Khartoum (1966)

What a strange and intriguing film Khartoum is. In the first place it's insanely orientalist and racist, and there's so much blackface. But the battle sequences – and this is a film in which battle sequences are the most important element – are very, very cool. The photography is also brilliant, gorgeous even, and the whole thing, despite its so-called epic qualities, is actually rather tight and nicely directed.

As usual, I am surprised by Basil Dearden. He is a very good director. (Weirdly, I still haven't seen his gay film, Victim. Soon, perhaps.)