The High Bright Sun

The High Bright Sun is a 1964 British action film directed by Ralph Thomas and starring Dirk Bogarde, George Chakiris and Susan Strasberg. It is set in Cyprus during the EOKA uprising against British rule in the 1950s. It was based on a 1962 novel by Ian Stuart Black.

Plot

In 1957, Juno (Susan Strasberg), an American archaeology student, is visiting Cyprus and staying with the family of her father's best friend, Dr Andros (Joseph Furst). She witnesses an attack by two EOKA gunmen which results in the death of two British soldiers, but is unable to identify the killers to the local British intelligence officer, Major McGuire (Dirk Bogarde).

Juno then realises that fugitive EOKA General Skyros (Gregoire Aslan) is hiding in the house and Dr Andros is an EOKA collaborator. EOKA fighter Haghios (George Chakiris) wants to kill Juno, in part because of her growing romantic relationship with McGuire.

Haghios organises an ambush to kill Juno, but she is saved by Dr Andros' son, Emile, who is mortally wounded. Juno escapes and is rescued by McGuire, who brings her to his apartment. Haghios leads an attack on McGuire's apartment, which is unsuccessful, in part because of help from fellow British intelligence officer, Baker (Denholm Elliott), who had an affair with McGuire's wife.

The High

The High were an English rock group from Manchester, who were generally regarded as part of the Madchester scene.

History

The band was formed in 1989 by former Turning Blue singer John Matthews, along with former Buzzcocks F.O.C. members Andy Couzens (guitar, also formerly of The Stone Roses and pre-Roses bands The Patrol and Waterfront), Simon Davies (bass), and drummer Chris Goodwin (also formerly of Inspiral Carpets), when Steve Diggle left Buzzcocks F.O.C. to reform the Buzzcocks.

They were signed by London Records and had three minor UK Singles Chart hits in 1990 before breaking into the top 30 in 1991 with a revamped version of their debut single, the Martin Hannett-produced "Box Set Go". The band's debut album, Somewhere Soon, peaked at number 59 in the UK Album Chart.

With the Madchester scene losing favour with the critics, the band's later releases failed to chart, the band splitting up in 1993. John Matthews and Chris Goodwin went on to form the Manchester group 'One Summer' with local musicians Stephen Fitzpatrick (guitar) and Carl Wolstenholme (bass). One Summer worked with Factory Records group A Certain Ratio and recorded a demo for the label before it went into administration.

The High (comics)

The High (John Cumberland) is a fictional character, a superhero in the Wildstorm Universe. He first appears in Stormwatch #46 and was created by Warren Ellis and Tom Raney.

Publication history

The High plays a major part in the Stormwatch story arc "Change or Die." The character was later revived for the series Number of the Beast and would become a key part of the line-wide storyline "World's End".

Fictional character biography

The High came from an alternate reality. He fought as a superhero alongside Jenny Sparks in the 1930s, but became frustrated and left the crime-fighting occupation long before she did. After years detached from society (including a decade spent seated atop a throne of stone in the Rocky Mountains, contemplating his plan) he was left with a somewhat naive apprehension of others, their motives and ability shrinking in the face of his noble plan. He was overly trusting of his cohorts, quick to mistrust anyone who stepped in their way, and eager to force the world to change and be done with it - and he ultimately learned, as Jenny Sparks said, that people only want change on their own terms. His emblem was five arrows in a circle, much like the symbol for recycling - he wore this on his costume's belt and on a t-shirt he wore when out of costume.