MightyMcT

Hello, this is my first time here!

I have read some other posts and you guys seem to be very knowledgeable. So I was wondering if someone possibly could help me with the following:

- Does anyone know the reason why the MGM movie "Dark of the Sun" was retitled "The Mercenaries" for its UK release?

- I'm also looking for the exact release date of that film in the UK.

- And, last but not least, I would be interested in corresponding with people who worked on that film in any capacity (I'm currently working on a fan website dedicated to it).

Thanks in advance!

MightyMcT

asiamiles

Wasn't the film originally titled THE MERCENARIES but then reverted back to the title of the source novel for its US release?

batman

That is my understanding of the title change.

Jingle bells Batman smells ... I heard that at school Daddy.

BAT QUIZ 16 HAS JUST BEEN POSTED IN THE COMPETITION THREAD - 06/01/09

MightyMcT

That was my understanding too, but then I found all those press articles from the time of the actual shooting (and even before that, when names like Sean Connery, Paul Newman and Richard Burton were still considered for the main role!) and they *all* are referring to the film as "Dark of the Sun"...

So, apparently, "Dark of the Sun" was the title they were using right from the beginning (during both pre-production and shooting)... And the movie was later retitled "The Mercenaries". Hence my question.

(By the way, I think the Wilbur Smith novel was retitled too, as according to various sources, it was originally titled "The Train from Katanga"...?)

asiamiles

It's quite common for films based on books to be known under the source material's title durng pre-production and production but it doesn't necessarily mean that title was the intended one. I would venture the producers considered THE MERCENARIES would likely draw in more of an action film audience; perhaps with a bigger star such as Connery or Newman they might have used a more subtle title?

I was going to suggest it might have been retitled to avoid confusion with Sergio Corbucci's THE MERCENARY (which was retitled A PROFESSIONAL GUN in the UK) made the same year - and I believe both were distributed by MGM - but according to the IMDb it wasn't released in the US until 1970. It's still possible though, and also possible that THE MERCENARY was retitled to avoid people confusing it with THE MERCENARIES, something I'd never considered prior to this thread.

MightyMcT

Interesting theory!

(Sorry if this is the most uninteresting message of the day, but as "the administrator has restricted use of the private message system to members with less than 3 posts," I had to post at least a third one to access my first pm).

homeguard

I know nothing of the film's title change having only ever seen it titled "Dark of The Sun", but as a film about the exploits of hired military personnel it was brilliant on so many levels.
The director, Jack Cardiff, got it just right and for me enhanced an already great book. The ineffectiveness of the United Nation's UNOC operation was so well highlighted right at the beginning of the film, although if Rod Taylor's character was supposed to represent Mike Hoare, the UN had already left when he was employed by Tshombe to rescue the European civilians from Stanleyville in 1964. But Rod Taylor's disdain of the Swedish UN Officer at the airport set up the rest of the film perfectly.
Thirty countries sent troops to serve with the UN in the Congo between 1960 and 1963. At its height (1961) there were almost 20,000 in country. But they failed to control the rebel groups opposed to the Government. Mike Hoare managed to extract most of the Europeans, around 1,300, cut off by the Simbas with only 300 'mercenaries' and support from Belgian forces who were ready to leave the country. The film portrays the ethos of this military success beautifully and doesn't hesitate to depict the cruelty so prevalent in African 'bushfire' wars.
Good luck with your researching.
Regards,
HG

MightyMcT

homeguard, by any chance, did you ever see the film in theaters? I only saw it on TV and video, and those versions were (reportedly) heavily cut/censored...

Mr Cosmo

F Maurice Speed's Annual gives the UK released date as 17th March 1968 although you have to remember back then that films often opened in London before other places (e.g. it didn't open in Glasgow until 21 April 1968)

The version I saw on TCM looks like the version that was shown in cinemas. You have to remember back then that the BBFC were still fairly strong on cutting violence and sexual violence. A year later and they would allowed more, two and a half years later they would have let it go completely uncut. (The film was passed uncut on 19 January 1968, but MGM would have made their own cuts to get an X).

homeguard

No, unfortunately I haven't. I didn't know that there was another version. If you find any copies for sale I should be grateful if you would let me know.
Regards,
HG