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Khartoum

Play trailer Poster for Khartoum 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 11/27/2018
Its strength is in the writing and having such powerful actors to deliver a clever and involving script. Go to Full Review
Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews 03/08/2008
B+
A painless and entertaining bout with history in the desert. Go to Full Review
Steve Crum Video-Reviewmaster.com 02/18/2008
4/5
Heston is at his bravest, and Olivier is at his tannest. Good spectacle. Go to Full Review
Carol Cling Las Vegas Review-Journal 09/10/2004
3/5
Frank Swietek One Guy's Opinion 04/15/2004
3/5
Daniel M. Kimmel Worcester Telegram & Gazette 01/30/2004
3/5
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Audience Reviews

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Andy F Jul 29 A stunning movie, visually enchanting. Forget all the modern claptrap and treat yourself to this unforgettable and mostly factual historical epic. See more Simon T Apr 25 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. See more John H 03/05/2024 Very good movie about Britains crisis in the Sudan See more Will S 11/13/2023 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. See more dustin d 04/13/2021 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. See more 08/31/2020 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. See more 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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