safari film 1956

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Brief Synopsis

Cast & crew, terence young, victor mature, janet leigh, john justin, roland culver, liam redmond, photos & videos, technical specs.

While leading an elephant hunting expedition in Kenya, Ken Dufield, a "Great White Hunter," learns of a Mau Mau uprising near his farm in Nairobi. Rushing back to Nairobi, Ken finds his home in ashes and his young son murdered by Jeroge, a Mau Mau general who infiltrated the Dufield home by posing as a house boy. When Ken vows to avenge his son's murder, the provincial governor revokes his hunter's license until the police can capture Jeroge. Soon after, Sir Vincent Brampton, a ruthless English lord, arrives in Nairobi with his fiancée, a former showgirl named Linda, and his aide, Brian Sinden. Vincent is obsessed with killing the man-eating lion known as Atari, and upon learning that the hunter he chose to lead the expedition is unavailable, he launches into a tirade directed at Brian. When Roy Shaw, an organizer of hunting expeditions, suggests that Ken lead Vincent's party, Vincent coerces the governor into reinstating the hunter's license. After hiring a contingent of helpers, including Jerusalem, a trumpet playing cook, Odongo, a young boy who begs to go along, and the reliable Kakora, the hunting party sets out into Mau Mau territory. When they set up camp, Linda tries to strike up a conversation with the taciturn Ken, who rebuffs her overtures. Linda then admits that she has agreed to marry Vincent solely for his money and position. That night, Roy notifies Ken over the short-wave radio that one of his safari boys has taken the Mau Mau oath. Ken then contacts the Masai, an enemy of the Mau Mau, who inform him that Jeroge is in the vicinity. Upon discovering that Jeroge is but one hour away, Ken takes off after him with Kakora, thus allowing Jackson, the Mau Mau spy in camp, to steal Brian's rifle. Jackson delivers the rifle to Jeroge, who lies in wait for Ken. With Kakora's help, Ken fends off Jeroge's attack and returns to camp, where Vincent humiliates Brian for the loss of his rifle. Softening toward Linda, Ken goes to her tent to talk and is jealously watched by Vincent. Soon after, Jackson tries to sneak back into camp, but Kakora catches him. Escaping Kakora's grasp, Jackson runs into the bush and is pursued by Ken and the others, who leave Odongo behind to protect Linda. Sneaking back to camp, Jackson attacks Linda, but is repelled by Odongo and Jerusalem, who slams him over the head with a frying pan. Just as Jackson regains his balance and is about to assault Linda again, Ken returns and shoots him. The next day, Brian remains behind with Linda as Ken and Vincent track Atari. Linda drinks to compensate for her desperate unhappiness as Vincent's consort, and after finishing a bottle, decides to jump into a rubber raft and go fishing on the treacherous river. In the brush, meanwhile, Ken and Vincent spot Atari, and although Ken warns that they are at too great a distance to bring the animal down, Vincent fires anyway, wounding the beast, who then takes cover in the jungle. Just then, Brian arrives with news that Linda is drifting dangerously down the river. As her raft approaches the rapids, Linda is catapulted from the craft into the water and trailed by a hungry crocodile. Upon reaching the river bank, Ken shoots the crocodile and pulls Linda to shore. As Kakora, Ken and Vincent resume tracking the wounded lion, an enraged rhinoceros charges from the bush and gores Kakora. After sorrowfully burying his friend, Ken denounces Vincent as being responsible for Kakora's death. Later, alone with Ken, Linda announces that she is taking her final drink to fuel her courage so that she can proclaim her love for him. Soon after, Roy radios that a contingent of Mau Mau terrorists are heading toward them. When Ken orders the safari to move out immediately, Vincent, determined to bag the lion at any cost, pops a handful of pills and then heads into the night to kill his prey. When Ken goes after him, Vincent, crazed, threatens to shoot the hunter. Just then, Atari lunges at Vincent and mauls him. After Ken shoots the beast, he carries the gravely injured Vincent back to camp. Aware that they must quickly reach the hospital in Nairobi if they are to save Vincent's life, Ken decides to take a shortcut through Mau Mau country. As the safari enters the perilous territory, Jeroge and his men, positioned in the hills above the road, shoot out their tires and then attack. After Ken peppers the terrorists with gunfire, they retreat, waiting until dark to attack once more. To save his friends, Odongo risks his life and runs off to notify the territorial police of their peril. As night falls, Ken orders the others to pull out, but the Mau Mau swoop down upon them first, blocking the road with a felled tree. As Jerusalem, Linda and Ken fire at the terrorists, Vincent raves in delirium and is fatally struck by a Mau Mau bullet. Just as Odongo and the reinforcements arrive, Jeroge wounds Ken and is about to shoot Odongo when Ken rises up and slays him. Now safe, Linda kisses Ken and Odongo merrily laughs and muses that Ken will now look after Linda.

