Construction began at denham in june 1935 and the studios were completed by may the. Commissioner sanders, representative of the british crown, puts down a bloody rebellion and reestablishes harmony for the probritish river people in this tale of adventure in west africa. Offering readers an actionpacked glimpse into a period of history that is often overlooked. Sanders of the river has been ranked 187 times, wins 23. Sanders of the river 1935 rotten tomatoes movie trailers. The film was originally conceived as a lowbudget quota quickie to be called congo raid. Congo lullaby from the 1935 zoltan kordas film sanders of the river. During the next twelve years, he headlined six british films, pioneering uncharted territory for black actors and reaching a level of prominence unthinkable in hollywood. Sanders of the river the commissioner sanders stories book 1 kindle edition by edgar wallace, otto penzler. Bosambo, who has appointed himself chief of the ochori tribe, visits sanders to report that the warriors of king mofalaba have been carrying out slave raids on the tribes of the river. Watch sanders of the river online stream full movie. They brought the paramount chief of all the people to him, and there was a palaver on the little bridge with a lantern placed on the deck and one limp.
Bbc radio 3 the essay, paul robeson in five songs, 3. Sanders of the river 1935 the alfred hitchcock wiki. Sanders of the river, released in britain on 8 april 1935, was the first of a series of colonial epics from alexander korda s london films, which subsequently. Sanders of the river was a breakout film for robeson in many ways, though it clearly was not one that turned out the way he wanted, or even remotely liked. Troubles afoot in the jungles of africa for a british river officer who must calm rebellious natives from the surrounding tribes in order to avert an outandout rebellion. Sanders of the river 1935 sanders of the river 1935 the sharkfighters 1956. Sanders of the river 1935, the first in a trilogy of films on the theme of empire, the ghost goes west 1935 and the scarlet pimpernel 1934. The 1935 republican river flood remains at the top of the list. Enter your location to see which movie theaters are playing sanders of the river near you. When bosambos wife lilongo is kidnapped, the chief tracks down her kidnappers.
May 08, 2015 sanders of the river 1935 not rated 85 min adventure, drama 26 june 1935 usa british district officer in nigeria in the 1930s rules his area strictly but justly, and struggles with gunrunners and slavers with the aid of a loyal native chief. Seeking out new avenues for his artistry, paul robeson moved his family to london in 1928. Tennyson gained experience as an assistant director to alfred hitchcock in several of his british films during the 1930s. Discovering that a liberian native, bosambo paul robeson, has been acting as chief without approval, sanders nevertheless is impressed by bosambos skills and allows him to remain chief. Sanders of the river 1935 feature video dailymotion.
An alexander korda film depicting the relationship between a colonial administrator, sanders, and african chiefs including bosambo and mofalaba. Horribly outdated in its views, sanders of the river is a love letter to colonialism that fails to realize. Paul robeson is bosambo, chief of the ochori tribe and a loyal native who is both dedicated and subservient to sanders. Theres excellent african footage in this 1935 film about british colonialism in darkest africa. Movie mirrors index sanders of the river 1935 b 90 en. Sanders of the river is a 1935 british film directed by the hungarianbritish director, zoltan. Written when world powers were vying for colonial honor, sanders of the river encapsulates the beliefs and assumptions that motivated such quests. Sanders of the river 1935, starring paul robson, nina mae mckinney, tony wane duration. Sanders of the river 1935 movie clip song of the spear. Paul robeson moved his family to london in 1928, headlining six british films in twelve years.
In this film it is a small launch, whereas in the previous film it is a large paddlesteamer. Paul robeson, leslie banks and nina mae mckinney star in this classic adaptation of edgar wallaces celebrated adventure story set in british colonial nigeria. The lead nigerian characters were played by africanamericans paul robeson and nina mae mckinney. Sanders of the river 1935 the criterion collection. If you would like to learn more about his research you can check out his paper here. Sanders of the river 1935 sanders of the river 1935. Sanders of the river is a film directed by zoltan korda with leslie banks, paul robeson, nina mae mckinney, martin walker, year. Its based on the first novel by edgar wallace, prolific british author who spent much time in africa during the latter 19th and early 20th century. There is religious palava, commissioner sanders is called upon by the british government to keep a watchful eye upon some quarter of a million cannibal folk, who ten years before had regarded. Leslie banks is sanders, the official government district commissioner charged with keeping the peace in the river country.
