I watched this film right after a screening of Käutner's "Grosse Freiheit Nr 7", which premiered in December 1944. And suddenly I realized, what it is that makes Käutner's film a true masterpiece: "Star of Africa", even though a "war" film, lacks the atmosphere of war totally. It is a superfluous, totally empty film with nothing much in it to recommend it. "Grosse Feiheit", which doesn't show a single swastika (neither does "Star of Africa" to that matter) is nevertheless shrouded heavily into that special gloomy mood, which tells us that there is a REAL war out there, a war that is soon to be lost for good; and that's what makes one film tense and bitterly sad, while the other film, though heavy with air fights, battlefield situations and actual footage (thrown quite pointlessly here and there), is reminiscent of a fifties TV show.
This film (both English dubbed and subtitled version) can be ordered from International Historic Films.
This film (both English dubbed and subtitled version) can be ordered from International Historic Films.