Sirocco (film)
| Sirocco | |
|---|---|
Theatrical release poster
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| Directed by | Curtis Bernhardt |
| Produced by | Robert Lord |
| Screenplay by |
A.I. Bezzerides Hans Jacoby |
| Based on |
Coup de Grace 1936 novel by Joseph Kessel |
| Starring |
Humphrey Bogart Märta Torén Lee J. Cobb |
| Music by | George Antheil |
| Cinematography | Burnett Guffey |
| Edited by | Viola Lawrence |
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Production
company |
Santana Pictures Corporation
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| Distributed by | Columbia Pictures |
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Release date
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Running time
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98 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $1.3 million (US rentals) |
Sirocco is a 1951 American film noir directed by Curtis Bernhardt and written by A.I. Bezzerides and Hans Jacoby. It is based on the novel Coup de Grace written by Joseph Kessel. The drama features Humphrey Bogart, Märta Torén, Lee J. Cobb, among others.
In 1925 Damascus, the Syrians are engaged in a guerrilla war against the French rule of Syria. Harry Smith (Humphrey Bogart) is an amoral American black marketeer secretly selling them weapons. As the situation deteriorates, French General LaSalle (Everett Sloane) orders that civilians be executed each time his soldiers are killed, but his head of military intelligence, Colonel Feroud (Lee J. Cobb), persuades him to rescind the plan. Feroud presses for negotiations with rebel leader Emir Hassan (Onslow Stevens) instead. LaSalle reluctantly lets him try to arrange a meeting, but refuses to let Feroud make contact directly. The young officer sent in his place is later found with his throat cut.
To complicate matters, Harry makes a pass at Feroud's unhappy mistress, Violetta (Märta Torén), but she rejects him. Later, she informs Feroud she wants to leave him, but he refuses to let her go.
By applying pressure to Balukjian (Zero Mostel), one of Harry's friendly rivals, Feroud finds out about Harry's gun running. Harry is tipped off, just as Violetta shows up and begs him to take her back to Cairo. Needing to flee himself, he agrees to take her along. However, a French patrol nearly captures Harry. He barely gets away, but has to leave behind his money, and without that, he is soon betrayed to the French.
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