MARCH OR DIE emerged in the prevailing anti - heroism of the moment. It's appropriately set in the post WWI era when european colonialism reached its furthest extent.
The war is won at a horrific cost. "There are no heroes in this war. Only survivors," says Major. Forster (Gene Hackman). "I left Morocco with 8000 men and came back with 200."
His mission is to return to Morocco to protect archeologists digging in a sacred site to uncover the tomb of 'The Angel of the Desert.' Prior to WWI, Maj Forster was among a delegation of French officers who assured El Krim, the Arab leader that the dig would not resume without El Krim's permission.
France has already gone back on its word to the restive Arabs resulting in a disastrous massacre.
"We can afford to sacrifice a few legionaires for the benefit of France. After all they are foreignors," boasts the minister to an official of the Louvre.
The dig resumes under the watchful eye of Maj Forster and his Arab rival. When the sarcophagus of the Angle of the Desert is recovered, Maj Forster offers it to El Krim as a token of peace.
"What is glorious in the French 20th century? The 20th century is not 20 years old and look at what it brought to your world: devastation."
El Krim attacks anyway. Maj Forster tells the Louvre official, "You will be famous, not for recovering the Angel of the Desert but for unifying the Arab tribes, unable to act together for 11 centuries.
The great battle breaks out. El Krim drives the tenacious legionaire back to the wall. After Maj Forster is killed, the final assault is called off. El Krim delivers the eulogy to Maj Forster. "I am sorry old friend, but now the Arab tribes, Rif, Bedouin and Berber are united."
The picture brings up several trends relevant to the post Vietnam era in which the film appeared, decolonialization, anti-heroism and decline of european empires.
The war is won at a horrific cost. "There are no heroes in this war. Only survivors," says Major. Forster (Gene Hackman). "I left Morocco with 8000 men and came back with 200."
His mission is to return to Morocco to protect archeologists digging in a sacred site to uncover the tomb of 'The Angel of the Desert.' Prior to WWI, Maj Forster was among a delegation of French officers who assured El Krim, the Arab leader that the dig would not resume without El Krim's permission.
France has already gone back on its word to the restive Arabs resulting in a disastrous massacre.
"We can afford to sacrifice a few legionaires for the benefit of France. After all they are foreignors," boasts the minister to an official of the Louvre.
The dig resumes under the watchful eye of Maj Forster and his Arab rival. When the sarcophagus of the Angle of the Desert is recovered, Maj Forster offers it to El Krim as a token of peace.
"What is glorious in the French 20th century? The 20th century is not 20 years old and look at what it brought to your world: devastation."
El Krim attacks anyway. Maj Forster tells the Louvre official, "You will be famous, not for recovering the Angel of the Desert but for unifying the Arab tribes, unable to act together for 11 centuries.
The great battle breaks out. El Krim drives the tenacious legionaire back to the wall. After Maj Forster is killed, the final assault is called off. El Krim delivers the eulogy to Maj Forster. "I am sorry old friend, but now the Arab tribes, Rif, Bedouin and Berber are united."
The picture brings up several trends relevant to the post Vietnam era in which the film appeared, decolonialization, anti-heroism and decline of european empires.