YANKEE PASHA

US, 1954, 84 minutes, Colour.
Jeff Chandler, Rhonda Fleming, Mamie Van Doren, Lee J. Cobb.
Directed by Joseph Pevney.

An enjoyable action adventure, a film from Universal of the early fifties - they specialised in films of this kind and Jeff Chandler the star was the lead in so many of them. Rhonda Fleming provides glamorous support and Lee J. Cobb appears briefly as the Sultan. The direction is by Joseph Pevney who was to move into directing better budget films and then move to television.

1. Entertaining adventure of the west, of piracy and the exotic East? An interesting blend?

2. The film's use of the conventions of the west, of piracy, of the east with Sultans and their soldiery, harems, etc.? Better than average, average?

3. Colour photography, the exotic presentation of the east? Special effects for fights, escapes etc.?

4. A plausible plot - the trapper from the west finishing up as leading the Sultan's men and training them in shooting? The story of the west? Starbuck and his work, the love for Roxana? his missing her and the discovery of her capture? The American Ambassador and his help in getting him into the court of the Sultan? Rivalries, the winning of Roxana, the complications before the final escape? Adventure fantasy?

5. Jeff Chandler's style as Starbuck? The trapper, his winning the race for Roxana? The friendship with Mr Derby? his following Roxana, the plan for getting into the court of the Sultan? His friendship with the Sultan, rivalry with Omar, the duel and the winning of Roxana? Lilith and her interference, her later help? The action of the final escape and the romantic happy ending? A satisfactory hero for this kind of adventure?

6. Rhonda Fleming's glamour as heroine - in the west, in the costume of the slave of the cast, her fiery attitudes towards Omar, being put in the stable, her being won by Starbuck? The fight with Lilith? The complications and the rescue?

7. The presentation of the west? Dick and his rivalry with Starbuck, the race? The trappers and Mr Derby and his help to Jason?

8. The contrast with Marseilles, the east? Morocco and its atmosphere, customs, Islam, slavery and the points made about slavery? The glamour of the girls in the slave market (and Universal's Miss Glamour Girls!) Mamie Van Doren as Lilith, very American in the Moroccan court? Her talking, betrayal, fight with Roxana, redeeming the situation, the ending?

9. The Sultan and his upholding of the law, Omar and his brutality, the fighting duel with Jason? The defeat and death?

10. The action adventure expected from this kind of film? An entertaining adventure drama?