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Following the recent controversy about plans to remove a statue* of Cecil Rhodes from Oxford University because of his 'opinions' (having been dead for over a century, I doubt whether he has any), I looked to see if the Walter Huston biopic was available in any form. Surprise, surprise, it is not on dvd at all, and the only thing on YT is some of Hubert Bath's score for the film. I recall seeing it on Channel 4 (I think) in the 1980s, but have no idea if it has been shown since, except perhaps at the NFT. As I recall it was a decent film of the Empire-building school if no masterpiece. Perhaps the spirit of Political Correctness has had a hand in this, but it would be a shame if films of this nature were to be buried on this account.

*a plaque dedicated to him is also in the firing line.
The statue has acquired a considerable coating of guano, which should please the 'anti' brigade...

I do have this if interested in a copy please get in touch.

Are we supposed to be ashamed of the British Empire now?

I think I have suffered too many upheavals in my short lifetime. I was of course brought up on all the Empire's heroes so this film would be of interest - if I can ever get to see it!

wingate wrote:I do have this if interested in a copy please get in touch.

Thank you for this. I do have a bit of a backlog to watch as well as a long wish list, but will bear you in mind. What a quick reply! Hailing from England, it will need to be Region 2 or 0, but I take it that's no problem, although the payment (if in dollars) side may be awkward.

Donald Binks wrote:Are we supposed to be ashamed of the British Empire now?

I think I have suffered too many upheavals in my short lifetime. I was of course brought up on all the Empire's heroes so this film would be of interest - if I can ever get to see it!

Whereas one can be ashamed of one's own misdeeds, it's a bit foolish to apply the same actions to those who died long before we were born. Of course our politicians are forever grovelling about things for which they have no direct responsibility (as opposed to the horrid things they actually are responsible for), but that's a bit of a modern-day sickness. Of course plenty of folk did things in the past which today we would regard as dreadful. However, they were not alone, and at the time were supported by otherwise decent people.

Empire-bashing has been going on for quite some time now, although there was some during the Empire, too. Unfortunately we have a touch too much of 'two camps' rather than a level-headed discussion of what was good and what was bad, and how these aspects were seen at the time, rather than from a 21st-Century standpoint.

Unfortunately we have a touch too much of 'two camps' rather than a level-headed discussion of what was good and what was bad, and how these aspects were seen at the time, rather than from a 21st-Century standpoint.

Agree with you wholeheartedly old bean. There is good and bad in everything. One should not judge all with the benefit of hindsight and make sweeping statements, but make allowances for the thinking of the times. I am sure that had there been more enlightenment 200 years back things would have been different, but it is a case in a way of trying to watch a television that has not yet been invented.

Cecil Rhodes did a lot of good and I don't think he should be judged for what are now considered his "bad points". I am sure there are many Rhodes scholars who would agree with me.

Name ONE former British colony in Africa which enjoys better governance today than it did under the Union Jack; in every one, corruption & malfeasance throughout the government, top to bottom, isn't an exception to the rule, it IS the rule. (One of the principal reasons rhinos, elephants, lions, wild dogs, etc., are all on a greased skid to extinction.)

...and with regard to the (guano-coated) statue and plaque, there is nothing to stop those who feel offended stopping to 'cock a snook' and / or administer a 'Bronx cheer' when passing by, unless a breakage of wind is possible...