Jump to content

The Southern Star (film): Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
m added chapter headings to make easier to navigate
add info
Line 13: Line 13:
| cinematography = [[Raoul Coutard]]
| cinematography = [[Raoul Coutard]]
| editing = Tristam Cones
| editing = Tristam Cones
|studio=Euro France Films<br>Capitole Films
| distributor = [[Columbia Pictures]]
| distributor = [[Columbia Pictures]]
| released = 1969
| released = 1969
Line 22: Line 23:
}}
}}


'''''The Southern Star''''' (French title: '''''L'Étoile du sud''''') is a [[Technicolor]] 1969 British-French [[comedy film|comedy]] [[crime film]] directed by [[Sidney Hayers]] and starring [[George Segal]], [[Ursula Andress]] and [[Orson Welles]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/51675 |title=BFI &#124; Film & TV Database &#124; L' ETOILE DU SUD (1968) |publisher=Ftvdb.bfi.org.uk |date=2009-04-16 |accessdate=2010-10-06}}</ref> In [[French West Africa]] in 1912, an extremely valuable [[diamond]] is stolen. It was based on the novel ''[[The Vanished Diamond]]'' (French title ''L'Étoile du sud'') by [[Jules Verne]]. The film's opening scenes were anonymously directed by Orson Welles - the last time he would direct scenes in another director's film.
'''''The Southern Star''''' (French title: '''''L'Étoile du sud''''') is a [[Technicolor]] 1969 British-French [[comedy film|comedy]] [[crime film]] directed by [[Sidney Hayers]] and starring [[George Segal]], [[Ursula Andress]] and [[Orson Welles]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/51675 |title=BFI &#124; Film & TV Database &#124; L' ETOILE DU SUD (1968) |publisher=Ftvdb.bfi.org.uk |date=2009-04-16 |accessdate=2010-10-06}}</ref> In [[French West Africa]] in 1912, an extremely valuable [[diamond]] is stolen. <ref>SOUTHERN STAR, The
Monthly Film Bulletin; London Vol. 36, Iss. 420, (Jan 1, 1969): 108. </ref>
It was based on the novel ''[[The Vanished Diamond]]'' (French title ''L'Étoile du sud'') by [[Jules Verne]]. The film's opening scenes were anonymously directed by Orson Welles - the last time he would direct scenes in another director's film.


==Plot==
==Plot==
Line 40: Line 44:
* [[Michel Constantin]] as Jose
* [[Michel Constantin]] as Jose
* [[Georges Géret]] as Andre
* [[Georges Géret]] as Andre
==Production==

In April 1968 it was announced Orson Welles would join the cast.<ref>MOVIE CALL SHEET: Sean Signs for 'Maguires'
Martin, Betty. Los Angeles Times 13 Apr 1968: 17. </ref>
==Reception==
==Reception==
===Box Office===
===Box Office===
Line 46: Line 52:
===Critical===
===Critical===
''[[The New York Times]]'' wrote, "The film evolves as a tongue-in-cheek, campy chase through Senegal's bush country, where it was shot in lovely pastel shades...Mr. Welles, looking like Buddha, swilling cognac, speaking in a pseudo-Cockney accent and perspiring in a white hunter's getup, lazily adds to the lampoon. "It's supposed to pull your leg," Mr. Segal explains to Miss Andress as he sets a trap for their pursuers. "The Southern Star" does just that, even if it isn't funny enough during a good deal of the trek";<ref>{{cite web|author=A. H. Weiler |url=https://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9A01E3DC1E3AEE34BC4151DFB3668382679EDE |title=Movie Review - - Pursuit of a Diamond |website=NYTimes.com |date=1969-05-29 |accessdate=2016-11-19}}</ref>
''[[The New York Times]]'' wrote, "The film evolves as a tongue-in-cheek, campy chase through Senegal's bush country, where it was shot in lovely pastel shades...Mr. Welles, looking like Buddha, swilling cognac, speaking in a pseudo-Cockney accent and perspiring in a white hunter's getup, lazily adds to the lampoon. "It's supposed to pull your leg," Mr. Segal explains to Miss Andress as he sets a trap for their pursuers. "The Southern Star" does just that, even if it isn't funny enough during a good deal of the trek";<ref>{{cite web|author=A. H. Weiler |url=https://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9A01E3DC1E3AEE34BC4151DFB3668382679EDE |title=Movie Review - - Pursuit of a Diamond |website=NYTimes.com |date=1969-05-29 |accessdate=2016-11-19}}</ref>

The ''Los Angeles Times'' said the film "wisely plays it for laughs" and was "not particularly well made".<ref>The Southern Star' in Citywide Engagement
Thomas, Kevin. Los Angeles Times 12 June 1969: e22. </ref>


