John Wayne leads a group of people chasing wild animals across the African plains in the adventure movie “Hatari!” With much of the action revolving around the pursuit and capture of animals destined for zoos, there is little else to hold viewer’s attention. Uneven direction by Howard Hawks (“Bringing Up Baby” 1938) and a weak screenplay by Leigh Brackett gives little attention to character development and features silly romantic subplots to fill the downtime on screen.
The cast with the Duke includes Red Buttons, Bruce Cabot, Elsa Martinelli, Hardy Kruger, Michele Girardon, Valentin de Vargas, Eduard Franz, Gerard Blain, and Cathy Lewis as the voice of Arusha Control over the radio (uncredited). Cinematography by Russell Harlan is outstanding, with filming in beautiful scenery in northern Tanganyika (now Tanzania), especially around Mount Meru, a dormant volcano. Despite flaws, the still watchable “Hatari!” (Swahili for danger) was successful at the box office for producer Howard Hawks and Paramount Pictures.
Hatari! (1961)
cinema
My Review
John Wayne leads a group of people chasing wild animals across the African plains in the adventure movie “Hatari!” With much of the action revolving around the pursuit and capture of animals destined for zoos, there is little else to hold viewer’s attention. Uneven direction by Howard Hawks (“Bringing Up Baby” 1938) and a weak screenplay by Leigh Brackett gives little attention to character development and features silly romantic subplots to fill the downtime on screen.
The cast with the Duke includes Red Buttons, Bruce Cabot, Elsa Martinelli, Hardy Kruger, Michele Girardon, Valentin de Vargas, Eduard Franz, Gerard Blain, and Cathy Lewis as the voice of Arusha Control over the radio (uncredited). Cinematography by Russell Harlan is outstanding, with filming in beautiful scenery in northern Tanganyika (now Tanzania), especially around Mount Meru, a dormant volcano. Despite flaws, the still watchable “Hatari!” (Swahili for danger) was successful at the box office for producer Howard Hawks and Paramount Pictures.