Critic david pringle noted in 1987, the sanders books are not frequently reprinted nowadays, perhaps because of their overt racism. It was a 6minute role he never talked about, and with good reason. In the morning sanders turned the nose of the zaire down stream, and at sunset came to the big riverhe had been sailing a tributaryand where the two rivers meet is the city of the akasava. Based on an edgar wallace short story, sanders of the river 1935 aka bosambo is a melodrama of warring tribal chieftains in british colonial nigeria and the white territorial commissioner who oversees them. Congo lullaby from the 1935 zoltan kordas film sanders of the. Commissioner sanders leslie banks says bosambo paul robeson is an escaped thief, and he has been acting as chief without sanders. Determined to maintain peace in the river district of west africa, british. London films productions is a british film and television production company founded in 1932 by alexander korda and from 1936 based at denham film studios in buckinghamshire, near london. The film proved a significant commercial and critical success, giving korda.
November 21, 2018 february 23, 2019 christina 0 comments jomo kenyatta, nigeria in the colonial era, palaver 1926, sanders of the river 1935 several colonialera films were made in africa in the early 1900s. Sanders of the river is a 1935 british film directed by the hungarianbritish director, zoltan korda, based on the stories of edgar wallace. Sanders of the river story of an african colony nigeria is an immense production, done for the greater part with deft direction, played with distinction by two main characters. Sanders of the river cast and crew cast photos and info.
This was the height of edwardian power culminating in positive ideas about the british empire and the role of britain in civilising its colonies. There was a film, but one that had never been completed and released. Viewed today, 74 years after the film came out sanders of the river is a paradoxical film with the good and bad of british colonial attitudes of the 19th century. Both films were loosely based on a very popular edgar wallace novel. Charged with the task of engaging with the indigenous peoples of nigeria during the colonial period, sanders takes a nononsense approach that, though it may offend the sensibilities of currentday readers, is unquestionably effective. Matthew sweet unravels the complex threads of robesons evolving film stardom and politics in the imperial flagwaver, sanders of the river, and. Zoltan korda, mischa spoliansky, and muir mathieson. Bfi paul robeson spotlight the problematic sanders of. Frederick penrose pen tennyson 26 august 1912 7 july 1941 was a british film director whose promising career was cut short when he died in a plane crash. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Sanders of the river 1935 synopsis british district officer in nigeria in the 1930s rules his area strictly but justly, and struggles with gunrunners and slavers with the aid of a loyal native chief.
Sanders of the river should be on the mustread list of every. Charles hasty house collapsed after photo taken, arapahoe, ne. The finished film was dedicated to the handful of white men whose everyday work is an unsung saga of courage and efficiency. Sanders of the river 1935 not rated 1h 25min adventure, drama, music 26 june 1935 usa british district officer in nigeria in the 1930s rules his area strictly but justly, and struggles with gunrunners and slavers with the aid of a loyal native chief. Sanders of the river 1935 directed by zoltan korda. And despite his many legendary accomplishments in sports while in college, on the stage, in music and in political activism, its fair to say that robesons film career was not the greatest. Zoltan and his brother argued over the film s portrayal of colonialism, and alexander, as the producer, ultimately edited the movie. The common complaint about sanders of the river is that it paints the british empire in a very benevolent light, as if the nation was the worlds big daddy who would tell everyone what to do, keep them safe and organised, and never mind about all those massacres they undertook to make sure of that state of affairs. A boxoffice triumph that earned director zoltan korda the first of his four nominations for best film at the venice film festival, sanders of the river is featured in a brandnew transfer from the original film elements, in its asexhibited theatrical aspect ratio. Other articles where sanders of the river is discussed.
On may 30, 1935 in the middle of the dust bowl, one of the greatest droughts the great plains has seen, a historic flood swept through the republican river, creating devastation along its path. He then helmed the drama sanders of the river 1935, which starred paul robeson as an. The film, sanders of the river, is based on edgar wallaces story from 1911. Robesons first british production, zoltan kordas sanders of the river, however, ended up being an embarrassment for the actor, its. Korda further consolidated his career as an enterprising and innovative producer with his next three films. The companys productions included the private life of henry viii 1933, things to come 1936, rembrandt 1936, and the four feathers 1939. With paul robeson, leslie banks, nina mae mckinney, robert cochran. Sanders of the river film by korda 1935 britannica. Sanders of the river by edgar wallace, paperback barnes. Robeson, who had apparently expected this english filman alexander korda production, directed by. Sanders of the river was written by edgar wallace in 1911. The best movies of 1935 picked by critics and filmmakers and sorted by rank. Based on the book by edgar wallace and produced by london film productions, the adventure drama sanders of the river is an imperialist propaganda film about british colonial rule in africa.
