This is about the quality you'd expect from a TV pilot film even one that received a theatrical release which means that, for most of us, it's pretty dull viewing. A past-his-sell-by-date Hugh O'Brian plays Jim Sinclair a brawny Texan cowboy clad in white and with a Native American sidekick (Tom Nardini) to prove just what a decent, honourable chap he is. That doesn't prevent him from nicking Adrienne Corri from her stiff-lipped fiancée without a moment's hesitation, however. Sinclair also takes Samson, an orphaned black boy under his wing. Samson, of course, is Africa, a vulnerable waif in need of guidance and aid; he's cute as a button, but serves no real purpose other than to pad out the running time which, at 109 minutes is about 108 minutes longer than it really needs to be. John Mills obviously fancied a holiday in the sun back in '67, because there's clearly nothing about this project in terms of artistic or creative merit that could have attracted him, and his character, like little Samson's, serves no real purpose other than to admire Sinclair. He even manages to bag a freebie for daughter Hayley by having her make a 30-second cameo appearance in the first five minutes, the sly old dog. Only Nigel Green as a bullish Saird-Efrikan adds any kind of spark to the proceedings, but he isn't on screen long enough to redeem this dud.
Review of Africa: Texas Style
