In 20th-century colonial Kenya, a Danish baroness/plantation owner has a passionate love affair with a free-spirited big-game hunter.In 20th-century colonial Kenya, a Danish baroness/plantation owner has a passionate love affair with a free-spirited big-game hunter.In 20th-century colonial Kenya, a Danish baroness/plantation owner has a passionate love affair with a free-spirited big-game hunter.
- Won 7 Oscars
- 30 wins & 31 nominations total
Oscars Best Picture Winners, Ranked
Oscars Best Picture Winners, Ranked
See the complete list of Oscars Best Picture winners, ranked by IMDb ratings.
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaEarly in the film, Baroness Karen Blixen is introduced to her servants. Although the scene is inter-cut with close-ups and other inserts in the film, the first take was filmed as one long shot that required Meryl Streep to meet and exchange dialogue with several other characters. As soon as director Sydney Pollack yelled "Cut", Streep, wearing a high-collared shirt and snug jacket, yelled "get this thing off of me!" and ripped open her jacket. A large beetle had crawled down the front of the jacket moments after the camera rolled, yet she continued filming the scene. Much of it remains in the final film.
- GoofsDuring the lion attack, Denys pulls an additional two spare cartridges from his belt as a ready reload. However, he carries them with his right hand, his trigger hand, which also is the hand needed to break the action to reload. No experienced double-gun hunter would do this. The two reload cartridges must be carried in the left hand, leaving the right hand free to manipulate the rifle.
- Quotes
Karen Blixen: It's an odd feeling, farewell. There is such envy in it. Men go off to be tested, for courage. And if we're tested at all, it's for patience, for doing without, for how well we can endure loneliness.
- Crazy creditsEpilogue: "Karen Blixen published her first stories in 1934 under the name Isak Dinesen. She never returned to Africa."
- Alternate versionsNetwork TV version features additional footage not included in theatrical release.
- ConnectionsEdited into A Song of Africa (2000)
- SoundtracksConcerto for clarinet and orchestra in A (K.622)
Written by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performed by Jack Brymer Clarinet, The Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields
Directed by Neville Marriner
Used Courtesy of Philips Classic Productions, The Netherlands
Featured review
I had heard of this film quite alot but had never seen it. Today I did and was amazed. It is based on the life of a danish female author who moves to Africa. Meryl Streep is exellent as the lead role and keeps a believable danish accent all the way through the film. Robert Redford is also excellent as. But of course the best feature of this film is the beautiful African scnery. It captivates the viewer and I think even if the acting was poor the scenery would still make you like the film. I cannot think of any other film I have seen that has matched this one. I recommened it to anyone. This truly is a touching, marvellous film
Details
Box office
- Budget
- $31,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $87,071,205
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $3,637,290
- Dec 22, 1985
- Gross worldwide
- $227,514,205
- Runtime2 hours 41 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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