Sirocco

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Humphrey Bogart is in familiar territory as an American expatriate in the Middle East, selling arms to the Syrian rebels under the nose of the occupying French army in 1925 Damascus. Bogie's Harry Smith, dressed in a modest cream suit and natty bow tie, is a hustler in a shady world of brittle alliances where the sound of mortar and gunfire never lets up. His nemesis is incorruptible French officer Lee J. Cobb, who is no gentleman when it comes to his lady (Marta Toren), a European beauty who catches Smith's eye. This mercenary, unsentimental Casablanca knock-off is dominated completely by a Bogart who has kissed romance and redemption goodbye. His ruthless, increasingly desperate performance makes up for the chilly Toren and the generally bland supporting cast (the exception is the animated Zero Mostel), and lights a fire under the film. --Sean Axmaker

Customer Reviews:

A tedious romantic drama in the "Casablanca" vein but with none of the magic..........2007-01-14

Bogart seemed destined for a painful end as he plied his despicable trade in a tale set in French-occupied Damascus around 1925...

Casting his lot between the French and Syrians, depending upon which suits his own greedy plan most profitably, he earns the enmity of both sides...

There were good supporting performances by Lee J. Cobb, thumping his desk as usual as a French colonel, and Everett Sloane as a volatile general, but the film was of little consequence and a sorry end to Bogart's solo production credits...

"Sirocco" remains a tedious romantic drama in the "Casablanca" vein but with none of the magic...

Another good movie.......2006-06-07

I personally never listen to critics, they said this movie was bad for the most part and I thought it was another great Bogart movie. Granted it is not the equal to other films of lgendary stature that he has been in, but the movie can stand alone and has over time.

Underrated Bogie Film.......2006-06-04

This is a film about the French military occupation of Syria after World War I. The French were given Syria after the destruction of the Ottoman Empire as a mandate by the League of Nations, and are engaged in a guerilla war with the Syrian natives who are fighting for their independence. Bogie plays the role of a quasi-legitimate businessman in Damascus who is illegally selling weapons to the Arabs. This film was not well received by critics when first released in the early 50s, and is still not widely acclaimed by Bogie fans 50+ years later. As a great fan of Bogie myself, I'm a bit puzzled by this reaction to the film. While I agree that this is not up to the standards of Bogie's great films, this film is not as bad as it's detractors make it out to be. This is the type of film and the type of character that Bogie was meant to play: the gritty, morally ambiguous, profiteer who lives somewhere between the good guys and the bad guys. In fact, one thing that I really like about this film is that there is a surprising level of moral ambiguity at the beginning. Both the French and the Arabs claim the moral high ground, and the story line lends legitimacy to each sides claims. Bogie darts between the protagonists not caring who is right or wrong. Unlike most Bogie of the best films, he really does lie uncaringly in the middle for most of this film (perhaps this is why it is not well regarded - he really doesn't play a very sympathetic character in this picture, although in the end, Bogie finds his moral compass and `tries to do the right thing'). Overall this is an interesting, if not outstanding, story. I would give it 3.5 stars if I could (rounding to four because of Bogie and to balance out some of the other more negative reviews). At $22, this is probably not a film I would recommend for someone other than a hardcore Bogie fan to purchase, but it is definitely worth watching. Marta Toren, the love interest in the film, doesn't really inspire any fireworks. Lee J. Cobb does a good job as the conflicted French intelligence officer. The story itself is very good, although undone a bit by a weak ending.

Sirocco - Same old Bogie.......2004-03-14

Bogie could do this type of role with his eyes closed, and possibly did, but it's far superiour than what many of the actors today can turn out. It's certainly not the best Bogie ever done, but he's just creating, once again, his role of Rick Blaine from Casasblanca and I can watch this very fine actor do that time after time after time. Marta Toren as the female lead was good to look at in any scene, and Lee J Cobb was at his pre-"On the Waterfront" smoldering best. Zero Mostel was Zero Mostel, what can one say about another master at his craft? All in all it was worth watching and brought back memories to me of when actors had to learn their craft and not just be good looking with a great body. Thank you.

