Safari

"In the jungle, the quiet jungle, the lion sleeps tonight." That was a rock 'n' roll hit in the late 1950s. Where did an American recording group get the idea to do such a single? From this movie, in which the African characters, while marching on safari, sing it - an authentic African folk song that easily translated to a rhythm 'n' blues beat. Here is a fine example of what they used to call a 'program picture' - not a B movie in the early-indie junk-movie sense, or an A studio production either. Just before TV ruled, the major studios used to make minor films (though not B movies, mind you - something beyond that but below a B feature) and called them programmers. That way, they could make use of the actors, writers, directors, etc. who were on a regular payroll, a concept that would die early during the next decade. After all, if you were going to pay all of those people a weekly salary, might as well knock out modest movies that, when you think about it, cost them little but the price of raw film stock. They could be marketed on double bills, then sent over to the Drive-Ins, and finally put into a package that went to local TV channels in those days before the networks got hooked on full-length films (fall of 61). So here were Victor Mature and Janet Leigh as an older man and younger woman who find themselves together on a safari that her father arranges. Mature has ulterior motives - his family was destroyed in a mau-mau attacks some years earlier and he wants revenge, thinking this may be the way to get it. The mau-mau attacks are very well staged by Terence Young, who would go on to do several Bond films. Crisp color and a strong soundtrack qualify this as precisely what it was meant to be - far from a memorable movie, but a time killer that doesn't leave you feeling that you've wasted you're time when it's over.

at the first sigh, nothing different by many adventure films from the same period. the love story, the animals, the Manichean distinction between characters, all is well known. but the difference is made by a lot of details. one - Victor Mature , who did a good job in a role who seems be perfect for him. in same measure, Janet Leigh in a fragile, delicate and powerful young woman portrait. and, sure, Mau Mau attacks, Earl Cameron giving a splendid portrait of the general. in rest - animals and lovely characters and the portrait of Africa , seductive and full of childhood references for the generations behind smartphone era.

A man who poses as a safari leader in order to seek revenge against the Mau Mau rebels who murdered his son. Hired to guide a jungle expedition by an eccentric millionaire, he finds himself drawn in to a romantic relationship with his client's beautiful fiancee.

Cecil B. DeMille called Mature "100% yellow - the greatest coward ever born," and even in this colourful action-adventure film he was reluctant to go into the water due to crocodiles, which is strange as filming in Kenya back then with a Mau Mau uprising was dangerous. He, along with other Sterling cast, were taking a risk.

Basking in Technicolor, Safari is a solid jungle film, the kind they don't make anymore. The action is quite gritty and exciting. There's some good tension and good characters like the one played by Ronald Culver, a cold-blooded rich man intent to notch a big lion kill as his trophy. But it's Victor Mature who really impresses as the safari leader with an modi operandi to lead an entourage in to an area where Mau Mau terrorists are around. The reason are explained in the first twenty minutes - far from wooden, Mature expresses anguish just by that look in his eyes. He was always better actor than he has been made out. There's a 007 connection as Terence Young directed it and Albert Broccolli co-produced.

Safari is directed by Terence Young and adapted to screenplay by Robert Buckner from a story by Anthony Veiller. It stars Victor Mature, Janet Leigh, John Justin, Roland Culver, Earl Cameron and Juma. A Technicolor/CinemaScope production out of Columbia Pictures, music is scored by William Alwyn and cinematography by John Wilcox. Plot finds Mature as a hunter Ken Duffield, who returns home from a trip to his Kenyan homestead to find his son as been murdered by a Mau Mau general who was hiding in disguise as the Duffield's house servant. Initially stripped of his thirst for revenge by the local authorities, Duffield gets his chance when he is hired by wealthy and powerful Sir Vincent Brampton (Culver) and his trophy fiancée Linda Latham (Leigh)lead them on a jungle hunt to kill as lion.

Be on your guard against Mau Mau terrorists.

Colourful, entertaining and often picturesque in scope, Safari manages to rise above its standard plotting to reveal a decent jungle adventure. Shot on location in Kenya and using the Mau Mau uprising as a backdrop, film was daring back in the day, that the likes of Mature and Leigh were talked into making a picture in Kenya at this time is impressive since the Mau Mau uprising was still in effect. What transpires as the film unfolds sees the stars put through their paces by Terence Young, a future James Bond director and a dab hand at action scenes. There's some inevitable cheapness in the production, with back screen projections and the odd dummy flung about, but action rushes and human peril is within and Wilcox's scope photography of the Kenyan landscapes is most pleasing. 6.5/10

A real big-screen picture, but I can only imagine... Even on my ancient Beta videocassette taped circa 1983, the Technicolor treatment amazes! Yes, there is a lot of stock footage there, but what scenery! The chase scenes, including elephants, tribal Kikuyu warriors, and the entire main cast, are so well put together as to make the transitions transparent. Much of 'Safari' has the feel of a spaghetti western, but its authenticity is never in doubt.

My only complaint is that of historical inaccuracy, since the Mau-Mau revolt (and characterization) is only viewed from the side of the Brits. If you can get past that issue enough to treat this purely as an action film.