JohnHowardReid Copyright 1955 by Group Film Productions Ltd. New York opening at the Palace: 21 October 1955. U.S. release through Lippert Pictures: 9 September 1955. U.K. release through General Film Distributors: March 1955. Australian release through British Empire Films: 21 September 1956 (sic). 101 minutes. (Available on a very good Spirit Entertainment DVD). SYNOPSIS: On arriving in Kenya, a British settler discovers that his brother has been murdered by Mau Mau terrorists. NOTES: One of the top ten British money-makers of 1955 in the U.K. COMMENT: Here's a movie that cries out for Rank's Independent Frame process work. Instead the makers have reverted to the cheaper, more obvious and somewhat primitive method of inter-cutting differently graded second unit footage peopled by obvious doubles with studio cut-ins against process screens and glaring photographic blow-ups. Hurst's clumsily heavy-handed direction, its lumbering pace emphasizing every cliché in the banal dialogue as well, further undermines the picture's credibility.Nonetheless, despite all these obtrusive defects of technique, as well as shallow writing and superficial acting (particularly by the three principals, although Sinden is partly exonerated by terrible miscasting), plus the fact that Miss McKenna's role has been built up by Mr. Estridge (she is forced to emote through two or three totally extraneous scenes, whilst others have been padded out way beyond their levels of interest and/or importance); — despite all these problems "Simba" still packs a mighty punch. It's a case of the powerful theme overcoming the triteness of its telling. And it must be admitted that Hurst does handle the horrifying action scenes forcefully, partly by the very unobtrusiveness, lack of involvement and even the clumsiness of his technique.Although some critics complained that Bogarde was being stereotyped in truculently unsympathetic parts, his public didn't seem to mind. He topped both Motion Picture Herald polls of British showmen for 1955, as the top picture-goer magnet among British stars, and as the top box-office star in the U.K. over all.

CarolinianDude For the historical-minded, this is by far the best film about the Mau Mau rebellion in Kenya. The mood of the country at the time is very well reflected here. The attitude of the colonials and the Africans are both very accurately portrayed, as is the way in which Mau Mau divided both communities, both African and British. While the un-PC nature of the time may bother some, it is quite accurate. While the style of filming may bother some, if you watch it for the acting and the story you'll enjoy it. Wonderful movie about Kenya. As someone who has spent many of the best years of my life in Kenya, this movie will always be special to me, my father lived in Kenya from 1947-1963, throughout the height of Mau Mau, and he praises the way in which the film really captures the moment as well.

ptaylaw Some of the reviews of this movie are too absorbed with the alleged racial content. Although racism was prevalent in the white community, a better approach would be to recognize the white settlers' concern for their safety from murder and home invasion. Some people don't know much about the history of the period, and are too preoccupied with being politically correct by today's standards. The Mau Mau rebellion was an early example of terrorism through brutality and atrocity. Many Kenyans lived in fear of a Mau Mau raid and more than 2,000 were killed by Mau Mau. The blood oaths and secret society of the Mau Mau made the terror all the more extreme. Although few of those murdered were white, many settlers were extremely scared. They were particularly scared at night, and of being betrayed by their household employees. Simba accurately depicts the fear and tension of the period. There are fine performances and the movie is absorbing and exciting.

gerry1019 This movie has just been issued on an R4 PAL disc available through Australian retailers so it's nice to see a pristine copy of it at last rather than a very well worn Beta tape. It has come in for some unfair criticism as a racist tract which it isn't at all. The good or bad old Colonial days existed, like it or not, and its just anachronistic to apply todays values to life some 50 years ago.The film makes the Mau Mau out to be the villains, the Hamas of their day,and so thought the settlers. Only the most prescient of them saw independence ahead; this is set several years before McMillan's Winds of Change speech. Rank stalwarts Borgade and McKenna give good performances as lovers and besieged farmers and Donald Sinden looks great as the local police chief. View it for what it is. We can't erase history, good or bad, like we can airbrush cigarettes from old photos.