West of Zanzibar (1954 film)
6.8 /10 1 Votes
Director Harry Watt Country United Kingdom | 6.6/10 IMDb Language English | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Writer Max Catto , Jack Whittingham , Harry Watt Release date March 1954 (UK) Tagline They Plunder The Ivory Coast | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
West of zanzibar 1954
West of Zanzibar is a 1954 British adventure film directed by Harry Watt and starring Anthony Steel, Sheila Sim and Edric Connor.
Contents
- West of zanzibar 1954
- Anthony steel with the radio revellers west of zanzibar 78 rpm
- Plot
- Cast
- Production
- Soundtrack
- Release
- Box Office
- Critical reception
- References
It is a sequel to Where No Vultures Fly (1951), from the same director and producer, and continues the adventures of game warden Bob Payton, played again by Anthony Steel. The subject of the film is ivory smuggling, and although the film appears to side with the African natives against economic exploitation, it was banned by the government of Kenya, which considered its approach too paternalistic.
Anthony steel with the radio revellers west of zanzibar 78 rpm
Plot
The rural African Galana tribe move to Mombasa following a drought. The tribe's peaceful ways are destroyed by the influence of illegal ivory traders. Game warden Bob Payton turns detective, travelling to Zanzibar to discover the ringleader behind the ivory smuggling. Payton tracks his quarry through some of the most treacherous passages of the Zanzibar territory. Despite obstacles which include crocodiles and rhinos, Payton finally corners the villain. The gang's ringleader has given an African tribe land in return for ivory tusks, but he is repaid for his scheming when the tribe turns on him.
Cast
Production
At one stage it was planned for the movie to be shot in 3-D but this did not happen.
Like the first movie, it was shot on location in Africa. The unit arrived in Nairobi in January 1953.
Soundtrack
A popular local dance song during the shoot was a Swahili folk song called "Jambo Sigara Baridl". The filmmakers liked the melody so much they decided to include it as background music. Then it was decided to prepare an English version of the song, with Anthony Steel singing lead vocals, along with a band, the Radio Revellers. When asked if he could sing, Steel replied, "Apart from making gurgling noises in the bath, I've never tried." Steel recorded the song anyway and it was a success on the charts.
Release
Kenya's film censors banned the film on the grounds it would hurt race relations in the country.
The movie was also banned in India after the protests of African students in that country.
Box Office
In 1957, the film was listed as among the seventeen most popular movies the Rank Organisation ever released in the US.
Critical reception
References
West of Zanzibar (1954 film) WikipediaWest of Zanzibar (1954 film) IMDb West of Zanzibar (1954 film) themoviedb.org