The title reflects the German territory of the African plains, on the other side of Nairobi where Ruth Roman wants to get to with her niece and nephew after her brother is killed by natives. She is escorted by hunter Van Heflin who is also escorting the wounded Howard Duff, recovering from being attacked by natives under orders of an unseen white man who has been stirring them up. The journey is fraught with danger, from alligators swarming the river they have to cross, a stalking leopard and warriors hiding amongst the brush. There are also some cute monkeys (one stealing Roman's corset) and the kid's cute donkeys, one spooked by the presence of the leopard which nearly takes down one of the native servants who works with Heflin.
The open plains are majestic and beautiful, even when dangerous and filled with threats around every corner. This Universal adventure is the perfect weekend afternoon popcorn film, with Heflin hard and cynical, but gaining a soft spot for Roman and the children. For me, I began to wonder about Duff's character. Could he possibly be the villainous white man Heflin wants to see face justice? Even the way the camera lingers on him reflects that possibility as he's not seemingly a threat to any romantic possibilities that Roman and Heflin have. The kids are fortunately underplayed and not in your face cute, as the African plains are no place for such a nuisance. That changes however with the presence of the native children in the tribal village, but somehow they don't seem out of place. A lot of fun.
The open plains are majestic and beautiful, even when dangerous and filled with threats around every corner. This Universal adventure is the perfect weekend afternoon popcorn film, with Heflin hard and cynical, but gaining a soft spot for Roman and the children. For me, I began to wonder about Duff's character. Could he possibly be the villainous white man Heflin wants to see face justice? Even the way the camera lingers on him reflects that possibility as he's not seemingly a threat to any romantic possibilities that Roman and Heflin have. The kids are fortunately underplayed and not in your face cute, as the African plains are no place for such a nuisance. That changes however with the presence of the native children in the tribal village, but somehow they don't seem out of place. A lot of fun.