In the early 50's Robert Ruark made a movie. I've been looking for a copy of it for years and it's incredibly hard to get hold of, but I'm working on a lead now. If it pans out we might be able to have several DVD's made. This would be from an original of the film that was converted to DVD by a studio. We'll see how it plays out. The owner of the DVD is very protective of it; it's going to take some major persuasion to get her to part with it for a while.

In the meantime, if you've been looking for this movie, there's at least a trailer at Turner Classic Movies:

http://www.tcm.com/multimedia/trailers.jsp?cid=144&scid=&start=30&end=60

Page down to 'Africa Adventure'. Hey, is that a young Harry Selby at the end of the clip?

If that happens, I'd like to be in on the deal!

Dennis put me in for one...

Mike

Don't anybody get excited yet... I don't know if this will pan out or not. As I mentioned, the lady that actually has this is very reticent to let it out of her sight. I have a contact working on her now...might take a few days.

I did mention to the contact person that if we could get some copies made, I might have some friends would be interested in making a contribution to her favorite charity, etc. That is, if this whole thing doesn't violate somebody's copyrights.

Postdriver,
If this succeeds, put me down for a copy.
Max

Put me down for a copy aswell, beautiful trailer...

Count me in. I have been looking for a copy ever sense I read "Use Enough Gun".

deal me in also.
Thanks JD

stick me on that list as well!!!

regards,

Rich
DRSS

I would pay for a copy. I made VHS copy many years ago when it was on late nite TV. I watched it and loaned it to a buddy who loaned it to another who 'lost ' it. Most impressive part I remember is a 'looong' double rifle shot.

ME! ME! ME!

Count me in.

Please put me in line.

Thanks

I have a very long history with this movie. I actually already own a copy on DVD; one that I made. Here's how. However, I would also be interested in an official copy.

Many years ago, I found out about the movie and tried to find a copy of it. I tracked it from RKO to Turner to Time-Warner. Time-Warner was a dead end, and they could not provide me with any information about it.

I contacted Chuck Weschler at Sporting Classics magazine and suggested that maybe they could attempt to get ahold of the rights to it and release it on DVD as a true Sporting Classic. Chuck was interested. About that time, I located a 16mm print of the movie and purchased it for $55.00.

I had the movie transferred to VHS, then sent fair-use copies of it to Sporting Classics for review. It kind of fell off the map after that. I believe they did pursue getting the rights to it, but they got nowhere.

Meanwhile, my 16mm print was sitting on a shelf and I became worried that it might degrade in quality since I could not keep it in the proper environment. After much internal debate, I decided to sell it.

I listed it on eBay and got about $700 for it. I was told by the buyer that he was going to present it to Harry Selby as a surprise. To my own surprise, the next issue of Cabela's Shooting Catalog that I recieved in the mail listed a new VHS video called "SAFARI!" by Robert Ruark. Suspecting that it was a transfer of my print, I bought a copy immediately.

It was indeed my 16mm print. The small skips were in all the right places. There were no copyrights on the box for the movie; indeed, no studio was listed, no contact information, nothing. It was an obvious pirate job. I contacted Chuck Weschler about it, and he said he was on it. It was quickly yanked from Cabela's.

About this time, Jane Kerr from the Robert Ruark Foundation in Southport, NC found out about the movie. She asked me if there was any way that I could donate a copy to the foundation. I told her that I would, but would like to be put on a distribution list for any information that came from the society. I gave her a copy, but never did get anything back from the group.

Anyway, before selling the print I have to admit that I retained a copy of the movie on DVD for my own personal use. I figured I had worked hard enough at protecting the rights to it that I wasn't doing a bad thing by keeping a copy.

I'm in.

Me too, please!!

Here's a picture of my DVD. Once in awhile folks list posters from Africa Adventure for sale on eBay. I grabbed a couple of the images of these posters and used them to make my own label for my DVD using Lightscribe.

What's not to like about this possibility? I'd like a copy and would contribute to most any non politically correct charity she might like. Thanks for at least trying to do this!
Gary

I would also pay for a copy

SC-Sportsman, you have a PM.

It would be wonderful if this was re-released. I'd love to get a copy as well.

i've got a poor vhs copy we made when the movie ran on a late night old c band satellite show years ago. Its is a neat show. a nice dvd would be great.

If you are starting a list, put me on it.

Sorry, I watched the trailer before I read your instruction, not to get excited yet.

I'd be more than hapy to pay for a copy also.


Dutch

I am in for at least one copy!

This is great news I have wanted to see this movie for the longest time...

Regards,
Dave

Add me to the list as well. jorge

I'd gladly pay for a copy as well.

Add me as an interested party.

_Baxter

I would love to have a copy as well -when it is legal.
Thanks for the dogged pursuit of this.

Next, someone should compile and edit some of Capstick's videos to make them a little more up to date.

Whoever Adam Clements uses for his DVDs should be brought into this. Or the guys that Boddington's videos.

I am interested.

I´m all for it! Where do I sign?

Count me in, too. Thanks.

Also, count me in for one copy!

Dak

I'm in at whatever level. This is an important film in African history, and somehow, it needs to be made available.

I as well own a VHS "copy of a copy" made from a late-nite movie. Quality is poor and I've been searching for years for a good, or at least better, quality replacement. This is a wonderful old movie, a true classic, and I'd gladly pay any reasonable sum for a DVD.

I can't remember where I got it , but someone was marketing this movie commercially under the name "On Safari With Robert Ruark" about 5-10 years ago, and I bought a copy. Looking at the vhs tape and it's box, I see nothing to indicate who was distributing it. There is also a suspicious lack of credits before the movie begins (hadn't noticed this before). Quality is fairly poor by today's standards. At any rate, it is definately the same film as 'Robert Ruark's Africa Adventure". The Library of Congress has an excellent copy that I watched there about 10 years ago.

Please count me in for a copy if all this works out.

Steve,
thyat is the same one I have and I do believe it was actually bootlegge as it is in black and white and from what i have heard, an original copy (probably a preiview copy) was bought and the guy thoguth he then owned the rights and sold them. I got mine off cabelas. If you notice, in the beginning trailer the word 'imperfections' is spelled wrong. _BAxter

I would be interested in a copy.

So, is the original movie in Color or B&W?

BTW go to
Turner Classics Suggestions

and fill out the suggestion form. Maybe we can get enough of us for them to take notice!

I would be interested as well. Sounds like the interest level is high, the likelihood is another thing.

I would also love to buy a copy if this works out. Good luck!!