The Mark of the Hawk

Last updated
The Mark of the Hawk
The Mark of the Hawk 1957 poster.jpg
1957 Theatrical Poster
Directed byMichael Audley
Written byLloyd Young
Produced byLloyd Young
Starring Sidney Poitier
Eartha Kitt
John McIntire
Cinematography Erwin Hillier
Edited byEdward Jarvis
Music byMatyas Seiber
Production
companies
Film Productions International
Lloyd Young & Associates
World Horizons
Distributed by Universal-International
Release date
  • March 1958 (1958-03)
Running time
84-85 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

The Mark of the Hawk (also known as Accused) is a 1957 American drama film, directed by Michael Audley and starring Eartha Kitt and Sidney Poitier. The screenplay was by H. Kenn Carmichael and Lloyd Young. [1]

Contents

Synopsis

Obam, brother of an indigenous resistance leader in British colonial Africa, returns to his troubled homeland after some years abroad, seeking a political post. However, domestic tensions have divided the country into two hostile camps, with many natives demanding the return of their ancestral lands – now farmed by European settlers. Britain and the local white administration are determined not to release their stranglehold; rather than adopting violence Obam seeks racial equality through peaceful means. His motives are frequently questioned by his own people, but with the assistance of an insightful spouse and sympathetic missionary Bruce Craig, this unlikely newcomer to African nationalism fights to make a meaningful difference before the situation deteriorates further.

Cast

Production

The opening credits include the following statement: "The producers wish to acknowledge the cooperation extended to them by the Cinema Corporation of Nigeria." The end credits note that the film was "made at Associated British Elstree Studios, England."

According to a December 1957 Film Daily item, The Mark of the Hawk was partially shot on location in Nigeria, after which Universal bought the distribution rights.[ citation needed ]

Reception

Leslie Halliwell said: "Well-intentioned but muddled tropical drama." [2]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sidney Poitier</span> Bahamian and American actor, filmmaker, diplomat (1927–2022)

Sidney Poitier was a Bahamian-American actor, film director, activist, and diplomat. In 1964, he was the first Black actor and first Bahamian to win the Academy Award for Best Actor. He received two competitive Golden Globe Awards, a BAFTA Award, and a Grammy Award as well as nominations for two Emmy Awards and a Tony Award. In 1999, he was ranked among the "American Film Institute's 100 Stars". Poitier was one of the last surviving stars from the Golden Age of Hollywood cinema.

<i>To Sir, with Love</i> 1967 British drama film by James Clavell

To Sir, with Love is a 1967 British drama film that deals with social and racial issues in an inner city school. It stars Sidney Poitier and features Christian Roberts, Judy Geeson, Suzy Kendall, Patricia Routledge and singer Lulu making her film debut. James Clavell directed from his own screenplay, which was based on E. R. Braithwaite's 1959 autobiographical novel of the same name.

<i>Ill Never Forget Whatsisname</i> 1967 British film by Michael Winner

I'll Never Forget What's 'Isname, also known as The Takers, is a 1967 British comedy-drama film directed and produced by Michael Winner. It stars Oliver Reed and Orson Welles. It was written by Peter Draper. The film deals with creativity and commercialism.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eartha Kitt</span> American singer and actress (1927–2008)

Eartha Mae Kitt was an American singer and actress known for her highly distinctive singing style and her 1953 recordings of "C'est si bon" and the Christmas novelty song "Santa Baby".

<i>Timbuktu!</i> Musical

Timbuktu! is a musical, with lyrics by George Forrest and Robert Wright, set to music by Borodin, Forrest and Wright. The book is by Luther Davis. It is a resetting of Forrest and Wright's musical Kismet. The musical is set in 1361 in Timbuktu, in the Empire of Mali, West Africa.

<i>A Raisin in the Sun</i> (1961 film) 1961 film by Daniel Petrie

A Raisin in the Sun is a 1961 American drama film directed by Daniel Petrie, and starring Sidney Poitier, Ruby Dee, Claudia McNeil, Diana Sands, Roy Glenn, and Louis Gossett Jr., and based on the 1959 play of the same name by Lorraine Hansberry. It follows a black family that wants a better life away from the city. A Raisin in the Sun was released by Columbia Pictures on May 29, 1961.

