Rent East of Elephant Rock (1977)

A curiosity - East of Elephant Rock review by RC

This is a curious film from the late 70s when the British Film industry was in a lull but there was a least this small budget output. The film surrounds a murder amongst the British Colonial elite in the far east drawing heavily on Somerset Maughan's "The Letter" and its 1930\40s film style in the 1940 film version featured Bette Davis - directed by William Wyler (1940). I found much of this movie quite stilted and the acting in places was quite flat. Very difficult to buy into any of the characters who all had flaws but I suppose that is a reflection British Colonialism. John Hurt tries his best but in his own critique within the extras he said his performance could have been better. Apparently the film was panned by the critics at the time but Don Boyd the first time director tries manfully to defend its integrity in the extras interview. Worth a look for curiosity sake only but a better watch is the Bette Davis 1940s version or White Mischief filmed 10 years later - another colonial murder this time in Kenya..