Topic: Commentaries

Heroes for Drive-In Saturday Night

By Christine Anne Piesyk | June 15, 2007 |

Lord Jim is one Peter O’Toole’s lesser known films, one that doesn’t turn up anywhere with any kind of honor or fanfare. It is one of his best, though, based on Joseph Conrad’s book (circa 1900). It is the story of a seaman, James Burke, a British Merchant Marine, proud, respected, who, after an injury is re-assigned to the Patna, a rustbucket boat with a rustier crew. Their cargo: Moslem pilgrims en route to Mecca. The storm-tossed ship begins to flounder, and Jim abandons ship with his crew without ever lowering a lifeboat for their passengers.

The Patna is unexpectedly salvaged, the passengers saved, and Burke and crew disgraced. Branded a coward, Jim becomes a guilt-laden drifter, unable to completely escape his past. His chance at redemption comes in form of gun-running — delivering arms to an indigenous tribe oppressed by a warlord.

«Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Arts and Leisure | No Comments