Where Was Lord Jim Filmed? A British Action Adventure Film From 1965!!

If you’re in no mood to watch a lengthy drama film, then you need not worry! As, today I will tell you all about the exhilarating action-adventure film, Lord Jim, starring Peter O’Toole. And also let you in on where was Lord Jim filmed.

The British classic adventure film, Lord Jim, released in 1965 was inspired by a novel by Joseph Conrad, published in the 1900s with the same name. In this film, director Richard Brooks presents the adventurous journey of a British naval merchant traveling around the Middle-East, with unfamiliar co-passengers.

Lord Jim, performed exceptionally well at the box office, as it went on to become a huge commercial success. But the critical reception that this entertaining film received from the critics was pretty average. Nonetheless, Lord Jim, bagged a couple of nominations, including two at the BAFTA awards for art direction and cinematography. 

Now, let us explore where was Lord Jim filmed, to learn more about the gorgeous filming locations. Plus, later in this article, I’ll also give you a brief overview of this movie.

Where Was Lord Jim Filmed? Let’s Know This Adventure Flick Closely!

The makers of Lord Jim spent considerable time scouting for an ideal location that could portray the fictional nation of Patusan. The production unit eventually reached the final conclusion to capture the exterior shots in South-Eastern countries. And shoot the remaining interior scenes of the film, in England.

The principal photography began towards the end of August 1964 and was completed in 5 months. The filming schedule was extended in between, as most of the actors could not acclimatize to the tropical climate of Cambodia and Malaysia. Reportedly, some of the actors went on record to express the displeasure and discomfort that they faced while shooting in these locations. So, without further ado, let’s have a detailed discussion about where was Lord Jim filmed, and take a closer look at the shooting sites.

Angkor Wat | Cambodia

Despite the sequences filmed in Cambodia appearing in the final quarter of the movie, the exterior shots were captured here at the beginning of the filming schedule. The production unit extensively filmed the outdoor shots of the historic Angkor Wat temple. The crew took almost 3 weeks to capture the sequences of this religious monument and then moved to the next filming location.

Malacca, Malaysia

The opening sequence of the film, where we see the character of Jim meeting with captain Marlow, was filmed in Malacca. This southwestern city located on the coastline was deemed ideal by the production unit to depict Jim’s first naval expedition. A famous harbor located on the outskirts of the city was used to shoot the sequences in which the lead actor is shown joining the merchant crew of SS Patna.

The filming crew took exterior shots of a medium-sized cargo ship stationed at the harbor of Malacca. But while filming one of the scenes, the shooting had to be stopped in between, as one of the cast members fell sick. The production unit then quickly filmed the remaining scenes and then returned back to England to capture the interior sequences.

Shepperton, England

After returning to England, the production unit decided to stop filming for a couple of weeks, as most of the actors were not well. However, as soon as they recovered, the production resumed shooting. The interior sequences of the movie were filmed in the urban village of Shepperton in England. The production unit constructed a make-believe set inside the Shepperton Studios to capture the shots of Jim’s small home in Patusan. The filming was completed in about 3 weeks or so, after which the unit began working on the promotion of the movie.

Ok guys, let us now briefly discuss the plot of the film so that you can get a better grip on the actual storyline. Meanwhile, you can also check out Bardo, Good Night Oppy and Killer Sally which I think you’d equally enjoy.

Plot Of Lord Jim | What’s It About

The central story of the movie revolves around the character of Jim, an energetic new recruit of the English merchant navy. And his advancement as a sailor and as a person, through the guidance of Captain Marlow. At the very beginning of the film, we see Jim, stranded at a small island waiting for the next ship to arrive.

Later, as the story progresses, Jim boards a ship, laden with Muslim travellers who were on their way to complete a religious journey. However, after the ship gets trapped in a storm, Jim abandons the ship along with other crew members, leaving the travelers on board. Soon, the lead actor learns about the survival of the passengers and decides to give away his ranks, in shame.

Midway through the film, Jim meets with the owner of a local cargo shipping company. The lead actor then helps him to recover the carriage from getting stolen from the General, and his henchmen. Soon after, the former naval merchant gains popularity amongst the people of Patusan. However, when Stein comes up with the proposition to kill the General, Jim readily declines to proceed.

In the final quarter, we can witness the character of Jim being completely transformed, after receiving respect and recognition from the villagers. Du-Ramin eventually gives the lead actor an opportunity to save his life, and flee again from the village. But Jim, who was now revered as a “Lord” by the locals, finally decided to stay back.

Final Words

Alright folks, now that you know where was Lord Jim filmed, I hope that you enjoyed the read and got all the necessary information pertaining to this film. However, if you have any further questions, let us know in the comments section below. And don’t forget to check out other amazing articles on Viebly.