Am I Missing Something?

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

Easily the biggest piece of Right wing non sense propaganda I ever saw.

The joyful confection is coated in a sparkly gloss, bright enough to gleam from the darkest, most cynical corners.

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.

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!

I found this movie to be wonderful and not what I totally expected. I was looking for a movie about animals and was blessed with a film that fed all my senses. The scenery was breathtaking and clear. You even got an unexpected education from watching it. The actors were talented and did not take away from the scenery. It was a great blending of talent and location. This is not a documentary about animals but it could be used as a wonderful teaching tool on types of animals and how people relate to them. The movie had suspense and laughter throughout. even though was based on a time when women had a place to be and it was not in the bush country. I recommend this movie as a family movie.

Standard action film of the 1950's directed by future-to-be James Bond film director, Terrance Young. Victor Mature and Janet Leigh turn in solid performances in one of Mature's better action films during the 1950's. Mature is the great white hunter bent on revenge against the Mau Maus, and Leigh the love interest he takes on Safari. In her autobiography, actress Janet Leigh revealed the following story regarding her experience with actor Mature and Director Young. Director Terrance Young somehow talked both stars, Janet Leigh and Victor Mature, into doing the film. Apparently, the good natured Mature enjoyed playing golf and chasing women more than making movies, and he balked at the idea of going to Africa to shoot the film. Vic wanted to shoot the film on one of Hollywood's back lots while Director Terrence Young insisted on the realism and danger that only the jungle could afford. During the filming of "Safari" Vic was told that he had to run into a lake to rescue the heroine (Leigh). He immediately refused. Director Young demanded to know why he refused to do the scene. Vic told him that "There could be crocodiles in the water!" Young immediately called over the film's Great White Hunter film consultant to explain the situation to him. The Guide laughed and said, "Of course, there are crocodiles in the water....but you don't have to worry, Mr. Mature. I'll fire a couple shots off my rifle an hour or so before the scene, and all the crocks in the area will leave...in fact they will be miles away when we shoot the scene." Dumbfounded by the information, Vic asked, "Why would they leave the area when you fire your rifle?" The Hunter responded, "Because the crocks have sensitive ears...much more sensitive than we humans...and they will leave the area." Vic continued to refuse to shoot the scene. Frustrated, Director Young, demanded to know why Vic would not shoot the scene. Finally Vic responded by saying, "What if one of the crocodiles just happens to be deaf!" Eventually, a terrified Victor Mature gave in to Director Young's demands, and timidly entered the water while actress Janet Leigh nervously watched nearby.