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Khartoum

Play trailer Poster for Khartoum Released Jun 15, 1966 2h 14m History Drama Action Play Trailer Watchlist
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100% Tomatometer 10 Reviews 66% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
In 1883, William Gladstone (Ralph Richardson), Britain's prime minister, enlists reputable Gen. Gordon (Charlton Heston) to smooth over the situation in Sudan after a brutal battle has left several British men dead. Gordon, known to defy orders, is received well in the city of Khartoum -- so instead of acting as an ambassador, he motivates the city to prepare its defenses. Despite massive efforts to divert enemy attack, Gordon's new, small army is no match for what befalls it.
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Khartoum

Critics Reviews

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Rob Aldam Backseat Mafia Its strength is in the writing and having such powerful actors to deliver a clever and involving script. Nov 27, 2018 Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews A painless and entertaining bout with history in the desert. Rated: B+ Mar 8, 2008 Full Review Steve Crum Video-Reviewmaster.com Heston is at his bravest, and Olivier is at his tannest. Good spectacle. Rated: 4/5 Feb 18, 2008 Full Review Carol Cling Las Vegas Review-Journal Rated: 3/5 Sep 10, 2004 Full Review Frank Swietek One Guy's Opinion Rated: 3/5 Apr 15, 2004 Full Review Daniel M. Kimmel Worcester Telegram & Gazette Rated: 3/5 Jan 30, 2004 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Andy F A stunning movie, visually enchanting. Forget all the modern claptrap and treat yourself to this unforgettable and mostly factual historical epic. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 07/29/25 Full Review Simon T I'm fond of Khartoum, probably because I saw it as a schoolboy in London in Cinerama. But boy is it hard work: a turgid Lawrence of Arabia wannabe where over two and a half long hours not much happens and Charlton Heston looks pained, while Laurence Olivier reprises his Othello and is allowed to do all his scenes on a Pinewood soundstage. The best elements are Leo Genn's uncredited opening and closing narration, and Frank Cordell's Elgarian score. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 04/25/25 Full Review John H Very good movie about Britains crisis in the Sudan Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/05/24 Full Review Will S This is a surprisingly pointless movie. It could have been about empires and it hints in a few places that it wants to be about religious fanaticism--Gordon and the Mahdi are both religious egomaniacs--but ultimately it's only about the desire to make a movie as profitable as Lawrence of Arabia. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 11/13/23 Full Review dustin d Khartoum is a spectacle of a film. Like Lawrence of Arabia, it's a grand, historical film about an English officer intervening in desert conflict as he sees fit. Charleston Heston gives perhaps his best performance and completely disappears into his character. Laurence Olivier hams it up in blackface as "the Mahdi," which modern viewers might find offensive, but it wasn't done in a patronizing fashion. Khartoum is an entertaining, minor classic. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member Don’t let the great critics score fool you. There are only ten of them. A good script, but the tail end of the great 60’s historical epics. Should have been much better. Yes it’s ridiculous seeing Olivier in black face again. Almost as ridiculous is Heston using an English accent. Why is he in this? Heston was a serviceable actor but brings nothing to the role. And in an era of tremendous British actors that could have been cast and been so much better. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 08/31/20 Full Review Read all reviews
Khartoum

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Movie Info

Synopsis In 1883, William Gladstone (Ralph Richardson), Britain's prime minister, enlists reputable Gen. Gordon (Charlton Heston) to smooth over the situation in Sudan after a brutal battle has left several British men dead. Gordon, known to defy orders, is received well in the city of Khartoum -- so instead of acting as an ambassador, he motivates the city to prepare its defenses. Despite massive efforts to divert enemy attack, Gordon's new, small army is no match for what befalls it.
Director
Basil Dearden
Producer
Julian Blaustein
Screenwriter
Robert Ardrey
Distributor
United Artists
Production Co
Julian Blaustein Productions Ltd.
Genre
History, Drama, Action
Original Language
British English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jun 15, 1966, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Sep 16, 2008
Runtime
2h 14m
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