Khartoum (film) at the fate of Gordon finally forced the British to re-invade the Sudan ten years later, where they recaptured Khartoum in 1898. Roger Delgado, George Pastell and Jerome Willis also had parts. They all later played a villain in "Doctor Who". Robert Ardrey wrote the script at the encouragement of producer Julius Blaustein. Ardrey says it took him three years "on and off" but once he did it he sold it for $150,000. The film took a number of years to obtain financing. It was originally meant to be made with Laurence Olivier, Burt Lancaster and director Lewis Gilbert but
HMS Khartoum (F45) screening and patrol duties. "Khartoum" and "Kandahar" detached with other K-class destroyers and for surveillance of Italian warship movements from Massawa on the Red Sea. In June 1940, "Khartoum" deployed in the Red Sea with sloops of the East Indies Squadron and her other sister destroyers and prepared for war service in defense of Red Sea shipping. On 10 June, after the outbreak of war, she deployed for patrol and convoy defense based at Aden. On 21 June she carried out an attack on , a , which was unsuccessful. Then on 23 June she was deployed with "Kandahar", "Kingston"