Barnes & Noble

Produced on the heels of director Howard Hawks's "comeback" hit, Rio Bravo, this rollicking action-comedy proved to be one of his most charming and exhilarating adventures -- and one of the last truly great films he would make in a long and storied career. The plot itself is minimal, but the situations are pure Hawks: The story follows a group of professional big-game hunters through a single season, as they drive high-speed across the dusty African plains capturing wild animals for zoos and circuses around the world. John Wayne plays Sean Mercer, the gruff, romantically gun-shy leader, whose tight-knit group is turned upside down when a disarmingly beautiful wildlife photographer (Elsa Martinelli) arrives on the scene. Clocking in at 159 minutes, this is easily the longest film Hawks ever made, yet his control of its pacing is masterful. Hatari! drifts seamlessly between intense action scenes and moments of light comedy, never once faltering. The large ensemble cast is immensely likable, and the film's incredible safari sequences are among the most thrilling ever photographed -- the actors risked life and limb doing all their own animal wrangling, without the aid of camera tricks. Cleverly scripted by the brilliant Leigh Brackett (The Big Sleep), Hatari! offers irresistible delights that are far too numerous to mention. But one would be remiss in neglecting to note the contributions of a waggish Red Buttons, and the buoyant score by Henry Mancini -- highlighted by his now-famous "Baby Elephant Walk." Donald Gray

All Movie Guide

Hatari! is Swahili for "danger"--and also the word for action, adventure and broad comedy in this two-fisted Howard Hawks effort. John Wayne stars as the head of a daring Tanganyka-based group which captures wild animals on behalf of the world's zoos. Hardy Kruger, Gérard Blain and Red Buttons are members of Wayne's men-only contingent, all of whom are reduced to jello when the curvaceous Elsa Martinelli enters the scene. In tried and true Howard Hawks fashion, Martinelli quickly becomes "one of the guys," though Wayne apparently can't say two words to her without sparking an argument. The second half of this amazingly long (159 minute) film concerns the care and maintenance of a baby elephant; the barely credible finale is devoted to a comic pachyderm stampede down an urban African street, ending literally at the foot of Martinelli's bed. The other scene worth mentioning involves comedy-relief Red Buttons' efforts to create a fireworks-powered animal trap. Not to be taken seriously for a minute, Hatari is attractively packaged and neatly tied up with a danceable-pranceable theme song by Henry Mancini. Hal Erickson

Product Details

• UPC: 097360662948
• Source: PARAMOUNT
• Region Code: 1
• Aspect Ratio: Theatre Wide-Screen (1.85.1)
• Presentation: Wide Screen
• Sound: Dolby Digital, monaural
• Language: English, Français
• Subtitles: English
• Time: 2:37:00
• Sales Rank: 652

This DVD is also available as part of a box set:

• The John Wayne Century Collection
• John Wayne Adventure Collection
• El Dorado/Hatari

Features:

DVD MENU