this handicap, they will never beat the slave traders. Both they and the slavers are now neck and neck, only two days away from the Volta River, where they can stake their flag to claim the territory. O'Shay convinces the Professor that they can gain the advantage if they fly through the night. They reach the Volta River first, but the scimitar rips from the balloon and causes it to descend until they empty out all the cargo. As the balloon approaches a bridge, the crew spot the slave traders, who shoot at their balloon. To gain lift and destroy the bridge with the balloon's anchor, they climb into its crow's nest and release the balloon's gondola. This wipes out most of the slave traders, but not their leader, who continues attacking. The balloon finally hits the water close to where the river flows into an enormous waterfall. The group swims for shore, except Ahmed, who cannot swim and rides the balloon as a raft, and O'Shay, who swims back to get their flag. Both men ride down the waterfall, after which Ahmed tells O'Shay to jump to safety with their flag. Ahmed then kills the slave trade leader with a dagger to his heart. O'Shay delivers the flag and wins back the respect of the crew. Finally, Sir Henry admits to the Professor he was wrong in doubting him. The others embrace: Jacques and Makia, Susan and O'Shay, and even Duchess, with a newfound chimpanzee friend. Cast Red Buttons as Donald O'Shay Fabian as Jacques Barbara Eden as Susan Gale Cedric Hardwicke as Fergusson Peter Lorre as Ahmed Richard Haydn as Sir Henry Vining BarBara Luna as Makia Billy Gilbert as Sultan Herbert Marshall as The Prime Minister Reginald Owen as Consul Henry Daniell as Sheik Ageiba Mike Mazurki as Slave Captain Alan Caillou as Inspector Ben Astar as Myanga Raymond Bailey as Randolph Chester the Chimp as "The Duchess" Production In 1955, Tony Curtis announced plans to produce and star in a version of the novel for his own company, Curtleigh, and hired Kathleen Dormer to write a script. He wanted the treatment to be comic and to co-star with Alec Guinness. The film was not made. In 1956 it was reported a British company wanted to film the novel starring Robert Ryan. This film was not made either. 20th Century Fox had a big hit with Journey