dfisher-carter

Cameron's performance as an aged and alleged despot, although brief, was powerful and convincing. I applaud the director/producer/casting agent for selecting this qualified actor to appear in this film; it made the story more appealing. Cameron's career has spanned more than 50 years and I have been following him for only a short while. Sadly, he has never been billed as a 'box-office draw',but he has managed to give a lot of depth to each of the marginal characters he portrays. Although he is well into his 80's, he still has a lot to contribute to the screen and to the stage. As Zuwanie, Cameron lent an air of wisdom and arrogance to the role. He 'delivered' Zuwanie, not with an excessive amount of talking, but with his eyes and his facial expressions. Only the truly gifted actors are able to do that. Surprisingly, I haven't read anything detailing Kidman's and/or Penn's experiences in working with Cameron. I'm wondering if either one of them realizes that they shared scenes with one of the original members of movie royalty.

I saw this movie (for the first time) when cable TV was new to Birmingham, Alabama. It was aired on a channel out of Chicago. Throughout the years, I have tried unsuccessfully to find a copy. Then...about three months ago, I found a collector with a copy in mint-condition. It has been well worth the money I spent. I watch it at least once a week. The cast worked very well together and the soundtrack is still hypnotic. The subject matter is addressed with a level of cinematic respect that makes the viewer sit up and take notice: no cursing and no lewd scenes...just raw and compelling acting. Like a bottle of old wine, Sapphire gets better and better as it ages. I'm hoping that no one will insult those of us who truly love this film by screening a cheesy re-make. That would be an insulting.