The Black Tent

A few years after the end of World War II, Colonel Sir Charles Holland is summoned to the Foreign Office on a matter regarding his brother's wartime disappearance. Recently uncovered evidence points out to the fact that his brother, Captain David Holland, may still be alive somewhere in the Libyan desert. With a promise of unofficial help and local Libyan contacts from the Foreign Office, Colonel Holland sets out for Tripoli. There, a man gives him a local guide to take him to a Bedouin camp in the desert where his brother was last seen. A three-day ride by camel brings Colonel Holland to the camp of Sheik Salem Ben Yussef and his tribe. Inviting the colonel to enjoy the camp's hospitality, the sheikh initially denies having heard about Captain David Holland. However, after his daughter, Mabrouka Ben Yussef, secretly gives the colonel papers that had belonged to Captain David Holland, the colonel pesters the sheikh with a barrage of direct questions. Infuriated, the sheikh orders Colonel Holland to leave the camp. After leaving the camp, the colonel has second thoughts and returns there to beg the sheikh to tell him the truth about his brother. The sheikh's daughter also begs her father to tell the colonel about his bother's wartime fate. In flashback form, the wartime story of Captain David Holland, as told by the sheikh and corroborated by his lovely daughter finally clarify the mystery of his disappearance.