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Review
Archives
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Today's
Date is:
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Hatari
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Reviewed
by: |
Marty
Hansen |
| Genre: |
Action |
| Video: |
Widescreen
anamorphic 1.85:1 |
| Audio: |
Dolby
Digital (Mono) |
| Language: |
English,
French |
| Subtitle: |
English
|
| Length: |
157
mins. |
| Rating: |
NR
|
| Release
Date: |
July
24, 2001 |
| Studio: |
Paramount
Pictures |
| Commentary:
|
None
|
| Documentaries:
|
None
|
| Featurettes:
|
None
|
| Filmography/Biography:
|
None
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|
Interviews: |
None
|
| Trailers/TV
Spots: |
"Hatari!"
theatrical trailer |
| Alternate/Deleted
Scenes: |
None
|
| Music
Video: |
None
|
| Other:
|
None
|
| Cast
and Crew: |
John Wayne,
Gerard Blain, Red Buttons, Hardy Kruger, Elsa Martinelli, Michelle
Gradon |
| Screenplay
by: |
Leigh Brackett
|
| Produced
by: |
Howard Hawks |
| Directed
By: |
Howard Hawks |
| Music: |
Henry Mancini |
| The
Review: |
When we
think of wild animal shows today, the first person that comes
to mind is probably Steve Irvin, the Crocodile Man from Animal
Planet. A few years ago, we might've thought of Marlin Perkins
and his Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom (which I grew up watching
on Sunday evenings as it immediately preceded the Wonderful
World of Disney). But how many of us would've thought to watch
an animal action movie featuring none other than John Wayne?
In this feature film, Hatari, (which means "danger" in Swahili),
John appears with his comical sidekick, Red Buttons, as a trapper
who catches big game for some of the largest zoos in the world.
The work is hazardous, and the scenery is breathtaking. John
plays a strong-willed but understated boss-man who is slow in
the area of love, but who eventually falls hard for a beautiful
Italian photographer named Dallas, (short for Delasandro and
played by the lovely Elsa Martinelli). This film, like a nice
episode on the Discovery Channel, is both education and entertaining,
and appropriate for the entire family. The numerous trapping
scenes throughout the film -- and the way John Wayne interacts
with the animals -- are what easily set this movie apart. Rather
than wrestling with a single creature (as would Steve Irvin),
or photographing the species from afar (as one might see in
an episode of National Geographic), John drives his badly weathered
Jeep directly among the stampeding animal herd in order to lasso
the intended specimen. The beautiful vistas of the open savanna
of East Tanganyika (which is now part of Tanzania) are spectacular,
and to see the majestic herds of zebra, wildebeests, giraffes
and antelope -- at a full gallop -- is enchanting. (I sadly
doubt if such scenery of open herds is still available in Africa
today.) There was also some nice footage of John and Red using
a homemade rocket (and a net) to catch wild monkeys up a tree;
as well as two scenes -- one at the start of the movie and another
at the end -- of John and crew attempting to rope a pair of
treacherous rhinoceros. The director, Howard Hawks, uses John
Wayne's animal trapper role as a perfect excuse to obtain intimate
footage of magnificent animals galloping in flight across the
vast plains of Africa. There is an excellent musical score punctuating
the action by the master, Henry Mancini. And Elsa plays her
role of Dallas with a vulnerability and charm that is virtually
unseen in women's (movie) roles today. The funniest and most
touching moment in the film comes towards the end as Dallas,
who feels ignored, leaves unexpectedly without saying good-bye.
John, crestfallen but thinking quickly, uses the bloodhound-like
noses of the baby elephants that Dallas has raised to track
her down. The movie ends happily as John and Dallas are eventually
married, but their wedding night is rudely interrupted by the
rambunctious baby elephants which barge in and comically destroy
their nuptial bed. (Gee, isn't it amazing the lengths to which
some directors will go to avoid including a love scene?) |
| Image
and Sound |
The sound
and video transfer of the disc were outstanding. The movie was
as clear and crisp as if it had been filmed just yesterday (rather
than almost forty years ago). The dialog and sound effects,
particularly during the trapping scenes, sounded a little dubbed,
but that was easily par-for-the-course back in 1962 (when this
movie was originally made). |
| The
Extras |
The DVD
contains a theatrical trailer for the movie which highlights
the film's action sequences. The release is also nicely dubbed
in French (with optional English subtitles). But that is about
it for the extras. |
| Commentary |
None |
| Final
Words: |
If you'd
like to see a light, entertaining picture with outstanding imagery
of galloping herds of wild animals in Africa, Hatari would be
an excellent movie to share with the entire family. But be warned!
This movie has absolutely no sex or gratuitous violence. Showing
this movie to your kids (or grandkids) just might turn them
into newly minted John Wayne fans. (And we wouldn't want that
to happen, now would we?) |
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