Photographed in black-and-white CinemaScope. Westrex Sound System. Filmed on location in Africa and at Pinewood Studios, London. Produced by George H. Brown. Copyright 3 September 1964 by 20th Century-Fox Productions. New York opening at the Coronet: 16 November 1964. U.S. release: 30 September 1964. U.K. release: September 1964. Sydney opening at the Town. 9,261 feet. 103 minutes.SYNOPSIS: Regimental Sergeant Major Lauderdale (Richard Attenborough), a seasoned soldier whose life is the Army and whose bible is the British Army Queen's Regulations, is now stationed in Batasi, a newly independent African country which has remained part of the British Commonwealth. His regiment, commanded by Colonel Deal (Jack Hawkins), consists of both native and British officers, sergeants and enlisted men. One afternoon Lauderdale and several other sergeants congregate at the mess hall. They view the evening with dismay, because they must entertain a visiting lady of Parliament, Miss Barker-Wise (Flora Robson), who is on an African fact-finding mission. At that moment, Colonel Deal is pondering a communication from the capital informing him of serious political disturbances. It orders that all British personnel within the regiment will hand over their duties to Africans and remain in their quarters. NOTES: Film debut of Mia Farrow (daughter of John Farrow and Maureen O'Sullivan).COMMENT: Hard to believe that Richard Attenborough wasn't even nominated for any Hollywood awards for this — the greatest performance of his life. Not that the other players are that far behind. Mia Farrow in her movie debut gives a remarkably skilled and moving portrayal. And there are fine studies by David Lodge, Flora Robson and Australia's John Meillon.The script comes across as taut, incisive, and full of crackling dialogue. The plot rates as off-beat, ironical, comic yet highly dramatic. Guillermin's direction is a model of fast, super-efficient staging, making the most of all his location and studio facilities. In short, this is must-see, consistently gripping entertainment. One of the best films of the year.OTHER VIEWS: Informative and diverting... Attenborough delivers a shaded performance that gives stature and meaning to what could have been a stereotyped role. — A.H. Weiler in the New York Times.A strong and frequently exciting piece of work. — Variety.Tart, tropical melodrama... Flora Robson adds snap, but the pick of the lot is Richard Attenborough. — Time."Guns at Batasi", a taut service drama, gives England's Richard Attenborough ample opportunity to prove once more what a gifted actor he is. He makes a stunning impact here... It is a performance to be reckoned with at awards time. — Robert Salmaggi in the N.Y. Herald Tribune.

Guns at Batasi is a movie that would most appeal to those who are 30 and older and for those who enjoy watching war type movies in black and white. The acting is good in the movie, especially the actors Richard Attenborough and Jack Hawkins who are always good. The characters in this movie are good and believable. The story and pace of the movie is fine. The musical score for the background action is very good. I was really very disappointed that a 1964 movie was in black and white. This is my biggest criticism of the movie. It could be a prime time movie, but is better watched in the afternoons or late at night because it is black and white. Any snack will do with this movie, beer and popcorn are suggestions here. Enjoy.

I'd never even heard of Guns at Batasi before but I was amazed to find that it's a superlative film. I was expecting standard British stiff-upper-lip fare that the British did so well in the 1950s and '60s, but what I wasn't expecting is that a film I'd never even heard of rivals and even exceeds top-notch British dramas like Sidney Lumet's 'The Hill'.The film stands squarely on Richard Attenborough's pitch-perfect performance as a Regimental Sergeant Major - the performance of a lifetime, especially when you consider that Attenborough is the complete opposite of the character he plays in this film - in reality he's soft-spoken and unassuming, yet the character he's playing is not at all those things. To say that this role was a stretch somehow doesn't do the performance justice - Attenborough literally becomes the RSM, and every moment he's on screen is incredible. Some reviewers assume that his performance is over-the-top, but I can assure everyone that British NCOs do act like this - or at least they did in the 1960s - I had the honour of knowing one of them.Not that Attenborough is doing it all alone - the other performances are perfect too, as is the direction. The fact that the film was made in a studio in England makes you realise what a great job a truly great crew can do for a film - there's no way you'd think this movie wasn't made in Africa.Altogether a fantastic movie - probably the best new film (new to me anyway) I've seen in the last two years. This blows everything else out of the water.Oh, and for those worried that it's a war film - definitely not. It's a drama set in a military barracks, but psychological drama is what we have here, and unlike a lot of those kinds of films this one has a heart and a sense of humour. Don't miss this one!

Robert Holles' novel "Siege of Battersea" becomes fascinating, gripping study of military rank, with egos clashing and tempers flaring. Richard Attenborough gives a masterly performance as a Sergeant Major with the British Army, stationed at a post in Africa and having to deal with a political coup; the uprising of the locals is in direct contrast with their servitude back in England, which catches everyone off guard when they rebel. Attenborough's performance, while at time over-scaled (as if he were performing this part on the stage), is nevertheless the film's centerpiece, and he's wily, tough, steely-eyed, unshakable, and also incredibly human. His underlings are impressively cast, as is Mia Farrow, looking fresh and lovely as a soldier's love-interest. The dislocation of these soldiers and their interpersonal relationships with each other, their leader, and the unpredictable nature of the Anglo-Africans provides for good, solid drama, which is given a lively pace and a simple, efficient production. **1/2 from ****