Earl Cameron

Orlando martins, lionel ngakane, harry quashie, slim harris, arthur lovegrove, estelle brody, christopher warbey, john harrison, glyn lawson, frank singuineau, charles hayes, bartholomew sketch, irwin allen, william alwyn, albert r. broccoli, robert buckner, elsa fennell, michael forlong, henry geddes, michael gordon, fred holland, maisie kelly, muir mathieson, alan osbiston, nora roberts, paddy roberts, royal philharmonic orchestra, elliot scott, j. b. smith, gerry turner, anthony veiller, john wilcox, fred williamson, adrian d. worker, photo collections, hosted intro.

The working title of this film was Safari Story . The opening and closing cast credits differ slightly in order. According to a March 1956 Hollywood Reporter news item, Ned Washington was initially signed to write a song for the film. Hollywood Reporter production charts note that filming was done in London, England and in East Africa.

Miscellaneous Notes

Released in United States Summer June 1956

CinemaScope

Released in June 1956.

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Directed by Terence Young

Murderous Mau-Mau! Maddened beasts! Mighty jungle love!

Wealthy eccentric Sir Vincent Brampton and his fiancée Linda Latham hire Ken Duffield to lead them on a jungle hunt. Duffield is looking for the murderer of his son; he gets the killer and Linda.

Victor Mature Janet Leigh John Justin Roland Culver Liam Redmond Earl Cameron Orlando Martins Juma Lionel Ngakane Harry Quashie Slim Harris Cy Grant John Wynn Arthur Lovegrove Estelle Brody Christopher Warbey John Harrison Glyn Lawson Frank Singuineau Charles Hayes Bartholomew Sketch John Cook Bob Isaacs

Director Director

Terence Young

Producers Producers

Albert R. Broccoli Irving Allen Adrian D. Worker

Writer Writer

Anthony Veiller

Story Story

Robert Buckner

Casting Casting

Nora Roberts

Editors Editors

Michael Gordon Alan Osbiston

Cinematography Cinematography

John Wilcox

Assistant Director Asst. Director

Frank Hollands

Additional Directing Add. Directing

Michael Forlong

Camera Operators Camera Operators

Denys N. Coop Cecil Cooney

Additional Photography Add. Photography

Ted Moore Frederick Ford

Art Direction Art Direction

Elliot Scott

Composer Composer

William Alwyn

Sound Sound

Tony Lower Gerry Turner J.B. Smith

Costume Design Costume Design

Olga Lehmann

Makeup Makeup

Freddie Williamson

Hairstyling Hairstyling

Warwick Film Productions

Releases by Date

20 jun 1956, releases by country.

• Theatrical NR

90 mins   More at IMDb TMDb Report this page

Popular reviews

Review by Rafael "Parker!!" Jovine ★★★½

Action!: Terence Young - The Many Stages Of A Real "M"

This is what I am talking about!

Terence Young turns his attention to revenge thrillers after playing with this genre in several of his previous films. The result, although not magnificent, is great and makes a big impact thanks to the way he balances the thrills with a great sense of adventure. Sadly, he keeps his camera very close to his characters, so we don't get a stronger sense of location.

Having loved him in Kiss of Death , Victor Mature managed to deliver another great performance. Humphrey Bogart was the first option for playing this role, and though the way the character is written seems tailor-made for the actor,…

Review by loureviews ★★

Victor Mature is not one of my favourite actors, and here he seems miscast and ageing badly in this colour Boy's Own adventure filmed in Kenya. The exteriors may look fabulous, but the attitudes are dated, and the butchery of animals is suspect. Not such of a plot either, despite best efforts: The Searchers, this isn't.

Janet Leigh is little more than decoration, while Mature's acting just isn't enough to reel us in emotionally.

Review by JOELWOODS ★★★★

Victor Mature and Janet Leigh star in this Kenya set adventure film shot in lush CinemaScope. Taking place during the Mau Mau uprising in the mid-'50s, hunter Ken Duffield's (Mature) son is murdered by a member of his own staff who is a part of the uprising. It's quite a thing to see a kid shot several times, especially in a movie that was made in 1956. Before Ken can take out his revenge, his hunting license is revoked. Fortunately for him, Sir Vincent Brampton (Roland Culver) and his fiance Linda (Leigh) have come to town. Brampton is keen on killing a man-eating lion named "Hatari" for sport. He pulls a few strings and gets Ken's hunting license back. Now…

Review by e🌸 ★★½

janet leigh packs some of the most questionable safari outfits and honestly I’m here for it

Review by Tim Leggoe ★½

This is not woke.

