The Southern Star

Here is a film which should have been a bonafide classic in which we have a mixture of jungle, heist , and action adventure genres but the film never really comes together. Director Sydney Hayer's 'THE SOUTHERN STAR' is an interesting failure. It has good production values but comes off as a British television production. Hayers directed numerous episodes of the classic 'AVENGERS' series and some of that rubs off on this production. He was no slouch in the horror genre either with the excellent 'CIRCUS OF HORRORS' and the eerie 'NIGHT OF THE EAGLE' aka 'BURN, WITCH, BURN' both made in the early sixties can prove. However, this film just doesn't seem to work and yet it should. Based on a novel by Jules Verne, the plot revolves upon a valuable diamond which is stolen from millionaire Kramer played with a strange German accent by venerable Brit Harry Andrews. American actor George Segal and beautiful 'SHE' actress Ursula Andress play the couple which the film embraces as they scramble to get the diamond away from the two other characters after it also: the military commander brilliantly played by Ian Hendry and killer for hire Orson Welles in a great cameo. What bogs the film down is the ridiculous humor sequences peppered throughout where this viewer found it hard to balance the serious and the slapstick. Segal was known for his comedic farces but only got serious in selected forays such as Director Michael Anderson's underrated 'THE QUILLER MEMORANDUM' and Director Mike Hodge's 'THE TERMINAL MAN'. Here he comes off as a foppish Geologist engaged to Andress who happens to be Andrews' daughter. Ursula has a startling nude bathing scene in this supposedly family adventure. But not even her assets can elevate this film from its forgettable status. Columbia releases the film as a DVD-R made to order release which Amazon has at an affordable price. The 2.35 transfer fluctuates from beautiful to grainy but who can snipe since the film is so rare. Recommended for fans of jungle thrills and comic farce, 'THE SOUTHERN STAR' at its conclusion will have you shaking your head in amazement that it could have been so much more. The 3 stars are for the production values and some of the performances and emerges as a true anomaly in the annals of the action genre.

I saw this in 1969 and I thought it was great! I just watched it again and I still think it's great!! It's wonderful entertainment and I'm not sure it was trying to be anything the other reviewers think it was. George Segal made a great reluctant hero and seven years after her debut as the original Bond Girl, Ursula Andress still (or as we boys used to call her - Ursula Undress - yes we were snottynosed teens) was still a natural wonder to behold. Orson Welles is slumming here...but then Orson slummed like nobody else and stole the screen from anyone foolish enough to share it with him. Harry Andrews was great and since my Father was a movie projectionist for 40 years I had occasion to see him in a slew of films but of course Ursula and Orson stole my attention away from the others. I love the ending! The movie is well paced and the comic duel of personalities between Ursula and Segal is worth the price of admission anyway.It is a great family action/adventure film period and I don't think you'll feel cheated in anyway at the end except for slapping your head for not figuring out where the Diamond was!!!!I would whole heartedly recommend.

I enjoyed this movie as a kid and saw it recently. It's the kind of movie you always enjoy. It's got tongue-and-cheek acting along with action, drama, comedy.George Segal plays a guy lucky enough to win the love of Ursula Andress, the daughter of a wealthy mine owner in Africa. When a diamond the size of a fist is found on the mine, someone steals it and blames George Segal's friend. They go off on a trek through the bush to find his friend and declare his innocence. All the while they are followed by a ruthless man who wants the diamond and Ursula at the same time.Orson Welles has a supporting role as a man seeking vengeance for those who turned on him. Harry Andrews plays Ursula's father, and Johnny Sekka plays the African accused of stealing the diamond. I like the friendship between George Segal and Johnny Sekka's character. They are light-hearted people seeking fortune and don't necessarily want to harm anyone in the process. The film has stampedes, all likes of wildlife, and you can't help but to wonder if something like this happened. I highly recommend this film.David Lucero, author

This was a childhood favorite movie. I have been looking for it for a few years. The movie takes me to a happy place :) I was happy to finally get it again. The last time I saw it was about 27 years ago and I still remember most of the lines! great adventure, story telling and of course, the safari/forest/jungle backdrop is fantastic. I wonder if this can made into Blu-ray, with better hi def picture and sound? It will be more magnificent.

AMAZON CUSTOMERS SHOULD BEWARE, THE COMPANY WHO MANUFACTURES THIS PRODUCT, COLUMBIA HOUSE, HAS CHANGED HANDS NUMEROUS TIMES SINCE 2008. THE BBB HAS LISTED THEM AS UNSATISFACTORY FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE ISSUES SINCE 2010. THIS WOULD NOT PLAY, YOUR FENCE OF HOOPS TO JUMP THROUGH TO RETURN THIS IS TOO HIGH. WHICH DISAPPOINTS ME. WHY CAN'T THIS BE MADE SIMPLE/SIMPLER. I'VE SPENT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ON YOUR SITE. THIS PRODUCT WAS "INSPECTED" BUT WAS IT PLAYED? IN A PLAYER OF ANY KIND? NOT LIKELY, VERY DISAPPOINTING RESULT FOR AMAZON. FROM A PERSON WHO USED TO SPEND ON YOUR SITE, REGULARLY. AMAZON SHOULD KNOW THIS ALREADY, BUT USES IT TO THEIR ADVANTAGE TO SELL DEFECTIVE PRODUCT TO UNWITTING CUSTOMERS.

Ordered this movie...twice and in both instances.the disc's wouldn't play. On a DVD player/laptop/ blueray/multi out of country player.no go!!!!!!

I've got lots of dvd's. Some of them just will not work. Or they will work once,twice, and stop. This is a brand knew disc, from the company that made the movie originally, I think. It will not play at all. The screen just say's, cannot play disk. Cleaned it, the disk looks fine. But will not play. Thank You.

It was an enjoyable movie.

Love the movie but unhappy that it will not play on my laptop. Good quality on the picture and sound.

fine