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Escape from Zahrain is a 1962 American Panavision adventure film directed by Ronald Neame and starring Yul Brynner.[2][3] The film is based on the novel Appointment in Zahrain by Michael Barrett (1960).[4][5]

Studio and Distributor[]

Paramount Pictures

Plot[]

The film is set in the fictional state of Zahrain, located in the Arabian Peninsula. An officer in the security service of a despotic regime arranges to murder a jailed revolutionary leader (Brynner) while he is being transferred between prisons. The leader's supporters stage a rescue, intending to subsequently flee across the desert to the Protectorate of Aden.

In the chaos of the rescue two condemned prisoners, a common criminal with no interest in politics (Caruso) and an American oil worker (Warden), join the leader and the mastermind of the breakout (Mineo) in getting away. Later they encounter an educated nurse (Rhue) who they are compelled to take along, and a jaded British intelligence agent (James Mason) who they are confident will not reveal their whereabouts. Together they provide different perspectives on the Middle East of the early 1960s.

Cast[]

  • Yul Brynner as Sharif
  • Sal Mineo as Ahmed
  • Jack Warden as Huston
  • Madlyn Rhue as Laila
  • Anthony Caruso as Tahar
  • Leonard Strong as Ambulance Driver
  • Jay Novello as Hassan

Template:1962 films

Production[]

The film was based on the novel Appointment in Zahrain which was published in 1960.[6] Paramount bought the novel prior to publication and gave the job to adapting the script to Dudley Nichols.[7]

In October 1960 Paramount's then-chairman Jack Karp announced Richard Matheson was doing a script and Edward Dmytryk was going to direct the film.[8]

By May 1961 Yul Brynner was attached as star, with Ronald Neame to produce and direct and Sal Mineo to co star.[9][10] Robin Estridge wrote the script.

Filming began June 1961.[11]

References[]

  1. "Big Rental Pictures of 1962". Variety. 9 Jan 1963. p. 13. Please note these are rentals and not gross figures
  2. Escape from Zahrain (23 May 1962).
  3. Escape from Zahrain (1962) – Overview.
  4. Escape from Zahrain (1962) – Screenplay Info – TCM.com.
  5. "ESCAPE FROM ZAHRAIN", Monthly Film Bulletin, Jan 1, 1962, p. 94. 
  6. Share, Bernard. "UNDER THE BOMB", Feb 20, 1960, p. 6. 
  7. Hopper, Hedda. "Looking at Hollywood: Cary Buys Screenplay for Himself, Hepburn", Chicago Daily Tribune, Sep 12, 1959, p. w_a8. 
  8. Scheuer, Philip K.. "Dmytryk to Direct Paramount Picture: 'Appointment in Zahrain' His First Since 'Mountain'", Los Angeles Times, Oct 10, 1960, p. C13. 
  9. Hopper, Hedda. "Looking at Hollywood: Carroll Baker Set for Broadway", Chicago Daily Tribune, May 22, 1961, p. b11. 
  10. Hopper, Hedda. "Looking at Hollywood: TV Star Rod Taylor to Be in Mitchum Film", Chicago Daily Tribune, Sep 15, 1961, p. B7. 
  11. "Robert Horton Forms Production Company", Los Angeles Times, June 22, 1961, p. C8. 

External links[]

Template:Ronald Neame Template:Dudley Nichols

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