Writers: Ivan Goff, Ben Roberts, Louise A. Stinetorf
Composer: Bernard Herrmann
Starring: Susan Hayward, Robert Mitchum, Walter Slezak, Mashood Ajaia, Joseph C. Narcisse, Elzie Emanuel, Timothy Carey, Otis Greene
More info: IMDb
Tagline: The story of a woman who followed a dream to the end of the earth ... and found a love that will live to the end of time!
Plot: In 1907, a nurse arrives in the Belgian Congo to work for a missionary doctor but meets a grumpy animal hunter who secretly plans to search for gold in the dangerous Bakuba tribal region.
My rating: 6/10
Will I watch it again? No.
Ho hum drama/romance/adventure that benefits from three good leads and an atmospheric score from Bernard Herrmann. There's not too much to really dig besides that. Even in 1953 the trope of a white man (in this case woman) going into the jungle to help the black man was getting old. Another old cliche was that of the white man who understands the jungle refusing to take a woman on his mission. Combine these with yet another where that man has a greedy partner that lies in order to get him to take the trip so that together they might find the riches he wants. Oft used plot lines aren't bad. It's what you do with them that separates the pros from the kiddies. There's a little jungle location shooting but it's mostly filmed in the jungles of Southern California on a stage. It all ends exactly like you think it will so there's no surprises in store at any point in this picture but in the meantime, sit back and enjoy hanging out in the jungle with Hayward, Mitchum and Slezak.
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