SUNDOWN

PLOT SUMMARY

A woman descends in a small airplane at a place in Africa known as Rhino Rock. She meets natives, who greet her as Memsahib Zia. She goes off with them.

Meanwhile Crawford, the British District Commissioner of an outpost called Manieka, presides over conflicting claims by two who seek to marry the same maiden: a rich old man, and Kipsang, a young officer in the local constabulary. Crawford sides with the younger man, pleasing the maiden Miriami, in a decision typical for him. He's known to higher-ups as the most effective administrator in East Africa.

A larger plane brings a starched British officer, Major Coombes, to the outpost where Crawford has been presiding with a native-tolerant outlook. Major Coombes wants to bring in more troops to guard against the Shenzi, rumored to be collecting arms in the north. Crawford objects, saying this would inflame the area in all-out revolt.

Coombes also objects to Pallini, an Italian POW who has the run of Crawford's HQ and routinely cooks dinner for the British staff. He orders Pallini confined, over the voluble Italian's strong objections. Soon after, a Sudani(?) is captured breaking local laws. Crawford frees him, knowing he will be a lead to the arms suppliers. He vows bitter vengeance on Crawford as he is thrown out by guards. Pallini delivers an impassioned speech on why the British need to prevail in Africa, lest the whole world become involved in war. Coombes relents and lets him resume his former status.

Soon Kuypens arrives and presents papers showing him to be a Dutch minerologist gathering specimens. He is welcomed, and Crawford turns over some personal mail to him.

In short order the British troops on patrol are attacked by locals. Kipsang manages to capture a Shenzi gun, but is gravely wounded and soon dies. Examination of the gun shows it is made in Belgium. The great puzzle that remains is how these guns are getting to the Shenzi.

Leading a caravan, Zia turns up at Manieka. It turns out she knows Pallini, whose birthday it is. Pallini, ever ebullient, wants a party — and one is arranged. Crawford and Zia pair off; she senses in him a man who has a heart of the natives. But before the party is well under way, all the natives quietly disappear. The native grapevine, called mbari, tells that one of the six white men at Manieka will die that night. But there are only five — until Dewey, the white hunter, turns up out of the blue. Crawford lays a trap; he puts guards on duty and goes to his house alone, ordering everyone else to stay away.

There is an attack, which is foiled and the Sudani dies, his vengeance denied. Zia receives a minor wound, having gone to Crawford's house to warn him. Crawford goes to her when things settle down. He is followed by Coombes, who orders her to leave by morning. Kuypens has been lurking; he now suggests that perhaps Coombes is right. Zia informs him that she knows he is behind the gun-running, and convinces him she wants his help in keeping her trading network running. Kuypens agrees, and goes off to make ready for their departure. But he hears Pallini approaching and hides behind a column. Zia give Pallini a message: She will go with Kuypens in hopes of discovering how the guns arrive. Pallini is to tell no one but Crawford. Alas, Kuypens overhears and kills Pallini as he leaves.

Coombes has a cable from Nairobi telling him that troops are on the way. Crawford tries to contact Nairobi but can only receive, not transmit. Later that night a plane lands. It brings a Colonel, who advises Coombes he cannot have any more troops. While he and Coombes are having this discussion, Crawford and Dewey slip away. Dewey has seen from Kuypens' mineral samples where he must be headed. The two proceed to track his caravan down and burn some of the guns. They see that the guns are coming in by seaplane. Crawford sends Dewey back to warn Coombes, and proceeds alone. He finds Kuypens' base of operations but is captured trying to reach the seaplane's radio. He is thrown into a rough prison — as is Zia when she defies Kuypens's orders. A clever trick by Crawford lets them escape. Then it becomes a race against time, for the Shenzi uprising is set for the next morning. It must be stopped at all costs!

Capsule review: Sundown, despite missing footage and a few hokey scenes, is a well-crafted adventure tale.