RAMPAGE
US, 1963, 98 minutes, Colour.
Robert Mitchum, Jack Hawkins, Elsa Martinelli, Sabu.
Directed by Phil Karlson.
Rampage is a colourful, if routine, action adventure of the early '60s. It was directed by Phil Karlson, best known for action thrillers. It is a start vehicle for Robert Mitchum. Jack Hawkins tends to overact in comparison with Mitchum's laconic and laid-back style. Elsa Martinelli is the ambiguous heroine.
The main aspect of the film is the Malaysian locations for hunting tigers. The scenic background is quite spectacular, as are some of the scenes with the animals. However, the rampage of the title takes place briefly at the end of the film, in a rather farfetched way, as the tiger is loose throughout the European city. There is a rousing score by Elmer Bernstein.
1. Entertaining action adventure? Colourful film about hunting?
2. European locations, Malaysian locations? Scenic beauty? Action sequences? Rousing score?
3. The title, animals? The final rampage in the City of the Tiger?
4. Harry Stanton, Robert Mitchum's laconic style? The American trapper? The meeting with Otto, with Anna? His reaction to Otto's dominance, to Anna's seductive style? His being warned off? On safari, on the plane, arranging the helicopter? Taking charge? The discussions with Otto about his trophies, the thrill of hunting, the experience of the kill? Stanton and his stances against killing? Meeting the Malaysians, making the contract, the presentation of the sabre? The promise not to kill animals? Otto and his shooting and breaking the contract? The reaction of the Malaysians? The trapping and hunting of the tigers, in nets for the zoos? The expedition for the Enchantress, finding the cave, sealing the exit, Otto going in with the torch and being mauled? Harry and his confrontation with the Enchantress, the animal's shrewdness, Harry with the light, capturing her? His being invited back? The return, the clash on the train with Otto? The relationship with Anna, talking things over, her leaving Otto? A future? The train carriage, Otto turning the tiger loose? The speeches at the station, the tiger loose in the town, hunting it, on the roof? Otto shooting and the confrontation? His death? The death of the animal? The offer to find another Enchantress? With Anna? His future?
5. Otto, Jack Hawkins' style? Arrogant, the champion hunter, his trophies? The story about meeting Anna in Italy when she was young, her being with him? Always coming back to him? His seeing her as a trophy? His getting older, going on the expedition, warning Stanton off? The agreement about the shooting and his breaking it? His failure with the rhinoceros, his having to shoot it twice? His sense of humiliation? Wanting to redeem himself and going into the cave with the Enchantress, being mauled? His humiliation, wanting to die in the hunt? Anna leaving him? In the train, the sardonic confrontation, letting the Enchantress loose? In the city, on the roof, shooting at Stanton, his being killed?
6. Anna, her Italian background, orphaned, found by Otto, brought up by him, devoted to him? Tantalising Harry? Staying with Otto, on the expedition? The Malaysians wondering about whose woman she was? Her own wondering? The parallel with the savage Enchantress and Otto and Harry? Mauling Otto, being captured by Harry? With him on the roof? Her future?
7. The zoos of the world, the need for animals, sending expeditions? Prize animals like the Enchantress? The return to Europe? The rampage, the tiger killing the worker? In the building, the role of the police? On the roof? The death of the Enchantress? The zoo hoping for another?
8. The picture of the Malaysians, their independence, their rituals? People of their word? Harry and the truce with the chief? The presentation of the weapon? The assistant, on the expedition? His offering his wife to Harry? His love for his wife? Malaysian women? The invitation back?
9. Themes of big-game hunters? The difference between killing and capturing and trapping? The macho image of the hunter? Its critique?
