Best gun film covering the twilight of Brit colonialism?

[MatthewVanitas]

Best gun film has been covered to death, and I believe we've covered best Westerns and best World War films at various points. I was puzzling a period of history which fascinates me (Brit colonialism in Asia/Africa and its later decline) and realized that I've never seen any films regarding this time period. I've seen a few covering the 19thC colonial period (Zulu, Khartoum), and a few early 20thC films (Ghost and the Darkness), but never any good ones about the era of "Communist struggle for justice."
Any reccommendations for good films showing Brits (and assorted allies) hauling their FALs through the bush, hunting communist insurgents, etc?

Particularly interested in any films covering the Malay Emergency, Fall of Rhodesia (yes, not exactly Brits, I know), etc.

I'm building up my list of films to watch during my post-deployment vacation, and thought I'd get some historical flavor while I'm at it. If I could just find some good films about the Indian Mutiny (1860s?), I'll be set. Thanks for any reccommendations. -MV

 

[Checkman]

You might try Something of Value with Rock Hudson, Bhowani Junction with Stewart Granger and Breaker Morant. Other movies that come to mind are Dark of the Sun and The Wild Geese.

Most of these movies are older and rather melodramatic. Breaker Morant is set in the Boer War and based on an actual inccident. Probably the best of the bunch. I know that there are some movies set in Malaysia during the communist insurrection, but I just can't recall their titles.


There is also The Wilby Conspiracy with Micheal Caine - set in South Africa in the mid-seventies and Mr. Johnson with Pierce Brosnan set in Nigeria in 1923.

 

[Mk VII]

'The Virgin Soldiers', based in Leslie Thomas's novel, is set during the Malayan Emergency. based on the author's experiences as a administrative clerk, doing the sort of mundane clerical work which could have been, and today would, be done by civilian employees. While not really about the war there is a train ambush sequence towards the end.
'Guns At Batasi' is another good one, set in recently -independent African colony

 

[StopTheGrays]

Try the Guns at Batasi

 

[moa]

Dogs of War is about post-colonial Africa and mercenaries. I think the flick, and the book it is based on, are quite good. Features a hand-held revolving cylinder, mini-cannon that I think is 20mm and fires exploding shells.

Stars Chris Walken. The Wild Geese is another good movie about mercenaries in post-colonial Africa. Richard Burton and Richard Harris star in it.

 

[StopTheGrays]

Dogs of War is about post-colonial Africa and mercenaries. I think the flick, and the book it is based on, are quite good.

I had seen the film a long time ago and back then I must have thought it was good. That is what I thought when I bought the DVD out of the bargin bin at Walmart. After watching it again I came to realize that it was 90% boring, 5% action, 5% credits.

 

[alamo]

Here's a book that should interest you - Queen Victoria's Little Wars by Bryron Farwell. Nice accounts of all the small wars of the Victorian Age thru its end:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0393302350/103-7720051-0773432?v=glance

If you want to know what is was like to be a soldier during the Victorian Age and be entertained and laugh as well, you should read the "Flashman" series - by George MacDonald Fraser. He's a former British newspaperman. He served in Burma area in WWII. The "hero" of the series is Harry Flashman. Not a hero, but by happenstance and luck, everyone thinks he is. He is actually a coward and a cad (and quite a lady's man). Highly entertaining and very historically informative. Believe it or not, the historical footnotes are almost as enjoyable as the books.

Start with the first - "Flashman". Starts with him being expelled from school and then his father buys him a commission in the Army (that's the way it was done back then). It is about his adventures in Afghanistan, the British suffered a terrible defeat there which is chronicled in the book. Flashman emerges a hero though despite all attempt to avoid action.

Flashman was at the Charge of the Light Brigade, The Great Mutiny (India), Rorke's Drift (Zulu) and many other places. He fought on both sides in the American Civil War and was the sole survivor at the Little Bighorn.

My favorites are "Flashman in the Great Game", "Flashman and the Mountain of Light", "Flashman at the Charge", "Flashman and the Redskins" and "Flashman and the Dragon". Enjoy.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/s...s&field-keywords=flashman/103-7720051-0773432

One of the Flashman Society websites:

http://members.aol.com/FSotUK/FLASHMAN/index.html

 

[9mmepiphany]

another william holden movie about the maylay toubles is the "7th dawn". you might also like the "ugly american" with marlon brando

 

[entropy]

My vote goes for Breaker Morant. What could be more end of the Colonial Period than kakhi with pith helmets, Scots wearing kilts in the African heat, and letting a condemned prisoner out of his cell to fight off an attack on the fort, then taking away his rifle and putting him back in the cell when the fighting is done?

That was a Manville Gun in Dogs of War. Interesting weapon; I've held one, they're surprisingly light for the size. Looks fun to fire! There were HE rounds made for it, but it was concieved as an anti-riot weapon, using gas and buckshot.


Close to your want list is 'The Odd Angry Shot', about some Aussies in Vietnam. Very dark humor, the going away gift they give the 'vicar' (chaplain) is hilarious!