chuck-reilly Reporter/explorer Stanley's famous trek to the heart of Africa to find the missing missionary Doctor Livingstone is one of the most famous and epic stories to come out of the Victorian era. This film captures the significance of that event, although a few facts get in the way of the narrative. Spencer Tracy (at his best) is Stanley and he gives one of his greatest performances. Unbelievable as it may seem, he's nearly upstaged by Sir Cedric Hardwicke's portrayal of Doctor Livingstone, even though that actor's screen time is limited to twenty minutes. Hardwicke captures Livingstone's eccentricities and religious fervor perfectly without turning him into a caricature. The scene where he leads his native charges in a rousing songfest ("Onward Christian Soldiers") is nearly the highlight of the film. The pivotal meeting of the two men where Stanley utters the famous line "Doctor Livingston, I presume?" has the correct dramatic buildup and is handled with dignity and enough gravitas to satisfy most historians. Tracy's fiery speech at the Society of Geographers back in England after his discovery is also a key moment in the film and nearly worth the price of admission. The film is directed with competency and some verve by Henry King. Unfortunately, many of the African countryside scenes were left over from previous films and they're incorporated rather clumsily into this movie. The performances are uniformly excellent, however, especially the two men of the title. Also around is Richard Greene as a malaria-stricken explorer and beautiful Nancy Kelly as his fiancé. Tracy's character is also smitten with her and that angle of the story is irrelevant and completely unnecessary. Walter Brennan, as one of Tracy's American colleagues, comes aboard for the safari but his brand of Old West comic relief falls flat---even with the natives. Charles Coburn, as the ruthless Lord Tyce, is the designated villain of the piece, but he changes colors in the final reel and gets a nice hug from his daughter (Ms. Kelly). As Stanley marches off to uncover more of the mysteries of the "Dark Continent," viewers are left with the feeling that he's now emulating the same type of messianic mission as Doctor Livingstone. But that's not what actually happened. In reality, Stanley became a "hired gun" for expanding colonialists and was involved in more than his share of "safaris gone bad." He had plenty of blood on his hands by the time he called it quits. That unpleasant fact didn't prevent Queen Victoria from knighting him late in his life. As they say, no one's perfect.

vincentlynch-moonoi I think it's difficult for people today to understand just how famous this story was. Even in the 1950s, when I was an elementary school student in the U.S., I remember studying this story and being rather fascinated by it. Today, at least in America, it is simply a footnote to history.This is a splendid movie on several accounts. First, though on loan from MGM to 20th Century Fox, this was another of the solid screen performances, during this general period of time, which catapulted Spencer Tracy to the top of his profession. There are two scenes here which are most memorable. Of course, the "Dr. Livingstone, I presume" theme, and, near the end of the film, the scene where he begins his tirade against the forces which are attempting to diminish the discoveries of Dr. Livingstone. The latter, in particular, is another of those movie scenes where Tracy proves -- once again -- that often less in more, and his understated acting coupled with occasional outbursts of energy is very powerful.Another factor in making this such a fine film is that although most of the acting was filmed here in the United States, many of the Safari scenes had been filmed in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda -- without Tracy -- two years earlier. The different segments are blended together quite well to make a rather convincing story.Supporting actors are uniformly excellent here. Worth special mention are Charles Coburn in a not very likable performance as a somewhat unscrupulous newspaper owner, Cedric Hardwicke as Dr. Livingstone, Walter Brennan as the inevitable sidekick to Tracy, and Hencry Travers as a somewhat befuddled diplomat.In fact, it's difficult to find much to criticize in this film, other than historical accuracy. However, if we keep in mind how the movie industry always treated historical accuracy, this film is about average in that respect.There are enough compelling incidents in the script to keep things moving along well, and -- if you can put aside the historical inaccuracies -- you'll probably greatly enjoy this film.

nnnn45089191 Stanley and Livingstone is maybe not the most accurate historical movie presented,but nevertheless a very interesting experience. Spencer Tracy is very good in this one,portraying his character in the naturalistic style he was famed for.Cedric Hardwicke is Dr. Livingstone conveying the concern and love for humanity as a dedicated missionary would have.The treatment of the Africans in this movie would feel very racist today,but I think the attitudes of white supremacy was very true to life since this movie is set in the 1870's. Walter Brennan's comic supporting part is a bit annoying and Charles Coburn's British newspaper editor is a caricature.The African footage is spectacular,especially the native attack on Stanley's caravan. This movie is also crying out for a DVD release

kyle_furr A 1939 film that was directed by Henry King and stars Spencer Tracy, Walter Brennan and Cedric Hardwicke. Tracy stars as Stanley, a newspaper man who at first is seen talking to the chief of a bunch of hostile Indians and Walter Brennan is his guide. Tracy is then asked by his editor to go into Africa to find Livingstone, but they don't even know if he's alive. The next half hour is basically spent Tracy and Brennan spending over a year just trying to find Livingstone. When they finally do, they're surprised to see that Livingstone doesn't want to leave and Livingstone thought they were coming to help him. I love black and white movies but i thought that this movie would of been better if it had been done in color like Northwest Passage or Jesse James. Both Tracy and Brennan do a good job and Hardwicke also does a good job as Livingstone.