Tripoli
                       
Director: Will Price
Year:  1950
Rating: 5.5
If I had to write a one sentence criticism, it would be more Maureen O'Hara, less John Payne. Not that Payne is bad mind you, but I would always prefer seeing more of O'Hara, in Technicolor once again. At least O'Hara isn't cast as an Arabian Princess this time but she is once again stuck out in the Arabian desert where only her charms and wile keep her afloat. She must have spent a lot of time in her career cleaning out sand from her toes and shoes. This film is not to be confused with To the Shores of Tripoli (1942) which also starred Payne and O'Hara - that was a modern day story of Marines being sent off to WWII. This one deals with the war against the Barbary pirates of 1805 - where the lyric "From the halls of Montezuma to the shores of Tripoli" came from.



As I discovered to my surprise after watching the film, the vast majority of it was based on fact. Except the Maureen O'Hara part, but every film needs a little romance. Near the end of the film as they raise the American flag they say - and it was true - "this is the first time the American flag has been raised on foreign land". Unfortunately, not the last time. One could claim though that this was a just war as the Barbary pirates stationed in the Northwest Berber nations would stop all ships in the Mediterranean Sea and demand tribute - if refused they would attack the ships and enslave the crew and passengers and demand ransom (Slave Girl, 1947).



In order to overthrow the King of the lands, the USA goes to his exiled brother and strike a deal with him - put him on the throne and have a peace accord. Lt. Bannon (Payne) is sent on a mission to bring him back overland - an arduous 500 mile trip through the desert to the city of Derne - and recruit an army along the way. There they will co-ordinate with the navy. In the real situation the only difference is that Bannon was only second in command leading the Marines. All goes according to plan for the most part and Bannon did in fact raise the flag.




The vast majority of the film is taken up with the journey. And his interaction with a French Countess who had to skedaddle when the Revolution came about and has ended up in the desert where she is the companion of the exiled King - the film makes clear though that there is no hanky-panky going on between them - because well - the Movie Code. Bannon is basically a jackass - an arrogant American who treats everyone poorly - especially her - and if you have ever seen a film in your life, you know where that is headed. The great look of the film is due to James Wong Howe.