Ten Tall Men Reviews

In between the successes of JIM THORPE--ALL AMERICAN and THE CRIMSON PIRATE, Lancaster took time out to make this quick adventure, which, like THE CRIMSON PIRATE, is an unashamed self-parody. Lancaster is a sergeant in the Foreign Legion. After deliberately disobeying a lieutenant he gets tossed into jail, finding himself in a cell with nine fellow Legionnaires. While imprisoned, Lancaster learns that Riff bandits plan to invade their city. He and the other jailed men volunteer to undertake a mission to thwart the Riffs. To make their plan work the hardy band kidnaps Lawrence, the daughter of a sheik who is set to marry an important member of another Arab clan. The plan succeeds, which stops the two groups from uniting into a larger faction. The Riffs are diverted and all ends peacefully for the Legionnaires. Lancaster was building his reputation as the leading screen athlete of the time and, though minor, this film adds to that lore. He bares his chest in a manly fashion as he romps around on his horse, fights, takes on the Riffs, and even finds time to try to make a little love with Lawrence. The film relies a good deal on near-slapstick comedy, with the Riffs portrayed as the biggest band of buffoons since the Keystone Kops took nightsticks in hand. There are smaller spoofs within the broad comedy as well, such as the constant tongue-in-check references to Lancaster by his men as "Sarge." An amazingly good sandstorm (coming just in the nick of time to help Lancaster, naturally) is a highlight, creating a believable Sahara storm on a set thousands of miles from the desert. Made as a diversion between films, TEN TALL MEN did well at the box office and helped to further Lancaster's image.