THE LAST SAFARI
US, 1967, 110 minutes, Colour.
Stewart Granger, Kaz Garas, Gabriella Licudi, Johnny Sekka, Liam Redmond.
Directed by Henry Hathaway.
The Last Safari is an entertaining adventure - which might have been much better. It is rather long and drawn out. There in attractive African photography and music by Johnny Dankworth. The direction is by Henry Hathaway. towards the end of his career. Hathaway made many interesting adventure films over several decades including the first colour western The Trail of the Lonesome Pins. During the forties he made a number of sombre black and white documentary thrillers like The House On 92nd Street and Call North Side 777. After this film he was to direct John Wayne in his Oscar-winning performance in True Grit. The Last Safari, while entertaining in a routine way, is a disappointment for a Hathaway film.
1. Audience expectations of African films? Was this just another one? Was it different?
2. The use of colour, location photography, emphasis on African animals? How well did the film establish and continue its atmosphere?
3. The importance of the modern settings planes, clubs, politics etc.?
4. The significance of the title and Its tone? The emphasis on age, regrets, heroes on safari and their achievements? Were the themes explored well?
5. The focus on Gilchrist? Seen at the start as a hunter and guide, the explanation of his attitudes on hunting and hunters, a humane man, a loner, the reasons for his feelings of guilt and responsibility, his need for redemption? His obsession with redeeming himself? The significance of his speech at the club about modern hunters? A man on a desperate quest?
6. The presentation of danger? His involvement in danger? His attitude towards the others? The question of politics? The political emphasis in the safari? Gilchrist's finally going on alone, despite the deaths? The fact that he didn't shoot the elephant? What had he achieved by the end of the safari? Did he understand this?
7. How much insight into the character of a tough hero of Africa? Strengths and weaknesses?
8. The contrast with Casey? His showing off on his arrival, his brash attitude towards the animals, his spoilt American background, Grant accompanying him? His devices of ingratiating himself with Gilchrist? His being repulsed by Gilchrist? His using tricks to pursue the safari? His gradual change of heart? What was he learning? His persistence and the need to endure, especially in the desert sequence? How did he change from being spoilt? His understanding of Gilchrist and his quest, giving him advice? What future did he have?
9. How well delineated was the character of Grant? The kept companion, the popular way of life, her yen for adventure? Her reaction to Casey, her admiration for Gilchrist? How did she change? Her involvement in Africa? As symbolized by her joining in the dance? Her future?
10. The presentation of Africa, African customs, in themselves, to be respected and understood? Casey's impulsive American response, fighting? The contrast with Grant and her involvement in the dance?
11. The presentation of the Africans as guides? Modern Africans with their primitive background and modern devices? The wrist alarm going off and stampeding the elephants? Death and the capacity for survival?
12. What insight into modern Africa and the changing world? The significance and tone of the title?
