Harry is the fictional protagonist of the novel. His story explores themes of courage, honor, societal pressure, and redemption against the backdrop of a real war, but he is not a historical person.

Ethne is a fictional character representing Victorian ideals of womanhood and romance, whose actions (giving the feather) precipitate Harry's quest.

Jack is a fictional character embodying duty, steadfastness, and quiet suffering, serving as both friend and rival to Harry.

A fictional character crucial to Harry's survival and success in Sudan, representing local knowledge and acting as a guardian figure.

A fictional member of Harry's peer group, representing the friends whose judgment Harry seeks to overturn.

A fictional member of Harry's peer group, representing the friends whose judgment Harry seeks to overturn.

The film is accurately set during the British intervention in Sudan (Mahdist War), specifically around the time of the expedition sent to relieve General Gordon at Khartoum (1884-85).

Effectively portrays the intense social pressure and emphasis on military duty, courage, and fear of disgrace prevalent among the British officer class in the late Victorian era.

Harry Faversham and his resignation are fictional elements from the novel, driving the central plot.

The giving of white feathers (a symbol of cowardice originating later, popularized by the novel) to the fictional Harry by his friends and fiancée is central to the novel's plot, not a historical event.

Harry's entire journey to Sudan, his disguises, and his specific mission to save his friends are fictional plot points from the novel.

The film accurately portrays the extreme heat, difficult terrain, and dangers of the Sudanese desert environment faced by the historical campaign.

The Mahdi's Ansar forces were known for their religious fervor, large numbers, and fierce charges, inflicting heavy casualties on Egyptian and British forces in several battles.

The film depicts a chaotic battle resembling Abu Klea (Jan 1885). British squares did come under intense attack; whether one was definitively "broken" is debated, but they faced severe pressure as shown.

Jack Durrance is fictional, as is his blinding and rescue by Harry. This is a key element of the novel's plot demonstrating Harry's redemption.

Castleton is fictional, and his specific predicament and rescue by Harry are part of the novel's narrative structure of redemption.

Trench is fictional. While some Europeans were held prisoner by the Mahdists (e.g., after Khartoum fell), Harry's infiltration and rescue mission are fictional.

Harry's ability to survive and operate relies on the fictional Abou Fatma and disguises central to the novel's adventure plot.

The entire arc of redemption by returning the feathers through acts of bravery, leading to social and romantic reconciliation, is the fictional resolution of the novel.

The film effectively recreates the atmosphere, architecture, and social milieu of upper-class Victorian Britain, particularly its military circles.

Filmed in Morocco and England, the locations convincingly represent the harsh desert environments, river settings, and sparse vegetation typical of the regions where the Sudan campaign took place.

Accurately shows the transition in uniforms: the traditional red coats still used in some engagements early on, and the more practical khaki uniforms adopted for desert warfare.

Depicts standard British equipment of the era, including the single-shot Martini-Henry rifle, revolvers, artillery, and early machine guns (like the Gardner or Gatling gun).

Shows the Ansar fighters wearing their distinctive patched robes (jibbeh) and wielding traditional weapons like swords and spears, alongside captured firearms.

Accurately depicts the use of the infantry square, a key British tactic for defence against cavalry or massed infantry charges common in colonial warfare during this period.

Captures the sense of British imperial confidence mixed with the dangers and cultural clashes inherent in colonial campaigns against determined local resistance.

If depicting the prison (where Trench is held), it portrays harsh conditions based on accounts of Mahdist captivity, though specific details serve the fictional plot.

Provides glimpses of the ports and staging areas used during the Sudan campaign, reflecting the logistical aspects of the historical expedition.