Colorful but episodic in nature, this second version of the novel is well photographed but slow-moving and often empty in nature. It deals with Beau Bridges as the son of a famous General (Harry Andrews) who decides he doesn't want to serve in the Army in the war against the Sudan and is branded a coward. He ends up disguising himself as a Muslim, ends up in battle and is in prison, reunited with one of his old pals (Robert Powell), finally able to prove his courage. They makes it back home where they confronts the past ridicule for carrying a secret, one blind and the other dealing with his aging still embittered father.
Great color photography and beautiful costumes and a nice musical score makes this worth watching for the technical achievements, but the film is often slow and tedious, with a romantic subplot featuring Jane Seymour that really has no spark. The courage doesn't only come from standing for what he believes in, but taking the risks in private afterwards and eventually having the courage to face those who didn't respect him. These many elements of the story aren't always very clear, and the film is less emotionally exciting than it could have been with better development. A bigger version later on and the original version took difference steps with the story's themes, and they are all worth seeing 9f not classics.
Great color photography and beautiful costumes and a nice musical score makes this worth watching for the technical achievements, but the film is often slow and tedious, with a romantic subplot featuring Jane Seymour that really has no spark. The courage doesn't only come from standing for what he believes in, but taking the risks in private afterwards and eventually having the courage to face those who didn't respect him. These many elements of the story aren't always very clear, and the film is less emotionally exciting than it could have been with better development. A bigger version later on and the original version took difference steps with the story's themes, and they are all worth seeing 9f not classics.