Been There, Done That Much Better Before.......2003-06-01

Humphrey Bogart stars as an American operating in the black market in Syria during the French occupation. Bogart can't return to the U.S. because of his shady past. He has no loyalty to either side ... he is his number one concern. He becomes intrigued by Marta Toren, the mistress of a French officer, Lee J. Cobb, who wants to make peace between Syria and France. He crosses paths with Bogart several times as both men pursue Toren and become embroiled in the political conflict.

Sirocco isn't a particularly interesting film. Bogart seems bored by the whole thing, giving a tired, been there, done that performance that makes you wish you were watching one of his earlier films where this type of character and situation was much better played out. The characters aren't compelling enough to care about, which really kills any chance for dramatic tension. The script is dry, the direction bland, and the film appears to have been made on the cheap. Fans of Bogart will want to watch this if only to see him, but it ranks amongst his lesser efforts.

Average customer rating:
Humphrey Bogart (3 pack) Tokyo Joe/Sirocco/The Harder They Fall

ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000FK7Y3Q

Product Description

Tokyo Joe: Joe Barrett returns to Tokyo after World War II where he once owned a bar, Tokyo Joe's, and deserted his wife Trina. They have a seven-year-old daughter. Kimura forces Joe into piloting war criminals by revealing that during the war Trina made treasonous propaganda broadcasts. Sirocco: In 1925 Damascus Harry Smith runs guns to the rebels under Emir Hassan. The French arrest him along with others and force him to sell weapons to them. He develops an interest in French intelligence officer Feroud's mistress Violette. The Harder They Fall: Humphrey Bogart's final screen role was in this 1956 film by Mark Robson (Home of the Brave), about a cynical sportswriter who becomes a press agent and sees firsthand how badly boxers are used and manipulated by crooked managers. The story finds Bogart's character waffling about the ethics surrounding the exploitation of an overrated fighter who will earn money for his handlers in the short term, then be tossed onto the scrap heap. This is a very tough tale written by Budd Schulberg and shot with determined unromanticism; the boxing sequences are among the most striking and violent ever committed to film. Jan Sterling plays Bogart's wife, who watches him vacillate about whether to expose the fight syndicate as a racket.

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Le Coup de sirocco [Region 2]
Starring: Roger Hanin , Marthe Villalonga , Michel Auclair , Jacques Duby , and Maurice Chevit
Director: Alexandre Arcady
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

( L ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
ASIN: B00005MOP8

The Harder They Fall / Sirocco / Tokyo Joe (Humphrey Bogart 3 Pack)

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The Harder They Fall / Sirocco / Tokyo Joe (Humphrey Bogart 3 Pack)

ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Classics | Genres | DVD | Video
ASIN: B000FGXIDK

Average customer rating:

A tedious romantic drama in the "Casablanca" vein but with none of the magic...
Another good movie
Underrated Bogie Film
Sirocco - Same old Bogie
Been There, Done That Much Better Before

Sirocco [Region 2]
Starring: Humphrey Bogart , Märta Torén , Lee J. Cobb , Everett Sloane , and Gerald Mohr
Director: Curtis Bernhardt
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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( S ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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ASIN: B00007JGKU

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

A tedious romantic drama in the "Casablanca" vein but with none of the magic..........2007-01-14

Another good movie.......2006-06-07

Underrated Bogie Film.......2006-06-04

Sirocco - Same old Bogie.......2004-03-14

Been There, Done That Much Better Before.......2003-06-01

Sirocco isn't a particularly interesting film. Bogart seems bored by the whole thing, giving a tired, been there, done that performance that makes you wish you were watching one of his earlier films where this type of character and situation was much better played out. The characters aren't compelling enough to care about, which really kills any chance for dramatic tension. The script is dry, the direction bland, and the film appears to have been made on the cheap. Fans of Bogart will want to watch this if only to see him, but it ranks amongst his lesser efforts.

Average customer rating:
Early Learning-Robert M. Miller Dvm
Starring: Early Learning-Robert M. Miller Dvm
Manufacturer: Serengeti Sirocco
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Special Interests | Genres | DVD | Video
( E ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
ASIN: B000FXVG5A
Release Date: 1995-09-19

DVD:

DVD

DVD