Mozambique (1965) starring Steve Cochran, Hildegard Knef, Paul Hubschmid, Vivi Bach, Martin Benson directed by Robert Lynn Movie Review

Mozambique (1965)   3/53/53/53/53/5


Steve Cochran in Mozambique (1965)

Flying High

Following a crash, American pilot Brad Webster (Steve Cochran) has been out of work and his situation is becoming more desperate. That's when after being arrested for causing a fight in a bar he is offered the chance to avoid prison by taking a job flying cargo between Mozambique and Lisbon. But soon Brad finds himself caught up in a big mess of drug smuggling, murder and everything he hadn't signed on for including an attractive younger singer who grabbed his attention in a nightclub.

The opening scene of "Mozambique" follows a man walking through the streets of a Mediterranean town, some charming music plays as we see the beauty of the architecture and then as he climbs some steps he gets shot and dies with an over the top expression on his face. That scene pretty much sets the mark for what is to come, nice backdrops, nice music but what actually goes on is not great. And if you needed more proof the very next scene features one of the most ham fisted bar room fight scenes shot since the staged western action of the silent era.

But do you know what whilst "Mozambique" certainly fails to convince you with everything being on the wrong side of phoney it is strangely watchable thanks to the storyline. Now in truth the storyline isn't great and you can guess before the movie even starts that Steve Cochran will end up saving the day and getting the woman, which with this being a 1960s movie means she is younger than Cochran. But you just watch because the details get you, there is just enough mystery to it to draw you in even when so much of it is corny, stereotypical and generic.

What this all oils down to is that "Mozambique" is a right old mixed bag of a movie as it has some beautiful locations and nice cinematography, but it has generic characters, dull dialogue, phoney looking action and periods where it just loses your interest completely. Yet still there is something about it, a curiosity as to whether it will come good or be a complete car crash which keeps you watching.


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