The Mark of the Hawk

1957 film

March 1958 (1958-03)

Running time

84-85 minutesCountriesUnited States
United KingdomLanguageEnglish

The Mark of the Hawk (also called Accused) is a 1957 drama film, directed by Michael Audley with a screenplay by Lloyd Young (better known for his sound work on other films) and H. Kenn Carmichael. The film stars Eartha Kitt and Sidney Poitier.

Synopsis

Obam (Sidney Poitier), brother of an indigenous resistance leader (Clifton Macklin) in British colonial Africa, returns to his troubled homeland after some years abroad, seeking a political post. However, domestic tensions have divided the country into two hostile camps, with many natives demanding the return of their ancestral lands - now farmed by European settlers. Britain and the local white administration are determined not to release their stranglehold; rather than adopting violence Obam seeks racial equality through peaceful means. His motives are frequently questioned by his own people, but with the assistance of an insightful spouse (Eartha Kitt) and sympathetic missionary Bruce Craig (John McIntire), this unlikely newcomer to African nationalism fights to make a meaningful difference before the situation deteriorates further.

Cast

Eartha Kitt as Renee; performs "This man is mine", Ken Darby composer, partially on screen, partially as backing soundtrack
Sidney Poitier as Obam (meaning 'hawk', per running theme of film; a symbol of the nationalist forces)
Juano Hernandez as Amugu
John McIntire as Bruce Craig
Helen Horton as Barbara Craig
Marne Maitland as Sandar Lai
Gerard Heinz as Governor General
Patrick Allen as Gregory
Earl Cameron as Prosecutor
Ewen Solon as Inspector
Lockwood West as Magistrate
Francis Matthews as Overholt
Bill Nagy as Fred
Harold Siddons as Ist Officer
Frederick Treves as 2nd Officer

Production notes

Production Dates: 1957 at Associated British Picture Corp. Studios, Elstree, England
Although Sidney Poitier is listed fourth, below John McIntire, in the opening credits, he receives second billing in the closing credits.
The opening credits include the following written statement: "The producers wish to acknowledge the cooperation extended to them by the Cinema Corporation of Nigeria." The end credits note that the film was "made at Associated British Elstree Studios, England."
According to a December 1957 Film Daily item, The Mark of the Hawk was partially shot on location in Nigeria, after which Universal bought the distribution rights.