Mister Moses

Following Lawrence of Arabia, Hollywood was keen for David Lean to direct this preposterous African adventure, though the job eventually went to Lean's former associate, Ronald Neame. Robert Mitchum plays a diamond smuggler who gets the name of Moses when he leads the population of an African village out of harm's way, parting the waters of a vast dam which will drown the village. Irritants on the journey include a mobile menagerie, magic spells cast by the witch doctor, a dull missionary and his sexy, sweaty daughter (Carroll Baker). The film never allows us to forget its biblical parallels, though Baker and Mitchum share some witty repartee.