Plot: A British mercenary is hired by the Cuban government to defeat Fidel Castro's insurgency but finds an old love instead.
If there is such a thing as failing with verve, thenthis film does it. It has an interesting concept - counterinsurgency expert fresh from Malaya tries to help Batista's regime - which is swiftly abandoned in favour of a rekindled romance with an old flame. Finally the revolution occurs and the movie descends into a few mediocre action sequences. Pre-revolutionary Cuba is splendidly re-created in all its glamour and glitz; seething with vice, poverty and intrigue. Sadly the script isn't all that convincing and seems to take ages to get anywhere. A handful of stand out scenes and the brilliantly conjured atmosphere can't conceal the lack of forward momentum, although this is partly imposed by the tragic nature of events (Connery's character can't stop the rebellion and doesn't get the girl).
Worth one viewing.
If there is such a thing as failing with verve, thenthis film does it. It has an interesting concept - counterinsurgency expert fresh from Malaya tries to help Batista's regime - which is swiftly abandoned in favour of a rekindled romance with an old flame. Finally the revolution occurs and the movie descends into a few mediocre action sequences. Pre-revolutionary Cuba is splendidly re-created in all its glamour and glitz; seething with vice, poverty and intrigue. Sadly the script isn't all that convincing and seems to take ages to get anywhere. A handful of stand out scenes and the brilliantly conjured atmosphere can't conceal the lack of forward momentum, although this is partly imposed by the tragic nature of events (Connery's character can't stop the rebellion and doesn't get the girl).
Worth one viewing.