Tamango

Unusually informative, perhaps provocative, opening credit sequence, from the French-Italian co-production, directed by Blacklisted American John Berry, from a story by Prosper Mérimée, introducing Curt Jurgens as Dutch slave ship captain Reiker, from Tamango, 1959, also starring Dorothy Dandridge.

Off West Africa, 1820, on board the illicit slave ship on which the entire picture takes place, Captain Reiker (Curt Jurgens) tries to break a nascent hunger strike, Alex Cressan as the title character not cooperating, and the conflicted doctor Corot (Jean Servais) commenting, early in Tamango, 1959.

Having been visible but obscured in earlier scenes, director John Berry offers the first full view of Dorothy Dandridge as mixed-race Aiche, mistress to Dutch slave ship captain Reiker (Curt Jurgens), and clearly favored by the doctor Corot (Jean Servais), in the French-Italian historical melodrama Tamango, 1959.