ASHANTI Starring Michael Caine, Beverly Johnson, Peter Ustinov, William Holden, Rex Harrison and Omar Shariff. Directed by Richard Fleischer.

Remember back in the 1970's when great action/adventure films like this were the norm rather than the exception? Today, you'd be lucky to get half the major stars in a film of this caliber, but in the waning days of the 70's Golden Era cinema, ASHANTI was considered a bad film when -- by today's standards -- it would seem a recommend if for the cast and nothing else!

The story takes place in Saharan Africa, where UN doc Michael Caine's beautiful wife Beverly Johnson is kidnapped by mercenaries and sold into the sexual slave trade. Poor Caine has to track her down through some of the scummiest hell holes on the planet, with nary a clue to go by except that with each passing mile, he gains insight that he's just missed her at each new location.

Thwarting Caine along the way is Peter Ustinov as a sinister Arab who practically sneers his way through what is one of his best villian roles, including his turn in SPARTACUS (where he also played a slave trader, oddly enough). Also on hand is Omar Shariff as a good guy helper, and William Holden as a grizzled old helicopter pilot who assists Caine in the film's most exciting sequence during a boat vs. chopper chase down a river.

Rounding out the weird but all-star casting is Rex "Dr. DooLittle" Harrison! Director Richard Fleischer (20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA, FANTASTIC VOYAGE, MR. MAJESTYK) brings it all together with aplomb, and the scenic photography is a joy to watch even when the movie doesn't soar to the heights of the combined talents' best works in the field. For the cast, direction and photography, ASHANTI is an unjustly neglected jewel, however rough around the edges!

CRITICAL FEEDBACK:

"A missionary pursues his kidnaped wife through the Mideast in this action adventure yarn." -- REEL.com

"Excellent adventure, slightly predictable, wonderful acting." -- rochvelleth, IMDB

"Okay, so it's not even remotely mentally taxing for either the audience or Caine, who does well enough as the grief-stricken but persistent husband, but it's not meant to be Chekhov." -- CITIZEN CAINE