<i>The Hill</i> (1965 film) 1965 British film by Sidney Lumet

The Hill is a 1965 British prison drama war film directed by Sidney Lumet, set in an army prison in North Africa during the Second World War. It stars Sean Connery, Harry Andrews, Ian Bannen, Ossie Davis, Ian Hendry, Alfred Lynch, Roy Kinnear and Michael Redgrave. The screenplay was by Ray Rigby based on the 1965 play of the same name by Rigby and R.S Allen.

<i>Lola</i> (1970 film) 1970 film by Richard Donner

Lola is a 1970 romantic comedy drama film directed by Richard Donner and starring Charles Bronson and Susan George. It was written by Norman Thaddeus Vane. The London section of the film features a number of well known British actors in cameo roles.

<i>The Silent Enemy</i> (1958 film) 1958 British action film by William Fairchild

The Silent Enemy is a black and white 1958 British action film directed by William Fairchild and starring Laurence Harvey, Dawn Addams, Michael Craig and John Clements. Based on Marshall Pugh's 1956 book Commander Crabb, the film follows the publicity created by Lionel Crabb's mysterious disappearance and likely death during a Cold War incident 2 years earlier .The film depicts events in Gibraltar harbour during the World War II Italian frogman and manned torpedo attacks, although the film's depiction of the events is highly fictionalised. It was the first Universal Pictures film in SuperScope.

Michael Audley was an American film and theatre director, actor, and dialogue advisor.

<i>Up the Chastity Belt</i> 1971 British comedy film by Bob Kellett

Up the Chastity Belt is a 1971 British comedy film directed by Bob Kellett and starring Frankie Howerd. It was written by Sid Colin, Ray Galton and Alan Simpson.

<i>Interpol</i> (film) 1957 British film by John Gilling

Interpol is a 1957 British-American CinemaScope crime film noir directed by John Gilling and starring Victor Mature, Anita Ekberg, Trevor Howard, Bonar Colleano and Sidney James. The screenplay was by John Paxton, based on the 1955 novel of the same name by A.J. Forrest. The film was produced by Irving Allen and Albert R. Broccoli for Warwick Films.

This article contains the discography of American singer Eartha Kitt.

<i>A Tale of Five Cities</i> 1951 British-Italian film by Romolo Marcellini et al

A Tale of Five Cities is a 1951 British-Italian international co-production comedy drama film directed by Romolo Marcellini, Emil E. Reinert, Wolfgang Staudte, Montgomery Tully, Irma von Cube and Géza von Cziffra. The five cities cited in the title are: Rome, Paris, Berlin, London, and Vienna.

<i>Piccadilly Incident</i> 1946 British film

Piccadilly Incident is a 1946 British drama film directed by Herbert Wilcox and starring Anna Neagle, Michael Wilding, Coral Browne, Edward Rigby and Leslie Dwyer. It was written by Nicholas Phipps based on a story by Florence Tranter.

<i>This Is My Street</i> 1964 British film by Sidney Hayers

This Is My Street is a 1964 British black and white kitchen sink drama film directed by Sidney Hayers and starring Ian Hendry, June Ritchie, Avice Landone, John Hurt and Meredith Edwards. The screenplay was by Bill MacIlwraith based on the 1963 novel of the same name by Nan Maynard.

<i>Manuela</i> (1957 film) 1957 British film by Guy Hamilton

Manuela is a 1957 British drama film directed by Guy Hamilton, starring Trevor Howard and Elsa Martinelli.

<i>Two Left Feet</i> (film) 1963 British film by Roy Ward Baker

Two Left Feet is a 1963 British comedy-drama film directed by Roy Ward Baker and starring Nyree Dawn Porter, Michael Crawford, David Hemmings and Julia Foster. It is based on David Stuart Leslie's novel In My Solitude (1960).

<i>Please Sir!</i> (film) 1971 British comedy film by Mark Stuart

Please Sir! is a 1971 British comedy film directed by Mark Stuart and starring John Alderton, Deryck Guyler and Carol Hawkins. Written by John Esmonde and Bob Larbey, it is a spin-off from the ITV television series Please Sir! (1968–1972). It was released by the Rank Organisation on 10 September 1971.

<i>The Penthouse</i> (1967 film) 1967 British film by Peter Collinson

The Penthouse is a 1967 British drama thriller film directed and written by Peter Collinson. It stars Terence Morgan and Suzy Kendall and was based on a 1964 play The Meter Man by Scott Forbes. The film was Collinson's directorial debut.

References

  1. "The Mark of the Hawk". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
  2. Halliwell, Leslie (1989). Halliwell's Film Guide (7th ed.). London: Paladin. p. 657. ISBN   0586088946.