Sirocco (DVD 2003)

Humphrey Bogart enjoyed parts exploring the risky lives of seedy men who were involved in small time black marketeering in Africa and the middle east during wartime, always hiding from Occupation forces. In the 'The African Queen'he had mellowed into a loveable charactor Charlie Allnut but as Rick in 'Casablanca'a bitter hardened shady bar owner bearly holding onto his empire still retained focus and a blase attitude to his worldly goods. But in Sirocco, as Harry Smith a cold self-centred gun runner - he is in an exceptionally vulnerable situation, not only the French occupation troops in Syria are chasing after his shadow his competitors want him to take the fall too. Although he appears not to care he softens towards a girl in a predictament, problem is the Violette is the ruthless French Colonels mistress. Well the apparent innocent girl causes him to make mistakes and he takes the downward spiral to custodial abilivion. As usual Humphrey's portrayal of the fast sinking seedy business type person is superb and the backdrop of war torn Damascus is quite bizarre involving the politics of the day and the intrigue that carried on in the background. The story and charactors are entirely unique in this very theatrical piece,virtually unrepeatable in todays cinema. I hope you enjoy it as I did and do.