An obvious but unreined adaptation of Somerset Maugham's play "The Letter", directed in far more satisfactory fashion by William Wyler in 1940, this film features John Hurt as a First Secretary to the British Embassy in an unnamed East Asian British colony of 1948, manifestly patterned after post-war Malaya with its massive rubber plantations of that era. Hurt plays Nash, a randy office holder whose ruth for the King's misused Colonial subjects is hailed with a deafening thud by the plantation elite, chiefly embodied by Harry Rawlins (Jeremy Kemp), and who in addition finds time to languorously woo the young wife (Judy Bowker) of another plantation owner (simultaneously keeping a native mistress), all of which leads to murder and other unpleasantness. A strong impression is given that this is a work in progress, with director Don Boyd not knowing or caring quite what to make of the material at hand, with editing flaccid at best, a consistently obtrusive soundtrack (including some unintentionally humourous placement of songs), conventional handling of critical scenes, and with abrupt modifications upon characters' personalities enfeebling any logic which may be hiding within the script. Filmed entirely in Sri Lanka, much resembling Malaysia, which latter is laden to this day with East Indian workers imported by the English, the work is adequately cast, although Hurt is hindered by his lines, Bowker is far too unseamed and seraphic for her bitchy role, and perhaps the best actor of the cast, Anton Rodgers, has but sparse opportunity during his brief appearances to utilize his pungently dry manner.
Review of East of Elephant Rock
