Killers of Kilimanjaro
| Killers of Kilimanjaro | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical Film Poster | |
| Directed by | Richard Thorpe |
| Screenplay by | John Gilling |
| Produced by | John R Sloane executive Irving Allen Albert R. Broccoli |
| Starring | Robert Taylor Anthony Newley |
| Cinematography | Ted Moore |
| Edited by | Geoffrey Foot |
| Music by | William Alwyn |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Columbia Pictures |
Release date | 1959 |
Running time | 91 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
Killers of Kilimanjaro is a 1959 British CinemaScope adventure film directed by Richard Thorpe and starring Robert Taylor, Anthony Newley, Anne Aubrey and Donald Pleasence[1] for Warwick Films.
The movie was originally known as Adamson of Africa.[2]
Main cast
- Robert Taylor as Robert Adamson
- Anthony Newley as Hooky Hook
- Anne Aubrey as Jane Carlton
- Donald Pleasence as Captain
- Grégoire Aslan as Ben Ahmed
- Allan Cuthbertson as Sexton
- Martin Benson as Ali
- Orlando Martins as Chief
- John Dimech as Pasha
- Martin Boddey as Gunther
Production
Warwick Films had made three films in Africa, Safari, Zarak and Odongo. The movie was announced in 1956 and inspired by the story of the Tsavo maneaters recounted in the 1955 book African Bush Adventures by J.A. Hunter and Daniel P. Mannix.[3]
The screenplay was originally by Peter Viertel, who had worked on The African Queen, and written a novel of the experiences called White Hunter, Black Heart. Alan Ladd, who had made three films for Warwick, was the announced as male lead - it was meant to be part of a six-picture deal between Ladd and Warwick that also included The Man Inside and It's Always Four O'Clock.[4] In the final event Ladd made no further films for Warwick - the lead role went to Robert Taylor.
Filming took place on location in Moshi Tanganyika, the same location used for Mogambo and Tarzan's Greatest Adventure.[5]
Release
The film's title was changed to Killers of Kilimanjaro. This upset Chief Thomas Marealle of the Chagga tribe, on whose lands the film was shot, and he made an official complaint.[6] Mount Kilimanjaro lies about 125 kilometres (78 mi) west of Tsavo in Tanzania.
See also
- Men Against the Sun (1952)
References
- ^ http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/38998
- ^ "KILLERS" KILL THE CHIEF'S ENTHUSIASM: BRITISH FILM TITLE" The Guardian 01 Sep 1959: 11
- ^ WARWICK TO MAKE 2 FILMS IN AFRICA: Company Plans Productions of 'Adamson of Africa' and 'Golden City,' a Musical M-G-M Misses One of Four By OSCAR GODBOUT Special to The New York Times.. New York Times (1923-Current file) [New York, N.Y] 17 July 1956: 19
- ^ "Alan Ladd Gets Huge England Deal; Hunting Film Stars Prime Trio" Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File); Los Angeles, Calif. [Los Angeles, Calif] 16 September 1957: C11.
- ^ WARUSHA, WACHAGGA & 'ADAMSON': Native Spear Carriers Prove Shrewd Actors In African Movie By MILTON BRACKERMoshi, Tanganyika.. New York Times (1923-Current file); New York, N.Y. [New York, N.Y] 22 Mar 1959: X7.
- ^ "KILLERS" KILL THE CHIEF'S ENTHUSIASM: British film title The Guardian (1959-2003); London (UK) [London (UK)] 01 Sep 1959: 11.
External links
- Killers of Kilimanjaro at IMDb
- Killers of Kilimanjaro at Colonial Film
 | This article related to a British film of the 1950s is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
 | This article about an adventure film is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
- 1959 films
- 1950s adventure films
- British adventure films
- British films
- Columbia Pictures films
- English-language films
- Films based on non-fiction books
- Films directed by Richard Thorpe
- Films set in Kenya
- Films set in Tanzania
- Films set in the 1890s
- Films shot in Kenya
- Films about lions
- Films scored by William Alwyn
- 1950s British film stubs
- Adventure film stubs