Dating from 1960, this film concerns the controversial Suez Canal Crisis in 1956. Explaining the background to the abortive British and French intervention of the canal, the film tries to dispel myths and exorcise humiliating ghosts from four years earlier.
Context
Britain’s status, limitations and dependency on American military assistance were all exposed over the Suez Canal in 1956. Indeed, the reckless actions in 1956 by Conservative Prime Minister Sir Anthony Eden severely weakened and jeopardised the coveted US/UK ‘special relationship’ with the deployment of British troops in Egypt. When the Soviet Union threatened to intervene on behalf of Egypt, the United States feared a larger war and forced the British and French to withdraw. The Crisis resulted in the resignation of Eden a year later, but also marked the shift in the global power from the traditional European powers to the two superpowers; the United States and the Soviet Union.
Interesting or important points about the film
The loaded terminology throughout this film defending Britain’s actions as “fair play” clearly suggests this was propaganda, especially since it does not offer an Egyptian ‘perspective’.