Sanders of the river the commissioner sanders stories book 1. Gaumont had sent a location filming unit, headed up by director geoffrey barkas, to india and to landi kotal in 1935. Struggling with debt, he left south africa, returned to london, and began writing thrillers to raise income. Flood waters 1935 on republican river looking west, arapahoe, ne. British district officer in nigeria in the 1930s rules his area strictly but justly, and struggles with gunrunners and slavers with the aid of a loyal native chief. He then helmed the drama sanders of the river 1935, which starred paul robeson as an african chief and nina mae mckinney as his queen. Robesons first british production, zoltan kordas sanders of the river, however, ended up an embarrassment, its story of an african tribal leader transformed into a celebration of the british empire. With sanders aid, bosambo holds off an attack by rebel mofolaba, and for the next five years peace reigns at the river. Network distributing 7th march, 2016 region 2 dvd universal 1 disc 1h 27m sanders of the river 1935 sanders of the river dvd from network and the british film. April 8th 2016 marked the 81st anniversary since the release of the film sanders of the river.
The kings commissioner sanders rules the river territories with firm but just efficiency. Commissioner sanders is called upon by the british government. Sanders od rijeke je britanski crnobijeli pustolovni film snimljen 1935. Sanders of the river 1935 movie clip i cant manage. Sanders of the river, the people of the river, the river of stars, bosambo of the river, bones, the keepers of the kings. Livingston home 1935, arapahoe, ne, north of river bridge. Sanders of the river starring jomo kenyatta youtube. Lajos biro adaptation, jeffrey dell adaptation stars. Foot bridge over muddy creek, 1935 flood, arapahoe, ne. Stanford libraries official online search tool for books, media, journals, databases, government documents and more. The founding father mzee jomo kenyatta was featured in the film as africa rare traditions.
His aide robert cochrane no help, brit administrator leslie banks title character deals directly with females rescued from slave traders, who show interest in his appointed ruler bosambo paul robeson, who himself focuses on lilongo nina mae mckinney, in sanders. Brit colonial boss leslie banks title character and crew send word to paul robeson as bosambo, a loyal petty thief theyve made chief of an african tribe calling for action, and an original song by mischa poliansky and arthur wimperis, in the korda brothers sanders of the. At worst, robeson is a tool of british imperialism. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading sanders of the river the commissioner sanders stories book 1.
Sanders of the river wikisource, the free online library. Sanders of the river the 1935 movie, trailers, videos and more at yidio. Bosambo kills king mofolaba and is subsequently named by sanders as the king of the peoples of the river. Adapted from edgar wallaces novel, a british officer lays down the law for two million africans in nigeria. A useful film for looking at british colonial attitudes at a point in time when the british ruling class had not yet accepted the inevitability of. A week or so passed before i was able to get my hands on a copy of the article itself, but when i did everything fell into place. The film proved a significant commercial and critical success, giving korda the first of his four nominations for best film at the venice film festival. However, when sanders heads to england to marry, mofolaba returns, vowing. It was the first film to include all three korda brothers, with alex producing, zoltan directing and art direction by youngest brother vincent.
In the trivia section of the imdb profile of the film sanders of the river 1935 lies this nugget jomo kenyatta, who was president of kenya from 1963 to 1978, had a bit part in this movie as a tribal chief. During the next twelve years, he headlined six british films. Leslie banks plays commissioner lord sandy sanders, who maintains british rule over the ngombi district of nigeria. During the next twelve years, he headlined six british films, pioneering uncharted territory for black actors and reaching a level of prominence unthinkable in. Sanders of the river can therefore be seen as a turning point in robesons career, leading to significant roles in films like song of freedom and the proud valley, although the stridency of his political views would undoubtedly influence the disappointing brevity of his film career. Sanders of the river free movie streaming, sanders of the river full movie free 1935 british district officer in nigeria in the 1930s rules his area strictly but justly, and struggles with gunrunners and slavers with the aid of a loyal native chief.
Captured by them, he is saved by a relief force commanded by sanders. The movie, based on the adventures of fred figglehorn, a character created and played by lucas cruikshank for cruikshanks. Death drums along the river was the comeon american title for this 1963 remake of 1935 s sanders of the river. After a bid as liberal mp for blackpool, wallace moved to hollywood, where he worked as a script writer for rko studios. Death drums along the river sanders sanders of the river. Please allow at least 60 seconds for this film to load.
To optimize your experience with your screen reading software, please use our website, which has the same tickets as our and websites. He published the four just men 1905 and sanders of the river 1911. In both this film and the previous version, sanders of the river 1935, there is a boat named zaire. Sanders of the river dvd 1935 network distributing 2016. Commissioner sanders is called upon by the british government to keep a watchful eye upon some quarter of a million cannibal folk.