TRADER HORN
US, 1973, 101 minutes, Colour.
Rod Taylor, Anne Heywood, Jean Sorel, Don Knight.
Directed by Reza Badiyi.
Trader Horn was originally an MGM film of the early 1930s, in the vein of King Solomon’s Mines and Red Dust. This is a very conventional remake, the rather slim story expanded in order to take in an enormous amount of vivid photography of African landscapes.
The film is set in 1916, the atmosphere of World War One and the clash between Britain and Germany. The British are presented as rather clownish, more interested in pursuing Trader Horn and their antagonism towards him than confronting the Germans. The Germans are presented merely as troops who are to be destroyed by the British.
Compared with such films about World War One in Africa as Shout at the Devil or The African Queen, this film is quite insignificant.
The basic story, the search for platinum in hidden mines in Africa is very much the story of King Solomon’s Mines. There is also the emotional triangle in such films as King Solomon’s Mines and Mogambo. In fact, some of the characters in this version of Trader Horn, the tribes, the dances and the rituals are reminiscent of the 1950s version of King Solomon’s Mines with Stewart Granger and Deborah Kerr.
Rod Taylor is a down-to-earth hero as the trader who is persuaded to go to search for the platinum, his being pursued by a rather single-minded British officer, falls in love with Anne Heywood who has accompanied her friend, played by Jean Sorel, to search for the platinum. He, needless to say, is emotionally upset yet continues on the task – and, of course, sacrifices his life for the others.
The film is spectacular in its scenery but mundane in its storytelling.
1. Audiences enjoying films about Africa, expeditions, search for treasures?
2. The World War One setting, the British officers, the Germans, the pursuit by the British of Trader Horn, the tactics, the confrontation between Horn and his group, the Africans and the Germans? The issues of World War One?
3. The importance of the photography of Africa, the variety of landscapes, their beauty, ruggedness? The animals, the confrontations? The musical score?
4. The title, Rod Taylor as Trader Horn, British, his work in Africa, the antagonism of the military? The initial expedition, the shooting of the elephants? His seeming to want to preserve the animals while being a hunter? The clash with the British? Colonel Sinclair and his pompous attitudes?
5. The Africans, working on the safaris? The dangers and their being killed? The tribal Africans? The friendship with Trader Horn? Finding the chief, accompanying him to his homeland? The dangers, the fights? The various tribes and their antagonism, Trader Horn and the escape? His being welcomed, the guide being the king? The dances and rituals? Helping Horn against the Germans? The platinum?
6. Emil and Nicole, their presence in Africa, the platinum medallion? Emil’s past friendship with Trader Horn? Persuading him to go on the expedition?
7. The romance, Nicole and her disdain of Trader? Emil, the growing jealousy? Trader denying romance? Nicole and her falling in love? The scenes between them, Emil watching, jealousy? Emil’s character, determination to go on, his giving his life? Nicole, her accompanying Trader? A future?
8. The series of adventures, familiar material? Interesting? Exciting? Finding the white man, his fears, their escaping from him? His wanting the platinum?
9. The overall impact of this kind of film about Africa – visually preserving images of an Africa of the past rather than of contemporary development?
