''Timbuktu'' is a 1959 American black-and-white adventure film directed by Jacques Tourneur and starring Victor Mature and

Yvonne de Carlo Margaret Yvonne Middleton (September 1, 1922January 8, 2007), known professionally as Yvonne De Carlo, was a Canadian-American actress, dancer and singer. She became a Hollywood film star in the 1940s and 1950s, made several recordings, and late ...

. It is set in Timbuktu (Africa), but was filmed in the Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park in Kanab, Utah.

Plot

In 1940, France is at war with Germany. The French have removed large numbers of troops from their African possessions, leaving the way open for revolt. American soldier of fortune Mike Conway ( Victor Mature) sees a chance to pay his way back to the United States by running guns to hostile Tuaregs. Wearing a slouch hat and

bush jacket A safari jacket or bush jacket also known as a “shacket” is a garment originally designed for the purpose of going on safari in the African bush. When paired with trousers or shorts, it becomes a safari suit. A safari jacket is commonly a lig ...

, Conway is armed with a Thompson submachine 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 tarantulas on his prisoners, a moderate

imam Imam (; ar, إمام '; plural: ') is an Islamic leadership position. For Sunni Muslims, Imam is most commonly used as the title of a worship leader of a mosque. In this context, imams may lead Islamic worship services, lead prayers, ser ...

( Leonard Mudie) wanting peace, the local French Foreign Legion commander ( George Dolenz), and the commander's attractive wife (

) who Conway cannot keep away from.

Cast

* Victor Mature as Mike Conway *

Yvonne De Carlo Margaret Yvonne Middleton (September 1, 1922January 8, 2007), known professionally as Yvonne De Carlo, was a Canadian-American actress, dancer and singer. She became a Hollywood film star in the 1940s and 1950s, made several recordings, and late ...

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 * Paul Wexler as Suleyman * James Foxx as Lt. Victor Marat Turkish actor Feridun Çölgeçen was credited as

technical adviser In film production, a technical advisor is someone who advises the director on the convincing portrayal of a subject. The advisor's expertise adds realism both to the acting and to the setting of a movie. Nipo T. Strongheart Nipo T. Stronghear ...

. Fred Carson acted as both stuntman and Victor Mature's

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 and camera setup. Stand-ins are helpful in the initial processes of film and television production. Stand-ins a ...

Production

The film was originally meant to be shot on location in colour and widescreen based on an idea of Small and Frank Cavett with

Stuart Heisler Stuart Heisler (December 5, 1896 – August 21, 1979) was an American film and television director. He was a son of Luther Albert Heisler (1855–1916), a carpenter, and Frances Baldwin Heisler (1857–1935). He worked as a motion picture editor ...

to direct. Later, there was a script done by Horace McCoy. At one stage, the film was going to be made by the team of Clarence Greene and Russell Rouse, who were making films for Small. In 1956 producer Edward Small registered several titles for the film, including: ''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''. However, he eventually settled on the plain title ''Timbuktu''. In 1957, Anthony Veillier signed to write a script. Mature signed in February 1958. Filming started May 1958 in Kanab, Utah. Parts of the film were shot in the Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park. Director Jacques Tourneur claimed that producer Small thought the film was not long enough so he inserted reaction shots of close-ups of various actors all throughout the film. Edward Small felt so embarrassed by the film that he removed his name from the final credits.Fujiwara, Chris ''Jacques Tourneur: The Cinema of Nightfall'' McFarland p.263

Reception and legacy

Writer and actor Jacques Lourcelles considers ''Timbuktu'' to be one of director Jacques Tourneur's very best films.

References

External links

* {{Authority control 1959 films United Artists films 1959 adventure films American black-and-white films Films shot in Utah Films directed by Jacques Tourneur Films set in 1940 Films about jihadism Tuareg rebellions Films about the French Foreign Legion Timbuktu in popular culture Films set in Mali Films set in the French colonial empire Films scored by Gerald Fried Films produced by Edward Small 1950s English-language films