malcolmgsw So much of this film leaves a bad taste in the mouth.What was a very complex situation is treated rather like a western with the cavalry coming to the rescue in the nick of time.Then there is the great white hunter slaughtering everything in his path.The film was dated when it was made and feels more embarrassingly so nowMature gives his usual wooden performance and Culver is surprisingly bad.

rogerblake-281-718819 A controversial film when first released in 1956 for using the Mau Mau uprising as a background for a Victor Mature adventure.Fifty six years later with the gift of hindsight the film can be viewed from a modern perspective.The Mau Mau,once considered terrorists,are now seen as freedom fighters.The truth is somewhere in the middle.Atrocities were committed by both sides.In disputes like this it is always the innocent who suffer.While Safari condemns the Mau Mau as cold blooded killers, in a slightly condescending way it emphasizes that most Kenyans are decent loyal citizens.The film should be viewed as a product of its time with the attitudes and sensibilities of the period.What is more controversial today is its glorification of big game hunting. Victor Mature plays big game hunter Ken Duffield who comes back from a safari to find that his family,including his son,have been massacred by the Mau Mau led by one of his house servants,a very harrowing scene.For his own safety his big game licence is revoked.Sitting in a bar in Nairobi drowning his sorrows he is approached by millionaire aristocrat Sir Vincent Brampton (Ronald Culver) who is accompanied by his dogsbody Brian Sinden (John Justin).Sir Vincent is obsessed with shooting a man eating lion called Hatari.He is an obnoxious money will buy anything type who gets Duffield's licence restored so he can lead the expedition. Duffield sees it as an opportunity to get his revenge on the Mau Mau.Also going along for the ride is Brampton's "fiance" Linda Latham,played by the delectable Janet Leigh. It is a long journey in which Duffield finds peace of mind and justice not vengeance is served.The successful outcome is due in no small part to the young native lad Adongo played by Juma, and the head boy Jerusalem played by Orlando Martins,a cheerful trumpet playing character,just the sort of bloke you want by your side in a fight. Victor Mature once stated that he was no actor and he had over seventy films to prove it.Come on Vic, in adventure and biblical films you had a certain monolythic grandeur and unlike Charlton Heston you never took yourself too seriously. Ronald Culver and John Justin are British thespians of the old school who have a look of slight bewilderment wondering what they are doing in this film but they are professionals and certainly don't let the side down. Juma and Orlando Martins are also a big asset and talking about big assets Janet Leigh is unbelievably glamorous,her wardrobe is certainly eye catching.Talk about the "Perils of Pauline",whatever her predicament she never looks less than immaculate.She takes the obligatory swim in the river,all in the best possible taste,and her bath scene would raise a few eyebrows.Never less than cheerful she is no shrinking violet always ready to roll her sleeves up and get on with it. A word of praise for Hatari the lion for the best performance in the film.He may have finished up in trophy cabinet but he gets his ten cents worth in first.He certainly makes Sir Vincent wish he had stayed at home. All filmed in glorious technicolor and on location the scenery and wildlife on view is a definite plus.Directed by Terence Young who knows his stuff it compares well with films such as "King Solomon's Mines" and "Mogambo".It is definitely superior to "Beyond Mombasa" which roughly deals with the same subject except the Mau Mau are called Leopard Men.It starred Cornel Wilde who ten years later made probably the greatest African adventure film of all "The Naked Prey".Considering the risqué scenes with Janet Leigh and the harrowing and explicit violence the Censors gave it a "U" certificate,surprisingly "The Naked Prey" got an "A" certificate,today they would be lucky to get a "12" rating. As a last thought John Justin played a character called Brian Sinden,in "Mogambo" Donald Sinden played a similar character.Possibly an "in" joke?

romanorum1 The colorful opening graphics and credits punctuated with African music and drums set up an effective introduction. We know that there will be more to the movie than just a safari. At the time of the film, Kenya was one of Britain's many African colonies. Victor Mature is he-man Ken Duffield (though he looks more like a Vic Russo) hired by wealthy Sir Vincent Brampton (Roland Culver) to lead him on a jungle hunt for a large maverick lion known as Atari ("Danger"). Sir Vincent's fiancée, the voluptuous Janet Leigh (Linda Latham), early on tells Ken that he is a "BWH" (big white hunter). More than hunting, though, Ken is more interested in finding bloodthirsty Jeroge (Earl Cameron), a Mau Mau "general" who – early in the movie – betrayed Ken's household during a frightening attack and murdered his young son in cold blood. In the movie's course, we see a native dance and a Masai ritual lion hunt. Then Linda takes an ill-advised rubber-raft trip in a crocodile-infested river that ends in dangerous rapids. We will also observe the killing of several animals, including those of a hot-tempered bull-elephant, a rhino, and some lions. These animal killings of the 1950s will not please those who are against big game hunting in principle. Conscience of their environment, they demand preservation of our animals.Among the cast are Juma who acts as Odongo, and Orlando Martins, who, as Jerusalem, likes to play the trumpet when the expedition is at camp. Both Odongo and Jerusalem hate the Mau Mau and are loyal to Ken. Odongo, Ken's boy-assistant (13 years-old) certainly has a captivating laugh. When 200 Mau Mau later attack the hunting expedition, Ken's automatic weapon helps keep the evil horde at bay. More help will be needed though, and it will come in the form of competent native (colonial) police coming to the rescue. They are as welcome as the US cavalry. In the meantime romance has developed between hunter Ken and beauteous Linda. At movie's end it is assumed that they will marry and that they will adopt Odongo, whose conclusive laugh is fitting indeed. The film is wonderfully filmed in Technicolor, while those beautiful animals are always so magnificent to see. They remain Africa's treasure indeed!

Linda_S I LOVE this film and it is SHAMEFUL that there is not a DVD out. Great director, great actors deserve it. One of the greatest stage and film actors ever to come out of England, John Justin, the talented and beauteous Janet Leigh, the most masculine actor I've ever seen, Victor Mature, and a superb supporting cast make this film endearing, and above all else white-knuckled action. There is romance, and sexual tension, danger, pathos, heroism, and all of the frailties of the human condition are on display here.It is very, very sad that more film goers are not exposed to this little gem. Filmed on location in Africa and every scene is powerful. If you are tired of films that are really nothing more than special effects and NOISE then watch this film, you will NOT be disappointed.GIVE US A DVD version with a pristine print. PLEASE oh gods of the arts.