Errol Flynn's penultimate film is this overlong snoozer, directed by John Huston, about a man trying to stamp out elephant hunting in Africa. Despite being top-billed, Flynn isn't the lead. That role goes to Trevor Howard. The movie starts with Howard speechifying and there are many more speeches to come, from him and others. The script is little more than a series of speeches. Before you say "so what," keep in mind this movie is two hours long.
The production was troubled, to put it politely. The reasons are many and other reviewers have covered them well. The cast looks impressive on paper but most of the name stars have small roles or cameos. Orson Welles is enjoyably hammy in that way he was so good at being. Errol Flynn looks absolutely horrible. I'm sure it will come as no surprise to anyone to discover he was inebriated constantly during filming. He would die the year after this was made. Juliette Greco, Darryl Zanuck's girlfriend at the time, is given the female lead role. Watching her, it's not surprising she didn't become a big star. She, too, is a victim of the horrible script. At one point her character goes on about how many men she has had to sleep with (or been raped by). What could have been an emotional, powerful scene in the hands of a better writer and actress is turned into a risible monologue ("The only thing really sticks in my memory is brass buckles of der belts."). Well-meaning but too long, too dull, and too pompous. The only positive is the location shooting, which is nice. One final note: during the filming of this movie about protecting elephants from poachers, John Huston went big-game hunting. I don't know whether to laugh or cry at that but I guess it goes to show Hollywood has been full of hypocrites since way back.
The production was troubled, to put it politely. The reasons are many and other reviewers have covered them well. The cast looks impressive on paper but most of the name stars have small roles or cameos. Orson Welles is enjoyably hammy in that way he was so good at being. Errol Flynn looks absolutely horrible. I'm sure it will come as no surprise to anyone to discover he was inebriated constantly during filming. He would die the year after this was made. Juliette Greco, Darryl Zanuck's girlfriend at the time, is given the female lead role. Watching her, it's not surprising she didn't become a big star. She, too, is a victim of the horrible script. At one point her character goes on about how many men she has had to sleep with (or been raped by). What could have been an emotional, powerful scene in the hands of a better writer and actress is turned into a risible monologue ("The only thing really sticks in my memory is brass buckles of der belts."). Well-meaning but too long, too dull, and too pompous. The only positive is the location shooting, which is nice. One final note: during the filming of this movie about protecting elephants from poachers, John Huston went big-game hunting. I don't know whether to laugh or cry at that but I guess it goes to show Hollywood has been full of hypocrites since way back.