Escape from Zahrain

"Escape to Explosive Adventure!"

May 23 1962 Approved 1h 33m
Action, Adventure, Drama

Yul Brynner plays political leader Sharif who is sprung from a police van on his way to a firing squad by young loyalists led by Sal Mineo. Yul and the other prisoners kidnap an ambulance and head into the Arabian desert with the police in hot pursuit. All the performances are magnificent: Sal Mineo showing his acting talents, Jack Warden in a wiseguy performance as an employee of Zahrain oil who was involved in embezzlement, Anthony Caruso as a slimy psychotic and the underrated Madlyn Rhue as a nurse who becomes emotionally involved in the proceedings.

Plot

During the 1960s, in a fictitious strife-ridden Arab nation, captured revolutionary nationalist leader Sharif is being transported to a prison for execution. The police van transporting him to the prison is attacked by Sharif's fanatical followers. Ahmed, the leader of the students' revolt frees Sharif along with three other prisoners. Among them is Huston, an American who has embezzled money from the Zahrain Oil Company. The fugitives capture an ambulance and its nurse, Laila. They flee from the city toward the border but during their trek across the desert, the convict Hassan is killed in a police ambush. A romance starts between Ahmed, the student leader and Laila, the ambulance nurse. Unfortunately, Ahmed is later killed by a government strafing fighter plane. Later, Tahar, another convict, is also killed.The three lone survivors are Laila, Sharif and Huston. Will they reach their destination?

Written by

Michael Barrett, Robin Estridge, Dudley Nichols

Directed by

Ronald Neame

Cast

Yul Brynner, Sal Mineo, Jack Warden

Crew

View crew

Production Countries

United States of America

Production Companies

Paramount

Languages

English

Awards

1 win

Trailers
Escape From Zahrain Trailer
Scores
# of Votes
877
Average Rating
6 out of 10
Metascore
NA
Popularity
NA