsuro Tamba have been involved in resistance to the Japanese. Holden like the country so much, he's going to settle down as a rubber planter. Capucine is going back to teaching school and agitating for eventual independence from Great Britain. Tamba is going to school himself, a scholarship awaits him at a university in Moscow.Fast forward seven years or so from V-J day and all of them have succeeded more or less in their chosen paths. Unfortunately their paths put them on a collision course with each other.Holden's a free-wheeling hedonist who just won't settle down and marry Capucine and he's got a new distraction in the form of Sussanah York the daughter of the new British administrator. Her role is the weakest here and the dumbest. Her offer of sacrifice to bring peace to Malaya just doesn't ring true at all.I do like what Tetsuro Tamba did with his part. His people as he's been taught in Moscow can't feed themselves, let alone govern themselves. They need Red style tutelage and he's going to see they get it.Measured against The Bridge on the River Kwai, The Seventh Dawn falls far short. Still it's nicely photographed in the Republic of Malaysia and the cast is earnest enough in their roles. William Holden fans will like it.
dbdumonteil
This movie deserves a better rating,that's for sure.Capucine's character is arguably the stand-out as she portrays an uncompromising proud pure heroin,à la Joan of Arc,with dignity and grandeur.Her last scene particularly impresses as the cinematography does.Lewis Gilbert is not a seventh art genius but he avoids pathos and melodrama by using ellipsis :Holden and York are still in the jungle,desperately trying to arrive before it's too late and abruptly,the story takes us forward,several days after they returned.That said,York's character in not really credible,and Tamba's part is too cardboard when it demanded an ambiguous, in depth psychology.But interest is sustained till the end and I think the movie should be restored to favor.
