L'ultimo safari

As usual with his last films, Hank Hathaway drove them in autopilot mode, not concerned at all, with no more inspiration at all, no more creative instinct such as this one that amazed audiences in masterpieces such as THE LIVES OF A BENGAL LANCER or KISS OF DEATH, NIAGARA, FROM HELL TO TEXAS. However his next movie: FIVE CARDS STUD was more than worth watching. Mainly because of the animals sequences, for instance the hippos in the water, with a Henri Mancini like score, I thought of HATARI, not a drama but a light hearted film destined to all kinds of audiences. It is nevertheless a pretty good time waster shot on locations.

African adventure in the angry jungle with Stewart Granger as an obstinate hunter along with an annoying couple, a cocky millionaire kid : overacting by Kaz Garas and his sexy traveling companion : an extremely beautiful Gabriella Licudi. Along with the rogue elephant who had killed before, they all boiled over on the last safari. As Miles, Stewart Granger, belongs to Professional Hunter Association, he is a big game hunter with an only purport, to chase an elephant. He goes on a safari to shoot the elephant that killed his best friend. Granger thinks killing the rampaging beast will restore his courage and help him overcome the guilt he feels. Then the big game hunter abandons his pal Kaz Garas to meet the feared elephant accompanied by his helper, Johnny Sekka,. However, Kaz Caras tracks him down throughout the lush jungle.

So-so adventure drama shot on location in Kenya, hampared by a poor script in which Granger and Garas set out to hunt the giant elephant which killed Stewart's friend. Based on the novel titled Gilligan's last elephant by Gerald Hanley with script by John Gay. In the film appears a lot of wildlife, but most of them taken from stock shots as Rhino, lions, Hippo, gazela and Elephants, including some lousy transparency . Granger gives a passable acting as a bitter professional guide, and Garas provides an excessive and silly performance as the cocky millionaire. And gorgeous Gabriella Licudi who steals the show dancing some sexy African dances.

It contains a faded, and tarnished cinematography by Ted Moore, being really necessary a perfect remastering. And a lively and moving musical score by John Dankworth that is very influenced by Henry Mancini soundtrack from Hatari. This Paramount Picture production was regularly directed by veteran filmmaker Henry Hathaway. This Hollywood director made all kinds of genres with penchant for Western and adventure . And made some classic movies. And directed several times to Duke, John Wayne. Making dramas as Peter Ibbetson, House of Indiana, Desperate siege, Fourteen hours, Call Northside 777, Woman obsessed, Niagara, Kiss of death, The house on 92 street, Diplomatic courier . Outstanding in adventure genre as Legend of the lost, North to Alaska, The real glory, The Black Rose, Circus world, White witch doctor . And westerns as 5 card stud, Brigham Young the Frontiersman, How the west was won, From hell to Texas, True grit, Nevada Smith, among others. Rating 5/10 mediocre.

Stewart Granger got so many good notices for King Solomon's Mines and Harry Black and the Tiger that I guess Henry Hathaway and Paramount decided to cash in on one more trip.

Granger was at a financial crunch at this part of his life and he'd work in just about anything. He had just done several years of European westerns.

Well The Last Safari isn't even close to King Solomon's Mines or Harry Black and the Tiger. Poor Granger, he looks like he's sleepwalking through the safari.

And for reasons I can't understand Kaz Garas got top billing in his first feature film. Did Granger lose a bet to someone at Paramount because I can't figure that out at all.

Garas has had a successful career as a character actor, do in no part to his performance here. He's just plain obnoxious, a kind of early version of Donald Trump. Garas is so annoying in his portrayal of a young American tycoon that the film is close to being unwatchable.

Granger was not particularly crazy about a lot of his films and this is definitely one that was inflicted instead of released to the movie going public.

...whose filmography includes such treasures as "lives of a Bengal Lancer" "Peter Ibbetson" " Niagara" ,the underrated "legend of the lost" and more.This one is anaemic,even Stewart Granger does not believe in what he is playing,being sullen,indifferent, barely infuriated by millionaire Casey's whims .The plot is a run of the mill confrontation experienced grumpy old hunter / young mindless rookie who wants to go with him on a safari(check the title).A bubble head girl accompanies the freshman :the prize goes to the scene when the young brunette realizes dancing with the natives can be dangerous .The beautiful African landscapes are nicely filmed but they do not really need these raiders of the lost elephant.

Adapted from GILLIGAN'S LAST ELEPHANT, this is a somewhat-above-average adventure film, starring Stewart Granger in his familiar role as a white hunter. What makes the movie memorable is the character of Kaz Garas, a brash, wealthy American who just happens to be right about the direction Africa is (and should be) going, while Granger and all the other Noble White Hunters are dead wrong.