Timbuktu (film)
Encyclopedia
Timbuktu is a 1959
black-and-white
adventure
film set in the city of the same name
but filmed in the Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park
in Kanab, Utah. It was directed by Jacques Tourneur
in 1958.
In 1956 producer Edward Small
originally registered several titles for the film such as East of Timbuktu, West of Timbuktu, North of Timbuktu, South of Timbuktu, (a technique of titling films that William Witney
described as "boxing the compass")The Road to Timbuktu, and Timbuktu Theme before settling on just plain old Timbuktu. However Small felt so embarrassed by the film that he removed his name from the final credits.
) sees a chance to pay his way back to the United States by gunrunning
to hostile Tuaregs.
Wearing a slouch hat
and bush jacket, Conway is armed with a Thompson sub machine gun and a wristwatch with an alarm engraved "From Conway to Conway". He finds himself walking a razor's edge between an anti-French Tuareg leader (John Dehner
) keen for Conway's supply of weapons but keener to use his tarantula
s on his prisoners, a moderate Imam
(Leonard Mudie
) wanting peace, the local French Foreign Legion
commander (George Dolenz
), and the commander's attractive wife (Yvonne de Carlo
) that Conway can't keep away from.
claimed that producer Small thought the film wasn't long enough so inserted reaction shot
s of close ups of various actors all throughout the film.
The film was Yvonne De Carlo's last appearance until her husband's injuries brought her back to the screen.
as Mike Conway
Yvonne De Carlo
as Natalie Dufort
George Dolenz
as Colonel Charles Dufort
John Dehner
as Emir Bhaki aka The Lion of the Desert
Marcia Henderson as Jeanne Marat
Robert Clarke
as Captain Girard
James Foxx as Lt. Victor Marat
Turkish actor Feridun Çölgeçen was credited as technical adviser.
Fred Carson acted as both stuntman and Victor Mature's stand-in
.
Natalie: “Why the costume?” (referring to his Islamic clothing)
Conway: “I know it looks pretty silly but it’s much safer.”
Natalie: “Wouldn’t it be safer being in America?”
Conway: “And give up this golden opportunity to get rich?”
1959 in film
The year 1959 in film involved some significant events, with Ben-Hur winning a record 11 Academy Awards.-Events:* The Three Stooges make their 190th and last short film, Sappy Bull Fighters....
black-and-white
Black-and-white
Black-and-white, often abbreviated B/W or B&W, is a term referring to a number of monochrome forms in visual arts.Black-and-white as a description is also something of a misnomer, for in addition to black and white, most of these media included varying shades of gray...
adventure
Adventure
An adventure is defined as an exciting or unusual experience; it may also be a bold, usually risky undertaking, with an uncertain outcome. The term is often used to refer to activities with some potential for physical danger, such as skydiving, mountain climbing and or participating in extreme sports...
film set in the city of the same name
Timbuktu
Timbuktu , formerly also spelled Timbuctoo, is a town in the West African nation of Mali situated north of the River Niger on the southern edge of the Sahara Desert. The town is the capital of the Timbuktu Region, one of the eight administrative regions of Mali...
but filmed in the Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park
Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park
Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park is a state park of Utah, USA, located between Mount Carmel Junction and Kanab, south and west of U.S. Highway 89 in southwestern Utah...
in Kanab, Utah. It was directed by Jacques Tourneur
Jacques Tourneur
Jacques Tourneur was a French-American film director.-Life:Born in Paris, France, he was the son of film director Maurice Tourneur. At age 10, Jacques moved to the United States with his father. He started a career in cinema while still attending high school as an extra and later as a script clerk...
in 1958.
In 1956 producer Edward Small
Edward Small
Edward Small was a film producer from the late 1920s through 1970....
originally registered several titles for the film such as East of Timbuktu, West of Timbuktu, North of Timbuktu, South of Timbuktu, (a technique of titling films that William Witney
William Witney
William Nuelsen Witney was an American film and television director. He is best remembered for the movie serials he co-directed with John English for Republic Pictures such as Daredevils of the Red Circle, Zorro's Fighting Legion and Drums of Fu Manchu.He directed many Westerns during his career,...
described as "boxing the compass")The Road to Timbuktu, and Timbuktu Theme before settling on just plain old Timbuktu. However Small felt so embarrassed by the film that he removed his name from the final credits.
Plot
1940: With France at war with Germany, the French have removed large amounts of troops from their African possessions leaving the way open for revolt. American soldier of fortune Mike Conway (Victor MatureVictor Mature
Victor John Mature was an American stage, film and television actor.-Early life:Mature was born in Louisville, Kentucky to an Italian-speaking father from the town Pinzolo, in the Italian part of the former County of Tyrol , Marcello Gelindo Maturi, later Marcellus George Mature, a cutler,...
) sees a chance to pay his way back to the United States by gunrunning
Gunrunning
Arms trafficking, also known as gunrunning, is the illegal trafficking or smuggling of contraband weapons or ammunition.The 1997 Report of the UN Panel of Governmental Experts on Small Arms provides a more refined and precise definition, which has become internationally accepted...
to hostile Tuaregs.
