Safari (1940 film)

Safari is a 1940 American adventure film directed by Edward H. Griffith and starring Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Madeleine Carroll and Tullio Carminati.^[1][2]

Safari
Directed by	Edward H. Griffith
Written by	Delmer Daves
Based on	story by Paul Hervey Fox
Produced by	Anthony Veiller
Starring	Douglas Fairbanks Jr. Madeleine Carroll Tullio Carminati
Cinematography	Ted Tetzlaff
Edited by	Eda Warren
Music by	Friedrich Hollaender
Production company	Paramount Pictures
Distributed by	Paramount Pictures
Release date	June 14, 1940 (1940-06-14)
Running time	80 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

The film's sets were designed by the art directors Hans Dreier and Ernst Fegté.

Plot

Millionaire Baron de Courland arrives in West Africa in order to hunt for big game. He is accompanied by his girlfriend, Linda Stewart.

De Courland hires Jim Logan to be his guide. During the safari, Linda falls for Jim, causing De Courland to be jealous.

Cast

• Douglas Fairbanks Jr. as Jim Logan
• Madeleine Carroll as Linda Stewart
• Tullio Carminati as Baron de Courtland
• Muriel Angelus as Fay Thorne
• Lynne Overman as Jock McPhail
• Frederick Vogeding as Captain on Yacht
• Clinton Rosemondas as Mike
• Thomas Louden as Doctor Phillips
• Fred Godoy as Steward
• Jack Carr as Wemba
• Billy Gilbert as Mondehare
• Hans von Morhart as Head Quartermaster
• Darby Jones as Admiral
• Henry Rowland as Steersman

Production

Paramount bought the story in May 1938. In May 1939 they announced Madeline Griffth would star under the direction of Edward Griffith.^[3] Her co-star was going to be Joel McCrea who had just signed a two-year contract with Paramount.^[4] Another lead role was given to Whitney Bourne who Paramount were grooming for stardom.^[5]

The film is based on the life of Beryl Markham. Douglas Fairbanks Jr. recalled that she was offered a part in the picture, and she found the process of filming “scarier than flying the Atlantic solo.”^[6]

In July W. P. Lipscomb was reportedly working on the script.^[7]

In August Carroll announced she would be getting the boat back from England to start making the film in October.^[8] By this stage Douglas Fairbanks Jr had replaced McCrea as her co star.^[9]

Second unit footage was shot in Africa.^[10]

References

1. Cameron p.117-18
2. BFI.org
3. "SCREEN NEWS HERE AND IN HOLLYWOOD: New York Times". May 20, 1939. p. 16.
4. "SCREEN NEWS HERE AND IN HOLLYWOOD: Carole Lombard Selected by Selznick for the Lead Role in 'Flashing Stream' JOEL M'CREA IN 'SAFARI' To Co-Star With Madeleine Carroll". New York Times. May 31, 1939. p. 30.
5. Schallert, Edwin (June 3, 1939). "DRAMA: Whitney Bourne to Be Groomed for Stardom". Los Angeles Times. p. A9.
6. Bawden, James; Miller, Ron (2016-04-01). Conversations with Classic Film Stars: Interviews from Hollywood's Golden Era. University Press of Kentucky. ISBN 978-0-8131-6711-4.
7. Schallert, Edwin (July 8, 1939). "Preston Foster Lead in Sweepstakes Expose: Muni's Son Selected Swing King in Movies Nancy Kelly Assigned Meredith Reappears Stand-in Turns Author". Los Angeles Times. p. A7.
8. "SCREEN NEWS HERE AND IN HOLLYWOOD". New York Times. Aug 30, 1939. p. 22.
9. Scheuer, Philip K. (Sep 16, 1939). "DRAMA: Mary Pickford Will Produce Gish Story". Los Angeles Times. p. 24.
10. Scheuer, Philip K. (Sep 7, 1939). "SCREEN: Priscilla Lane Earns Stardom in 'Episode'". Los Angeles Times. p. 13.

Bibliography

• Kenneth M. Cameron. Africa on Film: Beyond Black and White. Continuum, 1994.

External links

• Safari at IMDb
• Safari at Letterbox DVD
• Safari at the TCM Movie Database