''Ashanti'' (also called ''Ashanti, Land of No Mercy'') is a 1979 action adventure film directed by Richard Fleischer and starring

Michael Caine Sir Michael Caine (born Maurice Joseph Micklewhite; 14 March 1933) is an English actor. Known for his distinctive Cockney accent, he has appeared in more than 160 films in a career spanning seven decades, and is considered a British film ico ...

, Peter Ustinov,

Kabir Bedi Kabir Bedi ( pa, ਕਬੀਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਬੇਦੀ; born 16 January 1946) is an Indian actor. His career has spanned three continents covering India, the United States and especially Italy among other European countries in three media: f ...

Beverly Johnson Beverly Ann Johnson (born October 13, 1952) is an American model, actress, singer, and businesswoman. Johnson rose to fame when she became the first African-American model to appear on the cover of American ''Vogue'' in August 1974. In 1975, Jo ...

, Omar Sharif, Rex Harrison, and

William Holden William Holden (born William Franklin Beedle Jr.; April 17, 1918 – November 12, 1981) was an American actor, and one of the biggest box-office draws of the 1950s. Holden won the Academy Award for Best Actor for the film ''Stalag 17'' (1953) ...

. It is based on the 1974 novel ''Ébano'' by Alberto Vázquez-Figueroa, with a screenplay written by Stephen Geller and an uncredited

George MacDonald Fraser George MacDonald Fraser (2 April 1925 – 2 January 2008) was a British author and screenwriter. He is best known for a series of works that featured the character Flashman. Biography Fraser was born to Scottish parents in Carlisle, England, ...

. The story is set against the background of modern-day

slave trading The history of slavery spans many cultures, nationalities, and religions from ancient times to the present day. Likewise, its victims have come from many different ethnicities and religious groups. The social, economic, and legal positions of en ...

, with a man who determinedly takes on a perilous journey in order to find his beautiful wife, who has been kidnapped by brutal slave traders. Despite its impressive cast and setting (on location in the Sahara, and in Kenya, Israel, and

Sicily (man) it, Siciliana (woman) , population_note = , population_blank1_title = , population_blank1 = , demographics_type1 = Ethnicity , demographics1_footnotes = , demographi ...

), ''Ashanti'' was widely panned by critics upon release. Michael Caine was reportedly very disappointed with the project and claims it was the third worst film along with his previous films '' The Magus'' and '' The Swarm'' (despite appearing in other failures in the 1980s). It was one of Holden's final films, and the final film of cinematographer Aldo Tonti.

Plot summary

David and Anansa Linderby are doctors with the

World Health Organization The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health. The WHO Constitution states its main objective as "the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of ...

. On a medical mission carrying out an inoculation programme, they visit a West African village. While David takes photographs of tribal dancers, Anansa goes swimming alone. She is attacked and abducted by slave traders led by Suleiman, who mistake her for an Ashanti local. The police can do nothing to find her and David has almost given up hope when he hears rumours that Anansa has been kidnapped by Suleiman to be sold to an Arab, Prince Hassan. The African authorities deny that a slave trade even exists and David must find help in a shadowy world where the rescuers of slaves are as ruthless as the traders. As David tracks Anansa across Africa and the Sahara desert, he is helped by a member of the Anti-Slavery League, a mercenary helicopter pilot and Malik, an African who seeks revenge on Suleiman.

Cast

Production

The project was announced in January 1978 with Richard C. Sarafian to direct,

, Omar Sharif, Peter Ustinov and

Telly Savalas Aristotelis "Telly" Savalas (January 21, 1922 – January 22, 1994) was an American actor and singer whose career spanned four decades. Noted for his bald head and deep, resonant voice, he is perhaps best known for portraying Lt. Theo Kojak on th ...

to star. Ken Norton was offered a role in the film but turned it down. The film was shot on location in Kenya starting in April. Two weeks into filming, director

Richard Sarafian Richard Caspar Sarafian (April 28, 1930 – September 18, 2013) was an Armenian-American film director and actor. He compiled a versatile career that spanned over five decades as a director, actor, and writer. Sarafian is best known as the direct ...

was sacked and replaced by Richard Fleischer. The female lead and cinematographer were fired.

who was in the cast had to drop out. Fleischer arranged for the script to be rewritten.

, who had recently adapted ''Tai Pan'' for the producers, was commissioned to work on the script to help boost Sharif's part.George MacDonald Fraser, ''The Light's On at Signpost'', HarperCollins 2002 p205-206 Director Fleischer and co-star

were supposedly both removed from filming two-thirds of the way through the shoot due to sunstroke.''Citizen Caine'' film review
/ref> However, an interview with Ms. Johnson included on the 2013 Severin Films Blu-ray edition of ''Ashanti'' makes no reference to these "removals", suggesting that they may belong to myth.

References

External links

* * * {{George MacDonald Fraser 1970s action adventure films 1979 films American chase films American adventure drama films Films about kidnapping Films about prostitution Films about slavery Films directed by Richard Fleischer Films set in Africa Warner Bros. films Columbia Pictures films American action adventure films Films shot in Israel Films shot in Kenya Films with screenplays by George MacDonald Fraser 1970s chase films 1970s English-language films 1970s American films Films set in the Sahara

Plot summary

Cast

Production

See also

References

External links