A cynical American expatriate gets involved in smuggling and gun-running for the rebels during the 1925 Syrian insurgency against French occupation.A cynical American expatriate gets involved in smuggling and gun-running for the rebels during the 1925 Syrian insurgency against French occupation.A cynical American expatriate gets involved in smuggling and gun-running for the rebels during the 1925 Syrian insurgency against French occupation.
- Violette
- (as Marta Toren)
- Arab Singer
- (uncredited)
- Soldier
- (uncredited)
- Hungarian
- (uncredited)
- Waiter
- (uncredited)
- Minor Role
- (uncredited)
- Reporter
- (uncredited)
- The Barber
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaAccording to actor Jamie Farr, the movie debuted on Saturday night at the Rivoli in his home town of Toledo. Most of Toledo's Arab-American community turned out to see it. As a scene where Bogart walks though a crowded bazaar begins to fade, an Arab voice is heard shouting, "Ya hallah deen bayak!" which caused most of the audience to collapse in laughter. The non-Arabs in the house did not understand why everyone else was laughing until the line was translated for them: "Goddamn your father!"
- GoofsIn a very key plot point scene Balukjiaan goes to Smith's warehouse on behalf of French intelligence and tries to find out if there are any dried apricots. He uses as an excuse that he is throwing a birthday party for himself and has plenty of pilaf and pahklava, but nothing sweet for dessert. Pahklava is the Armenian name for baklava, which is a very sweet Greek and Middle Eastern dessert. Either the writers didn't know what pahklava is or the whole premise of needing dessert is mistaken.
- Quotes
Col. Feroud: Why don't you do both? Take the money and kill me too.
Emir Hassan: You want to die? Why do you want to die?
Col. Feroud: I only want to arrange a truce. Cease fire for 24 hours, so that Syrians and Frenchmen can sit together.
Emir Hassan: And what shall we discuss, the terms of our surrender?
Col. Feroud: We can try to settle our differences according to the dignity of man.
Emir Hassan: There is dignity in men who are willing to give their lives for what they believe in.
Col. Feroud: Men needn't die to prove their dignity.
Emir Hassan: You're asking me to surrender!
Col. Feroud: I'm asking you to consider your people. An effort must be made. We must make some effort! Otherwise, we're not civilized men. Perhaps we'll fail and the war will go on, but at least we will have tried. That's all I want.
Emir Hassan: Colonel, you are a fool.
Col. Feroud: I come to talk of peace and understanding and you call me a fool?
Emir Hassan: Yes, Colonel. I respect you, but you are a dreamer and a fool.
- ConnectionsReferenced in Play It Again, Sam (1972)
The story takes place in Damascus after World War I with the French given a mandate by the League of Nations over the former Ottoman Empire territory of Syria and the Syrians not really too crazy about it. They've got a guerrilla war going against them and it is being led by Onslow Stevens as Moulay Hassan.
The French occupying troops are led by General Everett Sloane with Lee J. Cobb as the Colonel in charge of intelligence. They're having no luck even trying for a cease fire. And there's a lovely black market in weapons being sold to the Syrians.
Which is where soldier of fortune Humphrey Bogart comes in. Bogey is at his most cynical here, too cynical probably to get a real rooting interest from the audience. He really has no inner core of decency that was apparent in Casablanca to which this film bears a superficial resemblance.
The Ingrid Bergman character is played by another Swedish actress Marta Toren who is Lee J. Cobb's girlfriend. Can you imagine Elsa Lund as a selfish slattern, than you've got what Toren is. Somehow her domestic problems also and fling with Bogart also don't arouse the audiences interest.
There are some good performances from supporting players like Zero Mostel, Nick Dennis, and Ludwig Donath as various Arabic types. You will enjoy them.
But I would also have to say that Sirocco takes place at a time when certain movements and issues were coming to the fore. Great questions were being raised and Sirocco answers none of them.
- bkoganbing
- Aug 5, 2006
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Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Languages
- Also known as
- Sirocco - Zwischen Kairo und Damaskus
- Filming locations
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Gross worldwide
- $4,349
- Runtime1 hour 38 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1