Three baby elephants, a rocket to catch five hundred small monkeys and a “green horn” female photographer are the ingredients of Howard Hawks hilarious comedy “Hatari!” The word that means “danger” in Swahili works like a charm as the title for this movie, set in the National Wild Park of Tanganyka.
An ex-bull fighter, an ex-racing pilot, an Indian named Little Wolf, an ex-taxi driver who freaks out at the sight of anything wild, a bad tempered Irishman and a cheetah named Sonya are some of the members of the odd crew that captures animals for zoos. All they need to complete the team is a photographer whose job would be documenting the captures. Their prayers, however, are answered in an awkward way when the missing team member turns out to be a red Italian woman in a tight dress and high heels. But the “boom is about to be lowered” when she decides to adopt three orphan baby elephants against any sense or reasoning.
The out sanding sound track by Henry Mancini gives Hatari! a heart beat. The landscapes in which the movie is set will make you want to move to Africa and stay there for ever – and for this a reference should be made to director of photography Russel Harlan, whose amazing artistic work sets the tone.
More than a light, happy comedy, Hatari! has what any artistic intervention should have – that stardust magic that makes you want to be a better person, that makes you want to let go of anything small or ordinary. It’s the kind of movie that kicks you out of your shell and into the world.
John Wayne playing the bad tempered Irishman and Elsa Martinelli playing the surprising female photographer are a bold – yet successful – match for the romantic pair. Hatari indeed!
An ex-bull fighter, an ex-racing pilot, an Indian named Little Wolf, an ex-taxi driver who freaks out at the sight of anything wild, a bad tempered Irishman and a cheetah named Sonya are some of the members of the odd crew that captures animals for zoos. All they need to complete the team is a photographer whose job would be documenting the captures. Their prayers, however, are answered in an awkward way when the missing team member turns out to be a red Italian woman in a tight dress and high heels. But the “boom is about to be lowered” when she decides to adopt three orphan baby elephants against any sense or reasoning.
The out sanding sound track by Henry Mancini gives Hatari! a heart beat. The landscapes in which the movie is set will make you want to move to Africa and stay there for ever – and for this a reference should be made to director of photography Russel Harlan, whose amazing artistic work sets the tone.
More than a light, happy comedy, Hatari! has what any artistic intervention should have – that stardust magic that makes you want to be a better person, that makes you want to let go of anything small or ordinary. It’s the kind of movie that kicks you out of your shell and into the world.
John Wayne playing the bad tempered Irishman and Elsa Martinelli playing the surprising female photographer are a bold – yet successful – match for the romantic pair. Hatari indeed!
Cast and Crew
Directed by Howard Hawks
Music by Henri Mancini
Director of photography Russel Harlan
Cast: John Wayne, Elsa Martinelli, Red Buttons (as Pockets)...
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