Main Cast: Horst Buchholz, José Ferrer, Valeiie Gearon, Don Borisenko, Robert Morley
Release Year: 1963
Country: US/UK/IN
Run Time: 125 minutes
Plot
This drama follows the nine hours that came before the assassination of Indian leader Mahatma Gandhi by a Hindu radical. Naturam Godse (Horst Buchholz), a Brahmin who was rejected for service in the British Army and is horrified by the fighting between Moslem and Hindu fanatics, comes to the conclusion that the only solution to the civil unrest is to kill Gandhi (J.S. Casshyap), believing that the leader's philosophy of non-violence has only fanned the flames of unrest. In love with a married woman, Rani Mahta (Valerie Gearon), Godse spends a guilty afternoon with her as he flashes back on his life of violence and mistreatment; he also pays a call to Sheila (Diane Baker), a prostitute. Meanwhile, as civil unrest flares around him, Ghandi goes about his daily rounds, despite warnings from police chief Gopal Das (Jose Ferrer) that his life is in danger. J.S. Casshyap was a 64-year-old teacher and author before being cast as Gandhi in this, his first film role. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
Review
A movie dealing with the buildup to the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi should be a gripping and moving experience, something Nine Hours to Rama, unfortunately, falls short of. While not a bad movie, the climax is the only section of the film that really works; it is tense and taut, and even though the outcome is known, genuine suspense is created and maintained. Beyond that, Rama is filled with sequences that drag on for too long and pacing that is fitful at best. Although J.S. Casshyap is excellent as Gandhi (who is actually a minor character in the film), and Diane Baker and José Ferrer have some very good moments, Horst Buchholz is only adequate in a leading role that is called upon to hold the film together and requires a precise, flawless performance. Valerie Gearon is also not ideal casting, and the usually reliable Robert Morley comes up short as well. Rama's biggest assets are its stunning on-location scenery and the exceptional cinematography by Arthur Ibbetson, as well as a Malcolm Arnold score that provides much of the drama that the screenplay and direction lack. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
Diane Baker - Sheila; Harry Andrews - Gen. Singh; Jairaj - Birta; David Abraham - Detective Munda; Achala Sachdev - Mother; Marne Maitland - Karnick; Harold Goldblatt - Selvrag Prahlad; Wolfe Morris - Detective Bose; Francis Matthews - Rampure; Jack Hedley - Kilpatrick; J.S. Casshyap - Mahatma Gandhi; Ishaq Bux - Gardener; Kurt Christian - Young Natu; Allan Cuthbertson - Capt. Goff; Peter Illing - Frank Ramamurti; Harold Kasket - Datta; Frank Olegario - Barburao; Shay Gorman - Duty Officer; Julian Sherrier - P.K.'s Secretary; Christopher Carlos - Shankar; Joseph Cuby - Chacko
Credit
Elliot Scott - Art Director, Ram Yedekar - Art Director, Mark Robson - Director, Ernest Walter - Editor, Malcolm Arnold - Composer (Music Score), Malcolm Arnold - Musical Direction/Supervision, Danny Arnold - Musical Direction/Supervision, Wally Schneiderman - Makeup, Harold Fletcher - Makeup, Arthur Ibbetson - Cinematographer, Ted Moore - Cinematographer, Mark Robson - Producer, John Jarvis - Set Designer, Nelson Gidding - Screenwriter, Stanley Wolpert - Book Author
