Killers of Kilimanjaro

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.

Killers of Kilimanjaro
Theatrical film poster
Directed byRichard Thorpe
Produced byJohn R Sloane
executive
Irving Allen
Albert R. Broccoli
Screenplay byJohn Gilling
Based onstory by Cyril Hume and Richard Maibaum
from book African Bush Adventures by J Hunter
StarringRobert Taylor
Anthony Newley
Music byWilliam Alwyn
CinematographyTed Moore
Edited byGeoffrey Foot
Production
company
Distributed byColumbia Pictures
Release date
1959
Running time
91 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

The film was originally known as Adamson of Africa.[2]

Main cast

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. Taylor signed in January 1959 at which time the film was called African Bush.[5]

Filming took place on location in Moshi Tanganyika, the same location used for Mogambo and Tarzan's Greatest Adventure.[6]

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.[7] Mount Kilimanjaro lies about 125 kilometres (78 mi) west of Tsavo in Tanzania.

See also

References
  1. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 18 October 2012. Retrieved 3 May 2010.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. ""KILLERS" KILL THE CHIEF'S ENTHUSIASM: BRITISH FILM TITLE"". The Guardian. 1 September 1959. p. 11.
  3. OSCAR GODBOUT (17 July 1956). "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". New York Times. p. 19.
  4. Schallert, Edwin (16 September 1957). "Alan Ladd Gets Huge England Deal; Hunting Film Stars Prime Trio". Los Angeles Times. p. C11.
  5. "London". Variety. 21 January 1959. p. 86.
  6. MILTON BRACKER (22 March 1959). "WARUSHA, WACHAGGA & 'ADAMSON': Native Spear Carriers Prove Shrewd Actors In African Movie". New York Times. Moshi, Tanganyika.. p. X7.
  7. "KILLERS KILL THE CHIEF'S ENTHUSIASM: British film title". The Guardian. London (UK). 1 September 1959. p. 11.


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