Watch Something of Value

Set in Kenya, Africa, in the mid-20th century, Something of Value is a powerful and stirring epic drama that traces the bitter rivalry between two best friends who find themselves on opposite sides of a bloody conflict. Peter McKenzie (Rock Hudson) and Kimani (Sidney Poitier) are childhood friends who grow up together on the plains of Kenya, in the shadow of Mount Kilimanjaro. Peter is the son of a wealthy British settler, while Kimani is a Kikuyu tribesman, his family having worked for generations on Peter's family's farm.

As they grow older, Peter and Kimani remain close, sharing a bond that transcends racial barriers. But when the Mau Mau Uprising strikes, tensions between the British and Kikuyu communities reach a boiling point. The Mau Mau rebels begin a campaign of terror and violence, seeking to drive the British out of Kenya and restore the land to the Kikuyu people.

Peter finds himself caught up in the conflict, as he joins the Kenyan police force and begins to hunt down the rebels. At the same time, Kimani becomes a leader of the Mau Mau, fighting to reclaim his ancestral land and to resist the British colonial rule.

As the conflict rages on, Peter and Kimani are forced to confront the harsh realities of war and the bitter legacy of imperialism. Their friendship is put to the ultimate test, as they find themselves on opposite sides of the conflict, torn between loyalty to their respective peoples and a deep, abiding love for one another.

Something of Value is a sweeping and emotionally charged drama that offers a nuanced exploration of race, political power, and the complexities of human relationships. At its core, it is a story of two men who are bound together by a shared history and a deep sense of love and loyalty, but who are ultimately torn apart by the forces of history and politics that surround them.

The film is beautifully shot, with stunning vistas of the African landscape and a vivid sense of place and time. The performances are outstanding, particularly those of Rock Hudson and Sidney Poitier, who deliver nuanced and heartfelt portrayals of two men caught up in a historical moment that they cannot fully control.

In addition to Hudson and Poitier, the film features a strong supporting cast, including Dana Wynter as Holly, a British woman who falls in love with Peter, and Wendy Hiller as Elizabeth, Peter's mother, who struggles to reconcile her love for her son with her loyalty to the British Empire.

Director Richard Brooks, who also wrote the screenplay, brings a deft hand to the complex themes of the film, creating a powerful and thought-provoking drama that asks important questions about race, identity, and the human capacity for violence and compassion.

Overall, Something of Value is a powerful and unforgettable film that offers a moving and insightful exploration of the ways in which history shapes our lives and our relationships with one another.

Something of Value is a 1957 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 53 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.5.