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Bookmark this pageThe Lost Patrol (1934)
Director: John Ford
Movie review
From Time Out Film Guide
At first glance, a fairly commonplace war-in-the-desert picture (with Yuma standing in for Mesopotamia), about a British patrol stranded during World War I falling prey to Arab snipers. Three main things distinguish it: Ford's adroit avoidance of 'Foreign Legion' clichés in the characterisation and plotting; Max Steiner's excellent score, which won an Oscar; and Karloff's extraordinary 'expressionist' performance as a soldier convinced that doom is at hand. The latter, in particular, represents an aspect of Ford's work that is often forgotten: a bold use of visual and dramatic stylisation, often associated with religious themes and characters. (From a novel by Philip MacDonald.Author: TR
Cast & crew
Director: John Ford
Cast: Victor McLaglen, Boris Karloff, Wallace Ford, Reginald Denny, Alan Hale, JM Kerrigan, Billy Bevan, Alan Hale full cast
Genre(s): War
Duration: 74 mins
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