A Trip to the Sands

Ah, “A Yank in Libya” – now there’s a title that promises a mix of adventure and mystery but ends up being more like a lukewarm cup of coffee. Released in umpteen-nineteen-forty-two, right in the thick of the war days, it’s like taking a sepia-toned ride into the past.

Walter Woolf King stars as Joe, our American hero, trying to bring some sense into a world of espionage. And fair play to him – he’s like a pulp fiction character come to life. There’s Joan Woodbury too, adding some grace and wit to the mix; she’s got that classic allure that makes you wonder what happened to the good old days of cinema. But, let’s face it, this isn’t exactly Casablanca.

The director, Albert Herman, blessed us with a flick that’s as straightforward as they come. It’s like those old Swedish detective stories I used to read under the covers as a kid. You know the type, predictable but somehow comforting. And the whole setting – bombed out buildings, shadowy agents lurking around – kind of like walking around Gamla Stan in a snowstorm, ya know?

Funny story, back when I was a boy, my cousins and I made a fort out of old blankets and crates, pretending we were Special Agents somewhere in the middle of the Sahara. Watching this movie brought me right back to that cramped little fort, with the smell of mum’s köttbullar drifting in from the kitchen.

The music is a bit blaring at times, feels like a neighbour who’s got their stereo on max late at night. But maybe that’s part of the charm? It’s as if the film itself is whispering “I’ll do my best” in its old-school, crackly voice.

So, if you fancy a trip without leaving the sofa, and don’t mind a few bumps along the way, this one’s worth a peek. Light a candle, maybe whip up some varm choklad, and enjoy the ride. Or use it as a comfy background while you’re busy with a jigsaw puzzle – kind of fitting, isn’t it?

watch the full movie on CinemaOneMovies on YouTube – if you are from Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark