The story is nothing more than a poor excuse for what Hawks really seems to be interested in presenting--big-game chases over the Kenyan veldt. These sequences are so well done that they save this otherwise-tepid film.
Hatari! (1962)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted: 22
Fresh: 15
Rotten:7
Average Rating: 6.6/10
Runtime: 2 hrs 38 mins
Genre: Action/Adventure
Synopsis: John Wayne stars as Sean Mercer, a tough trapper who travels the world to capture animals and sell them to zoos. As he and his ragtag crew roam the plains of Africa searching for giraffes and... John Wayne stars as Sean Mercer, a tough trapper who travels the world to capture animals and sell them to zoos. As he and his ragtag crew roam the plains of Africa searching for giraffes and zebras, they encounter Anna Maria "Dallas" D'Allesandro (Elsa Martinelli), a beautiful photographer who asks to travel with them. While the crew presses on, the excitement of the chase inevitably causes feelings of attraction to grow between gruff Mercer and pretty Dallas. Stunning wildlife photography colors this classic from legendary director Howard Hawks. [More]
Starring: John Wayne, Elsa Martinelli, Red Buttons, Hardy Kruger
Starring: John Wayne, Elsa Martinelli, Red Buttons, Hardy Kruger
Director: Howard Hawks
Director: Howard Hawks
Producer: Howard Hawks
Screenwriter: Leigh Brackett
Composer: Henry Mancini
Story: Harry Kurnitz
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Reviews for Hatari!
The strapping physique of the film unhappily emphasizes the anemic condition of the story streaming within.
A broader canvas for the interaction of comedy and drama than its immediate predecessor (Rio Bravo), this is both discursive and leisurely.
This late masterpiece (1962) by Howard Hawks transcends every literary value in the book to become a brilliantly entertaining and insightful work of pure cinema.
Colorful John Wayne Africa-based yarn w/slapstick, adventure, animals, and great Mancini score.
Hawks continues to explore his favorite themes--professional conduct and male camaraderie--in this African travelogue abouyt an international team of animals catchers, headed by John Wayne. Though plotless, the film is visually compelling.
All in all, one of those rare films that genuinely constitutes a 'late masterpiece'.
Perhaps the accent on the trapping of free-roaming critters for use in zoos is a mite too heavy, but this aspect of African business rates the attention it receives here.
Corny but vastly entertaining with terrific wildlife photography and a great score by Henry Mancini
Latest News for Hatari!
July 13, 2006:
R.I.P. Red Buttons
Red Buttons, the beloved red-haired comedian and songwriter whose career spanned seven decades, died Thursday of vascular disease after a long illness. He was 87 years old. More...
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