The ''[[Radio Times]]'' noted a "Splendidly photographed African adventure filmed on authentic Senegalese locations, but alas bearing the curse of the international co-production. Underrated editor-turned-director Sidney Hayers tries to pull together the Jules Verne-inspired plot and a cast that verges on the preposterous, headed by George Segal (far too urban for this type of trek), the ravishingly lovely Ursula Andress, and the great Orson Welles, who was obviously in need of the money. Brits, Ian Hendry and Harry Andrews bring some dignity to a romp that isn't sure whether it's comedy or adventure or both, but it looks good nevertheless."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.radiotimes.com/film/chjzg/the-southern-star|title=The Southern Star - Film from RadioTimes|website=Radiotimes.com|accessdate=2016-11-19}}</ref>
The ''[[Radio Times]]'' noted a "Splendidly photographed African adventure filmed on authentic Senegalese locations, but alas bearing the curse of the international co-production. Underrated editor-turned-director Sidney Hayers tries to pull together the Jules Verne-inspired plot and a cast that verges on the preposterous, headed by George Segal (far too urban for this type of trek), the ravishingly lovely Ursula Andress, and the great Orson Welles, who was obviously in need of the money. Brits, Ian Hendry and Harry Andrews bring some dignity to a romp that isn't sure whether it's comedy or adventure or both, but it looks good nevertheless."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.radiotimes.com/film/chjzg/the-southern-star|title=The Southern Star - Film from RadioTimes|website=Radiotimes.com|accessdate=2016-11-19}}</ref>

Revision as of 02:56, 7 December 2018

The Southern Star
Directed bySidney Hayers
Screenplay byDavid Pursall
Jack Seddon
Produced byRoger Duchet
Nat Wachsberger
StarringGeorge Segal
Ursula Andress
Orson Welles
Ian Hendry
Johnny Sekka
CinematographyRaoul Coutard
Edited byTristam Cones
Music byGeorges Garvarentz
Production
companies
Euro France Films
Capitole Films
Distributed byColumbia Pictures
Release date
1969
Running time
104 min.
CountriesUnited Kingdom
France
LanguageEnglish

The Southern Star (French title: L'Étoile du sud) is a Technicolor 1969 British-French comedy crime film directed by Sidney Hayers and starring George Segal, Ursula Andress and Orson Welles.[1] In French West Africa in 1912, an extremely valuable diamond is stolen. [2]

It was based on the novel The Vanished Diamond (French title L'Étoile du sud) by Jules Verne. The film's opening scenes were anonymously directed by Orson Welles - the last time he would direct scenes in another director's film.

Plot

Fortune hunter Dan Rockland (George Segal) comes to West Africa pretending to be a geologist. He is actually employed by Kramer (Harry Andrews), whose business is diamonds. Kramer's workers discover a huge uncut gem, which is named the Southern Star at a party to celebrate the find. However a power blackout leads to chaos and the diamond is gone. Rockland`s African guide Matakit (Johnny Sekka) is thought to be the thief and flees on a pet ostrich. Rockland, thought to be an accomplice, escapes prison with help of his fiancee, Kramer`s daughter Erica (Ursula Andress), and they set out after Matakit.

Capt. Karl Ludwig (Ian Hendry), who is Kramer's intriguing security chief and resents Rockland's interest in Erica, follows the trails as well; as they all come into the sphere of the diabolical Maj. Plankett (Orson Welles).

Plankett gets to Matakit first and takes him prisoner, setting a trap for the others. This eventually leads to a shootout in which Ludwig is killed. Rockland, Erica and Matakit return to Kramer; and it appears the thief was the ostrich. Trying to retrieve it again, more ostriches show up and so one of them just might have it.

Cast

Production

In April 1968 it was announced Orson Welles would join the cast.[3]

Reception

Box Office

The film was the 18th most popular movie at the UK box office in 1969.[4]

Critical

The New York Times wrote, "The film evolves as a tongue-in-cheek, campy chase through Senegal's bush country, where it was shot in lovely pastel shades...Mr. Welles, looking like Buddha, swilling cognac, speaking in a pseudo-Cockney accent and perspiring in a white hunter's getup, lazily adds to the lampoon. "It's supposed to pull your leg," Mr. Segal explains to Miss Andress as he sets a trap for their pursuers. "The Southern Star" does just that, even if it isn't funny enough during a good deal of the trek";[5]

The Los Angeles Times said the film "wisely plays it for laughs" and was "not particularly well made".[6]

The Radio Times noted a "Splendidly photographed African adventure filmed on authentic Senegalese locations, but alas bearing the curse of the international co-production. Underrated editor-turned-director Sidney Hayers tries to pull together the Jules Verne-inspired plot and a cast that verges on the preposterous, headed by George Segal (far too urban for this type of trek), the ravishingly lovely Ursula Andress, and the great Orson Welles, who was obviously in need of the money. Brits, Ian Hendry and Harry Andrews bring some dignity to a romp that isn't sure whether it's comedy or adventure or both, but it looks good nevertheless."[7]

References

  1. ^ "BFI | Film & TV Database | L' ETOILE DU SUD (1968)". Ftvdb.bfi.org.uk. 16 April 2009. Retrieved 6 October 2010.
  2. ^ SOUTHERN STAR, The Monthly Film Bulletin; London Vol. 36, Iss. 420, (Jan 1, 1969): 108.
  3. ^ MOVIE CALL SHEET: Sean Signs for 'Maguires' Martin, Betty. Los Angeles Times 13 Apr 1968: 17.
  4. ^ "The World's Top Twenty Films." Sunday Times [London, England] 27 Sept. 1970: 27. The Sunday Times Digital Archive. accessed 5 Apr. 2014
  5. ^ A. H. Weiler (29 May 1969). "Movie Review - - Pursuit of a Diamond". NYTimes.com. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
  6. ^ The Southern Star' in Citywide Engagement Thomas, Kevin. Los Angeles Times 12 June 1969: e22.
  7. ^ "The Southern Star - Film from RadioTimes". Radiotimes.com. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Southern_Star_(film)&oldid=872407346"