Congo Crossing

"Congo Crossing" is a fine example of the Universal Studio ethos of the fifties. The powers that be at Universal decreed that films were all about look with content a whole lot less important. Audiences did not come to the cinema to be educated or enlightened, they came to be entranced by great looking charismatic leading actors, lit and costumed to perfection. The screenplay was simply to service the stars. It would take the genius of a Douglas Sirk to transfer Universal's mediocre screenplays into great cinema. Joseph Pevney, the director of "Congo Crossing", was not able to able to perform such a feat and clearly had no such aspiration, but he fared well with "Congo Crossing" and even better with Universal's "Foxfire" and "Female on the Beach".

The studio look included the often hand painted posters that accompanied the film, usually featuring the male lead clutching the female lead (check out the aforementioned films). The aesthetic of many Universal films was meticulously crafted by their superb art direction department headed by Alexander Golitzen and highly skilled cameramen such as Russell Metty. Actors George Nader and Virginia Mayo were blessed with captivating looks as were all the studio's leads, but when well-costumed, beautifully lit and filmed by Metty, you simply can't take your eyes off them. The entire film takes place in the heart of Africa yet Mayo's hair and make-up remain perfect and she appears in a whole range of eye-catching designs, from the shortest of shorts to slinky evening wear. How she managed to pack them all in her suitcase remains a mystery, but who cares. Nader is more appropriately dressed, but even his jungle wear is casually elegant and his hair of course virtually unruffled.

"Congo Crossing" has a totally absurd narrative but Universal works its usual magic and affords an entertaining 85 minutes.

A passable noirish African adventure in derivative Casablanca type style , dealing with a fugitive from the law : Virginia Mayo, gathering together with other peculiar characters as George Nader , Michael Pate , Peter Lorre in a fictitious country of Congotanga where extradition laws are not practised . Later on , the geographer Nader , the pursued Mayo and the mysterious Michael Pate sets out to a dangerous expedition through Congotanga and Belgian Congo .In Africa's savage city of outcasts they met un a rendezvous with terror!.

One of the colorful , moving and action features that Universal International trotted out with polish , profesionality and much regularly in the 50s. It has a solid cast that beefs up this standard and enjoyable African jungle story with attractive settings from Robert Boyle and Alexander Golitzen. It arranges to be , at least , an agreeable adventure movie because of it packs action , breathtaking outdoors and outlandish , risked situaciones abound .It bears remarkable resemblance to another Universal film titled "Tanganyka" 1954 by Andre De Toth with Van Hefiln , Ruth Roman , Jeff Morrow , Howard Duff . The routine happenings are lit up only by the gorgeous presence of the always beautiful Virginia Mayo and , of course, the astringent Peter Lorre, returning to weightier after five years , due to previous illness .This one was third film on his comeback to the big screen after a long absence brought on mainly by alcoholism sickness .He went back splendidly and more ironical than ever. These roles are well accompanied by other important secondaries giving enthusiast interpretations such as Rex Ingram , Michael Pate , Raymond Bailey and George Ramsey .

It contains Russell Metty's brilliant and elegant Technicolor camerawork , though including some stock shots of animals as Crocs .The motion picture was professionally directed by Joseph Pevney , though with no originality . Pevney was a craftsman who directed a lot of films of all kinds of genres , such as Wartime : Torpedo Run, Away All Boats , Air Cadet . Adventures as : Yankee Pasha, Tammy , Twilight for the God , Desert Legion . Western : Lady from Texas , The Plunderers . Thriller : Undercover Girl, Flesh and Fury , Man of a Thousand Faces , Iron Man , Shakedown , The Strange Door , 6 Bridges to cross , Istanbul . Rating 6/10 . Acceptable and passable African adventure, though some dull, at times.

Congotanga, a criminal colony on the western border of the then Belgian Congo, is a magnet for various fugitives from justice the world over. The law is nominally represented by Colonel Arragas (Peter Lorre) but the real power lies in the hands of shady types like Rittner (Tonio Selwart).

David Carr (George Nader), who has been hired to carry out a river survey on behalf of the Belgian mining concerns, sets off down the river accompanied by Louise Whitman (Virginia Mayo), a one time model running from a murder rap in France, and O'Connell (Michael Pate), a hitman - his target is Louise.

Beset by tsetse flies, crocodiles and the murderous attentions of Rittner's henchmen, the party has more than its share of hazards to navigate

Ravishing Virginia Mayo spices up this jungle adventure that passes the time adequately- she plays a woman of mystery, cold and sharp tongued, and of course, her relationship with George Nader's character comes off to a shaky start, then changes and they become lovers. Michael Pate plays the villain. It's adequately acted, there's some slow parts and some lively portion with some decent action.

Joseph Pevney the director is more or less dismissed by so called highbrow critics. I think they are wrong. He directed Joan Crawford in one of the rare films on male prostitution, ' Female on the Beach ' and many minor gems of entertaining films that deal with character as well as action. ' Congo Crossing ' is perfectly cast. George Nadar is the lead male role, and he has been underestimated as an actor. Rock Hudson is often compared to him, and Nadar comes out as being inferior. The truth I think is that given the right roles they were both fine actors and both were gay and faithful friends. One had to go given the ' morals ' of Hollywood and gracefully Nadar left and became a writer. In this film he is on top form trying to redraw the map of the Belgian Congo, as what should be part of it's territory has become a renegade state for criminals. Peter Lorre runs it in uniform and gives a delightful over the top performance. Virginia Mayo is at her best as a cold woman of mystery who is warm when she wants to and not when men want to profit from her in more ways than one. This is by no means a great film, but excellent on its own terms. I can imagine audiences of the mid-1950's enjoyed every minute of it. I believe it, and films like it, give pleasure and sometimes have a lot of artistic beauty into the bargain. A mistake to underestimate directors like Pevney who had a lot to give to the diversity of cinema.

This film will make you sweat. I have not seen this movie since 1957, and its memory persists. The scenes of swarming tse-tse flies and jungle conditions make it well worth looking for. Interesting cast, although movie guides often don't give it high ratings, I think it should be reconsidered ... esp. in comparison to "Outbreak", "12 monkeys"; and in comparison to some more modern movies on Africa.