Didn't we have a discussion a few years back about African Adventure or something like that? A film Robert Ruark made about his African safari long time ago.
Bfly

There are some great movies listed in this valuable thread - thanks.

Great to see 'The Battle of Algiers' mentioned; it is particularly well made and so realistic it was required viewing for many years in the unconventional warfare program at the JFK Special Warfare Center. Created in an almost documentary style, it starred at least one actor who had served with the Légion étrangère (French Foreign Legion) in Algiers during the last days of French control (he's featured on the poster below and later starred in the original film production 'The Day of the Jackal' - also as an ex-Legionnaire).

The movie provides keen insights into what motivates guerilla, terrorist and other 'freedom' movements in locations like Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria. I encourage any of you with an interest in Northern Africa, and insurgencies in particular, to watch this movie and see how little things change.



On a more macabre and sinister note, back in 1932 a remake of 'West of Zanzibar' was made called 'Kongo' starring Walter Huston (co-star of 'Treasure of Sierra Madre' and father of director/actor John Huston), Lupe Vélez, and Virginia Bruce. This is a rarely seen movie and only recently has it occasionally appeared on Turner Classic Movies.



'Kongo' is a bizarre, occasionally titillating, somewhat camp, but always disturbing melodrama set in a steamy, malarial African rainforest. Huston plays 'Deadlegs' Flint, a madman with elements of Conrad's Kurtz, who lost the use of his legs during a brutal fight with a man named Gordon. It offers a disturbing portrait of a bitter, crippled, and insane African ivory trader who's rage and compulsion for revenge compels him to torture - mentally and physically - all those around him.



He terrifies the local tribesmen into submission using magic tricks to feign knowledge of voodoo and is even more depraved in his treatment of the few Westerners who are trapped in his employ or by circumstance. The movie centers around his horrifyingly elaborate and bestial plans to exact payback against his nemesis. The ending is classic.

Filmed before the censorship code came into effect in the early '30's, it's a wonder that MGM green-lighted a movie this risqué to be made. For film buffs, it was produced by MGM in the same year they created their notorious movie 'Freaks'.

'Kongo' is available on DVD but surprisingly can be watched from the comfort of your computer (in 11 parts) on YouTube: 'Kongo' on youTube. Check it out!

And let's not forget 'I Married Adventure' starring Osa Johnson.

Osa married adventure when she hooked up with cinematographer Martin Johnson. This movie follows her 1940 best selling book of the same title. Filmed by her husband, Osa plays herself with enthusiastic if economical acting skills. It is nevertheless a remarkable story providing a rare glimpse into pre-WWII Africa.

Gentlemen,

For those who like to have some of teh above movies on their computers while travelling, I can recommend a program called ANYDVD

From Slysoft

This is an extremely simple program to copy the .VOB files from the DVD to your hard disk.

It is just a COPY/PASTE operation.

You also need to download VLC media player.

VLC is free, but ANYDVD has to be bought after 30 days.

ANYDVD removes all protection from trhe DVDs to allow you to copy the files to your hard drive.

Have fun.

How about "Safari" from 1956?



Plot

Whilst white hunter Ken Duffield (Victor Mature) is leading a safari, Mau Mau terrorists attack his farm; slaughtering the labourers and livestock. Duffield's son Charlie and Aunt May (Estelle Brody) defend their home against the mass attack but they do not know that their houseboy Jeroge (Earl Cameron) is actually a Mau Mau general. From inside the farmhouse, Jeroge murders Aunt May with a machete and Charlie by repeatedly firing May's rifle into the child.
As Duffield returns to his destroyed homestead the Kenya Police have obtained information from a captured wounded terrorist of Jeroge's exploits in the affair. Surmising that Duffield will use his hunting expertise to track down and revenge himself on the terrorists in general and Jeroge in particular, they escort him back to Nairobi and revoke his hunting licence until the situation and Duffield cool down.
Duffield spends his exile in Nairobi drinking and gathering intelligence of Jeroge from his African friends. He gets his chance for revenge when the powerful Sir Vincent Brampton (Roland Culver), accompanied by his flunky Brian (John Justin) and his young trophy fiancée Linda (Janet Leigh) arrive in Nairobi determined to hire Duffield to lead a Safari so Sir Vincent can bag a legendary man-eating lion named "Hatari". Duffield knows that Hatari resides in an area that Jeroge is known to frequent and that Sir Vincent can use his influence to get his hunting licence back.
Setting off on safari with his boss boy Jerusulem (Orlando Martins) and Odongo (Juma), Sir Vincent suspects Duffield is not interested in hunting lions when he carries a Sten gun; Duffield explaining "you never know what kind of animals you may find". Sir Vincent confirms his opinion when Duffield jumps out of his Land Rover to join the Police in a firefight against the Mau Mau and is keen to extract information from the prisoners.
Duffield keeps his promise to bring Sir Vincent and his party to Hatari's turf in the land of the Maasai where the audience witnesses a traditional Maasai lion hunt.
Duffield's plans face peril when -
A police radio report reveals that an unknown member of the safari is a Mau Mau plant
The obsessive Sir Vincent is determined to get sole credit for killing Hatari and unloads Duffield's rifle
Linda decides to take an excursion down a crocodile infested river in a rubber dinghy
Another police radio report warns that two hundred Mau Mau prisoners have escaped and are headed towards Duffield's safari to link up with Jeroge