HATARI

US, 1962, 158 minutes, Colour.
John Wayne, Elsa Martinelli, Red Buttons, Hardy Kruger.
Directed by Howard Hawks.

Hatari is definitely not a discussion film! It is a light-hearted African adventure.

What makes it of interest is that it is a Howard Hawks adventure film. Hawks established himself in the '20s and '30s as one of the best of the Hollywood action directors - Only Angels Have Wings, Red River. He worked with John Wayne five times, including Red River and variations on the western theme in Rio Bravo, EI Dorado, Rio Lobo. Hawks was considered an excellent actors' director but also was noted for his direction of heroines. The Hawksian heroine is considered the equal of the Hawksian hero - strong, adventurous with humour.

This is a very long film, over 2 1/2 hours. It shows an international group of hunters working in Tanganyika - John Wayne as an American, Hardy Kruger as a German, Red Buttons as a comic American, Gerard Blain as a Frenchman. They are hunting animals to ship them away for zoos. There are two heroines - Elsa Martinelli as an Italian photographer and Michelle Girardon as the farm owner. There are romantic ups and downs, some fistfights, and a lot of knockabout comedy. There are also some excellent African location sequences with the animals.

The screenplay was written by Leigh Brackett, veteran writer (including Rio Bravo, EI Dorado - and she was working on The Empire Strikes Back when she died). An agreeable score by Henry Mancini including the celebrated 'Baby Elephant Walk' which forms part of the climax of the film.

The film highlights Hawks' image of the rugged American hero, the strong heroine, male and female relationships. But it is done with zest and good humour.