Wearing a slouch hat
Slouch hat
A slouch hat is a wide-brimmed felt or cloth hat with a chinstrap, most commonly worn as part of a military uniform. It is a survivor of the felt hats worn by certain 18th century armies. Since then, the slouch hat has been worn by military personnel from many nations including Australia, Britain,...
and bush jacket, Conway is armed with a Thompson sub machine gun and a wristwatch with an alarm engraved "From Conway to Conway". He finds himself walking a razor's edge between an anti-French Tuareg leader (John Dehner
John Dehner
John Dehner was an American actor in radio, television, and films, playing countless roles, often as a droll villain. Between 1941 and 1988, he appeared in over 260 films and television programs. Prior to acting, Dehner had worked as an animator at Walt Disney Studios, and later became a radio...
) keen for Conway's supply of weapons but keener to use his tarantula
Tarantula
Tarantulas comprise a group of often hairy and often very large arachnids belonging to the family Theraphosidae, of which approximately 900 species have been identified. Some members of the same Suborder may also be called "tarantulas" in the common parlance. This article will restrict itself to...
s on his prisoners, a moderate Imam
Imam
An imam is an Islamic leadership position, often the worship leader of a mosque and the Muslim community. Similar to spiritual leaders, the imam is the one who leads Islamic worship services. More often, the community turns to the mosque imam if they have a religious question...
(Leonard Mudie
Leonard Mudie
Leonard Mudie was a British-born character actor whose career ran many decades.His first film appearance was in 1921, and his last on-screen performance was in the Star Trek classic TV series....
) wanting peace, the local French Foreign Legion
French Foreign Legion
The French Foreign Legion is a unique military service wing of the French Army established in 1831. The foreign legion was exclusively created for foreign nationals willing to serve in the French Armed Forces...
commander (George Dolenz
George Dolenz
George Dolenz was an American film actor born in Trieste , in the city's Slovene community.-Biography:...
), and the commander's attractive wife (Yvonne de Carlo
Yvonne De Carlo
Yvonne De Carlo was a Canadian-born American actress of film and television. During her six-decade career, her most frequent appearances in film came in the 1940s and 1950s and included her best-known film roles, such as of Anna Marie in Salome Where She Danced ; Anna in Criss Cross ; Sephora the...
) that Conway can't keep away from.
Production
Director Jacques TourneurJacques Tourneur
Jacques Tourneur was a French-American film director.-Life:Born in Paris, France, he was the son of film director Maurice Tourneur. At age 10, Jacques moved to the United States with his father. He started a career in cinema while still attending high school as an extra and later as a script clerk...
claimed that producer Small thought the film wasn't long enough so inserted reaction shot
Reaction shot
Reaction shot is a term used in motion picture production and cinematography referring to a basic unit of film grammar. It is a shot which cuts away from the main scene in order to show the reaction of a character to it....
s of close ups of various actors all throughout the film.
The film was Yvonne De Carlo's last appearance until her husband's injuries brought her back to the screen.
Cast
Victor MatureVictor Mature
Victor John Mature was an American stage, film and television actor.-Early life:Mature was born in Louisville, Kentucky to an Italian-speaking father from the town Pinzolo, in the Italian part of the former County of Tyrol , Marcello Gelindo Maturi, later Marcellus George Mature, a cutler,...
as Mike Conway
Yvonne De Carlo
Yvonne De Carlo
Yvonne De Carlo was a Canadian-born American actress of film and television. During her six-decade career, her most frequent appearances in film came in the 1940s and 1950s and included her best-known film roles, such as of Anna Marie in Salome Where She Danced ; Anna in Criss Cross ; Sephora the...
as Natalie Dufort
George Dolenz
George Dolenz
George Dolenz was an American film actor born in Trieste , in the city's Slovene community.-Biography:...
as Colonel Charles Dufort
John Dehner
John Dehner
John Dehner was an American actor in radio, television, and films, playing countless roles, often as a droll villain. Between 1941 and 1988, he appeared in over 260 films and television programs. Prior to acting, Dehner had worked as an animator at Walt Disney Studios, and later became a radio...
as Emir Bhaki aka The Lion of the Desert
Marcia Henderson as Jeanne Marat
Robert Clarke
Robert Clarke
Robert Irby Clarke was an American actor best known for his cult classic science fiction films of the 1950s.-Early life:...
as Captain Girard
James Foxx as Lt. Victor Marat
Turkish actor Feridun Çölgeçen was credited as technical adviser.
Fred Carson acted as both stuntman and Victor Mature's stand-in
Stand-in
A stand-in for film and television is a person who substitutes for the actor before filming, for technical purposes such as lighting.Stand-ins are helpful in the initial processes of production. Lighting setup can be a slow and tedious process; during this time the actor will often be somewhere else...
.
Quotes
The wit and wisdom of Mike Conway- "I've got the Holy Man stashed"
- “You know, around here knives have a way of sailing through the dark and you’re a very attractive target.”
- "Bring on the spiders!"
Natalie: “Why the costume?” (referring to his Islamic clothing)
Conway: “I know it looks pretty silly but it’s much safer.”
Natalie: “Wouldn’t it be safer being in America?”
Conway: “And give up this golden opportunity to get rich?”