Spotlight

Spotlight Date: 8-January-12
Spoiler Rating: Medium

The Black Tent (1956)

The British film The Black Tent would be a good candidate for remake if epics ever return to vogue. Unfolding as a story within a story, it begins with nobleman Charles Holland (Donald Sinden) leaving his English manor and traveling to Africa in search of his brother David, who was believed killed during World War II. A promissory note written in his brother's hand has recently been cashed, although the war ended years ago. Charles traces the note to the desert community of a sheik (Andre Morell) whose hospitality vanishes when he learns the reason for his guest's visit. Charles is sent away from the black tents of the village, but not before the sheik's daughter Mabrouka slips him a diary. (She is played by Anna Maria Sandri, whose performance could certainly be improved upon.) From its pages he learns how David (Anthony Steel) found the village after being wounded and stayed for weeks due to the fortunes of war. During this time he fell in love with Mabrouka and became one of her tribe through shared dangers and marriage. As a proper British soldier, however, he abandoned his bride when the chance came to return to the front. And despite the knowledge that their child was on the way, he never fulfilled his promise to return.

Among the movies in this month's "Desert Dreams" Spotlight series,* The Black Tent stands out by having been filmed on location in Libya. (Some site in Morocco might serve just as well for the remake.) David's trysts with Mabrouka, along with a couple Nazi encounters, take place within the stunning ruins of a Roman amphitheater. When Charles revisits the black tents to demand that the sheik complete his brother's story, the last flashback occurs on a memorable stretch of road in the middle of nowhere. This element of authenticity underpins the final drama, when David's young son must choose between staying in the desert or departing for an unknown life in England. Beyond the obvious ties of family and culture, a beautiful homeland is hard to leave — and hard not to appreciate as the backdrop for a motion picture.

*See the Index by date for a list of other films in this month's series.

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