Khartoum | 
| Directors: Eliot Elisofon, Basil Dearden
Actors: Charlton Heston, Laurence Olivier, Richard Johnson, Ralph Richardson, Alexander Knox
Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
Category: DVD
List Price: $14.98
Buy New: $7.37
You Save: $7.61 (51%)
New (15) Used (12) from $6.43
Rating:  53 reviews
Sales Rank: 14508
Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, Dvd, Subtitled, Widescreen, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), Spanish (Original Language), English (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), French (Subtitled), French (Dubbed), Spanish (Dubbed)
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Region: 1
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 136 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
MPN: D1003431D
ISBN: 0792852559
UPC: 027616875808
EAN: 9780792852551
ASIN: B000062XF0
Theatrical Release Date: June 15, 1966
Release Date: May 7, 2002
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com essential video
Set in the expanse of the Sudan desert in the midst of holy war, Khartoum (1966) plays like an attempt to work the Lawrence of Arabia magic on the (mostly) true story of eccentric British general Charles "Chinese" Gordon in 1884 North Africa. The magnificent opening desert battle suggests David Lean's epic sweep, at least until the film settles into a more modest story of political games, military standoffs, and a battle of wits and wiles between two fierce leaders. Charlton Heston plays the wily Christian soldier as cocky, unconventional maverick, and Laurence Olivier (behind heavy make-up and a thick black beard) is almost as good as his cagey nemesis the Mahdi, the Islamic holy warrior on a mission of annihilation. More talk than spectacle, the film falls short of Lawrence but is nonetheless a compelling story of colonial politics, cynical maneuvering, and the unconventional heroics of another colorful British maverick abroad. --Sean Axmaker
Description
Academy AwardA(r) winners* Charlton Heston and Laurence Olivier face off in this epic, stirring drama of two men and two empires. Filmed in glorious CineramaA(r), with stunning desertbattles staged by the creator of the Ben-Hur chariot race, Khartoum is a "magnificently staged action spectacle [with] outstanding portrayals" (Boxoffice) and breathtaking cinematography. In 1883, British Prime Minister Gladstone (Ralph Richardson) dispatches General Charles Gordon (Heston) to Khartoum, Sudan, where thousands of civilians are threatened by a Muslim fanatic, the Mahdi (Olivier), and his army of followers. Gordon gains the Mahdi's respect but can't prevent the Mahdi's men from laying siege to the city. Now, as history hangs in the balance, Gordon faces the fight of his life defending the ancient city of Khartoum. *Heston: Actor, Ben-Hur (1959). Olivier: Actor, Hamlet (1948); Lifetime Achievement (1978); Outstanding Achievement as Actor, Producer and Director on Henry V (1946)
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| Customer Reviews: Read 48 more reviews...
 Khartoum June 22, 2009
A. Robert Thorup (Salt Lake city, UT)
A great epic from the Cinerama days. A cast of thousands meant a cast of thousands, not just computer-generated masses. Laurence Olivier was marvelous and malevelent.
Very good film with just one visual flaw May 1, 2009
Bruce (not Lee) (USA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Let me say first of all this is an almost excellent film. Heston's great in it as Gordon, so's Olivier in the smaller but significant part of the muslim fanatic. The film is like 90% true story. The only reason I don't give it all five stars is in one shot when Gordon is outside and he and his men are fighting a small muslim army on horse back you can tell Heston really isn't outside and behind him is like a rear projection screen. But this one editing flaw doesn't by any means wreck the whole movie!
 "Oh my beloved!" October 28, 2008
A. G. Wells (Wellington, New Zealand)
A slick balanced production, Chuck plays a great Pom and Olivier a believable if a little under enthused cleric. Great production values, cleaned up a treat....just the ticket for a rainy Sunday afternoon....recommended
Clash on the Nile July 23, 2008
Kyle Richie (Kentucky)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Based on a true story from the 1880s, Khartoum tells of the clash between General Charles George Gordon and "The Madhi". The movie isn't always true to history. For instance, the two men never apparently met face to face and the desert campaigns are oversimplyfied. That said, the film is magnificent. There are no less than five large battle scenes from a truely epic clash near the beginning when the Madhists wipe out thousands of Egyptian soldiers to an armed riverboat fighting its way past a town to the final epic fall of the city. Oh yes, a battle I believe meant to represent Abu Klea (and perhaps another fight) was more accurate then the recent "Four Feathers" film in that the British actually hold off the Islamic assault. The battles were done by the man who executed the brilliant stunts in the "Ben-Hur" chariot race. The musical score is appropriate for the film and the cinematography is pretty good.
The acting is really what helps the movie though. Charleton Heston presents a sympatheic though complex Gordon. Excentric, devoutly Christian, brave, at times ruthless when he feels he needs to be, and truely caring for the mostly Muslim population of the city; all of these fit the character Heston portrays. Olivier does an excellent job protraying the fanatical and ruthless "Mahdi" determined to sweep across the Islamic world in a wave of fury. The resulting clash between these two powerful men ultimately makes for a good story. I recommend it.
Oh, there are a couple of Osprey campaign series books on the Sudanese war if anyones wishes to look them up on Amazon. They are "Khartoum" and "Omdurman".
Ecellent Widescreen June 10, 2008
Peter J. Evans (NSW Aust)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This is great in widescreen at last! Had to depend on USA for that.
Well acted naturally with Charlton Heston and Sir Laurence Olivier.No comp spec effects, real people real action and good history.
To day it would have got the Pte Ryan treament, but still comes across "battle gore". Very well filmed and beautifully presented film.
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