Malta is often referred to as the Hollywood of the Mediterranean, but it seems like the nation got its big break over half a century ago through British production Malta Story, directed by Brian Desmond Hurst.

Malta Story is a 1953 war film about – you guessed it - Malta, specifically dealing with the island’s air defence during the Siege of Malta in WWII. The plot revolves around a love story between Peter, a British serviceman played by Alec Guinness, and local girl Maria, played by Muriel Pavlow, whose love is hampered by the constant bombardments and eminent famine threatening the island. Hawkins plays the role of Air Commodore Frank, Peter’s commanding officer, who plays a major role in their romantic development. Think along the lines of Pearl Harbour, but with a Maltese setting.

The film was shot on location in Malta, with many settings still recognizable today. The production performed really well at the British box-office, ranking 4th in terms of revenue. Malta Story makes several links to real events, especially with Maria’s brother’s character development, thought to be moulded after Maltese artist and Italian Fascist spy, Carmelo Borg Pisani. Despite critics sectioning the film as a standard war film, most of the material used classifies asauthentic archive footage which heightens its contemporary and anthropological value.

From the 50’s well into the 70’s, Jack Hawkins was one of England’s leading men both on the screen and on the stage and eventually transitioned into performances for major Hollywood productions. His fame reached its peak in the first years of his acting career and he made a name for himself by portraying military men.

Hawkins’ career was dampened by his ultra-excessive smoking habit, which could have been a direct cause for his throat cancer diagnosis in 1965. Consequences of this saw his entire larynx removed, with all roles from then on being dubbed or his lines reduced. Ultimately, an operation to install an artificial voice-box created fatal complications which saw to his early demise at age 62.

Have you ever seen Malta Story?