Review by Brian Lindsay ★★

In this British adventure, revenge and romance are blended into a heavy melodrama that is leavened in part by some old-fashioned wilderness thrills, hunting action and combat sequences. Handed cliched roles, neither of the American stars nor any of their British and Kenyan supporting cast are able to fashion characters of particular interest. More entertaining is the brightly colourful location and wildlife footage which is thankfully undermined by back-projection shots only occasionally. Overall, its an adventure with some excitement but no lasting impression.

Review by Luke Thorne ★★★

Terence Young directs this thriller with Victor Mature and Janet Leigh, about a big-game hunter who aims to avenge the murder of his son during Kenya's Mau Mau Uprising.

The story of this adventure concerns two hunters who want their own separate prey. The mission’s supporter, Sir Vincent Brampton (Roland Culver) is determined to get his hands on a subtle lion with a fatal name.

But the man he hires as a guide, Ken (Victor Mature) is secretly trying to get his revenge on him, as Vincent murdered his son. Vincent’s fiancée Linda (Janet Leigh) finds herself falling in love with Ken as the group begin to lose their people and danger begins to loom.

Victor Mature gives a good…

Review by Dave Lee ★★★

Decent Jungle-thriller - Janet Lee is particularly great here!

Review by tequila68 ★★★★

Excellent action adventure safari film. Vastly under-rated.

Review by chillywog

Two stars for Janet Leigh.

Review by Luc Gehant ★

Terence Young's 'Safari' makes a big deal about the BWH (aka the Big White Hunter) Ken Duffield (Victor Mature) is off leading a safari in Kenya when the Mau Mau rebels attack his farm. Destroying everything and killing both his aunt and his young son. Furthermore, the murders are committed by Jeroge. A trusted servant that turns out to be a Mau Mau general.

Duffield is then sent to Nairobi to cool off by the police. However, he still gets his chance for revenge when the rich Sir Vincent Brampton (Roland Culver), accompanied by his flunky Brian (John Justin) and his young American trophy fiancée Linda (Janet Leigh), arrive in Nairobi. They are keen to hire Duffield to lead a…

Review by Thornhill ★★★

Der Ranown-Verbindung nicht unähnlich, bastelten die Herren Young, Broccoli und Mature einen losen, nur drei Filme andauernden Afrika-Zyklus zusammen, der mit diesem hier begann und schon zwei Jahre später, zu Gunsten eines gewissen Herrn Bond, wieder enden musste. Die Kante Mature könnte ich mir aber auch so gar nicht in der Rolle eines grazilen Geheimagenten vorstellen.

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Produced by, safari (1956), directed by terence young.

• AllMovie Rating 5
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Cast & Crew

Victor Mature

Ken Duffield

Janet Leigh

Linda Latham

John Justin

Brian Sinden

Roland Culver

Sir Vincent Brampton

Liam Redmond

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Victor Mature (Ken Duffield) Janet Leigh (Linda Latham) John Justin (Brian Sinden) Roland Culver (Sir Vincent Brampton) Liam Redmond (Roy Shaw) Earl Cameron (Jeroge) Orlando Martins (Jerusalem) Juma (Odongo) Lionel Ngakane (Makora) Harry Quashie (O'Keefe)

Terence Young

During the Mau Mau Uprising in British Kenya in the 1950s, settler-hunter Ken Duffield is a hired guide for a lion hunting party but he also hopes to find the Mau Mau rebel who killed his family.

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Safari (1956)

Genre: adventure, duration: 90 minuten, country: united kingdom, directed by: terence young, stars: victor mature , janet leigh and john justin, imdb score: 5,6  (671), releasedate: 20 june 1956.

This movie is not available on UK streaming services.

Safari plot

"Murderous Mau-Mau! Maddened beasts! Mighty jungle love!" Wealthy millionaire Sir Vincent Brampton and his fiancée Linda Latham hire professional hunter Ken Duffield to take them on safari in the East African wilderness. For Duffield himself, this is a great opportunity to find the murderer of his son, who probably belongs to the dangerous Mau-Mau tribe.

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Ken Duffield

Linda Latham

Brian Sinden

Sir Vincent Brampton

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Du cinéma beau, passionnant et incroyable.

Wealthy eccentric Sir Vincent Brampton and his fiancée Linda Latham hire Ken Duffield to lead them on a jungle hunt. Duffield is looking for the murderer of his son; he gets the killer and Linda.