Mogambo (1953)

User Rating:

6.6/10   

Director:

John Ford

Writers:

Wilson Collison (play)
John Lee Mahin (screenplay)

Release Date:

9 October 1953 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Adventure | Romance

Tagline:

Actually filmed by M-G-M on safari...amid authentic scenes of unrivalled savagery and awe-inspiring splendor!

Plot:

Victor Marswell runs a big game trapping company in Kenya. Eloise Kelly is ditched there, and an immediate attraction happens between them...

Plot Keywords:

Safari | Anthropologist | Gorilla | Hunter | Kenya

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 1 win & 1 nomination

US TV Schedule:

Sun. Nov. 15

6:00 PM

TCM

Cast

Clark Gable	...	Victor Marswell
Ava Gardner	...	Honey Bear Kelly
Grace Kelly	...	Linda Nordley
Donald Sinden	...	Donald Nordley
Philip Stainton	...	John Brown-Pryce
Eric Pohlmann	...	Leon Boltchak
Laurence Naismith	...	Skipper
Denis O'Dea	...	Father Josef
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Asa Etula	...	Young native girl (uncredited)

Directed by
John Ford

Writing credits
Wilson Collison		(play)
John Lee Mahin		(screenplay)

Produced by
Sam Zimbalist	....	producer

Cinematography by
Robert Surtees
Freddie Young		(as F.A. Young)

Film Editing by
Frank Clarke

Art Direction by
Alfred Junge

Makeup Department
Colin Garde	....	makeup artist
Maude Onslow	....	hairdresser (as Maud Onslow)

Production Management
Roy Parkinson	....	unit manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Cecil F. Ford	....	assistant director (as Cecil Ford)
Wingate Smith	....	assistant director
John Pallatt	....	assistant director: gorilla footage (uncredited)

Sound Department
Amy Fisher	....	sound recordist (as A.S. Fisher)
A.W. Watkins	....	recording director
Hugh Strain	....	sound assistant (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Tom Howard	....	special effects
Bert Monk	....	special effects (uncredited)

Stunts
Bunny Allen	....	stunt double: Clark Gable (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Cecil R. Cooney	....	camera operator (as Cecil Cooney)
Skeets Kelly	....	camera operator (as Graham Kelly)
Freddie Cooper	....	camera operator: gorilla footage (uncredited)
Stephen Dade	....	additional photographer (uncredited)
Jackson Drury	....	camera operator: gorilla footage (uncredited)
Kelvin Pike	....	clapper loader (uncredited)
Jack Whitehead	....	director of photography: gorilla footage (uncredited)
Doug Wolf	....	camera operator: gorilla footage (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Helen Rose	....	costumes

Other crew
Joan Bridge	....	technicolor color consultant
Angela Martelli	....	continuity
Bunny Allen	....	technical advisor (uncredited)
Frank Allen	....	researcher (uncredited)
Frank Allen	....	technical advisor (uncredited)
Yakima Canutt	....	director: gorilla footage (uncredited)
Eva Monley	....	production coordinator (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Distributors

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1953) (USA) (theatrical)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1954) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Chapel Distribution (1997) (Australia) (theatrical) (35mm Technicolor & 16mm prints)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1980) (USA) (TV) (network premiere)
• Living Colour Entertainment (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1994) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2006) (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Bahaya Tribe of Tanganyika  group cast members
• Government Officials of Kenya Colony  grateful cooperation
• Government Officials of Tanganyika  grateful cooperation
• Government Officials of The Republic of French Equatorial Africa  grateful cooperation
• Government Officials of The Ugandan Protectorate  grateful cooperation
• M'Beti Tribe of French Equatorial Africa  group cast members
• Samburu Tribe of Kenya Colony  group cast members
• Wagenia Tribe of Belgian Congo  group cast members

Runtime:

115 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

UK:U | Portugal:M/12 | Argentina:Atp | West Germany:12 (f) | USA:Approved (PCA #16530) | Australia:PG | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Democratic Republic Of Congo

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

The "Ah Bey Ah Bay (Kooasawa)" chanted by the natives was later employed by celebrated rock and roll DJ and MC Murray The K as a popular "call and response" ritual with his listeners and fans.

Goofs:

Miscellaneous: After Victor rescues Mrs Nordley when she wanders off, a sudden storm blows in. But only the trees and bushes near the actors are blown about by the 'storm', the trees visible a short distance behind them are completely calm.

Quotes:

Eloise Kelly: [to Linda Nordley] Remember, I came here to be your friend. For your sake. And I'm keeping the offer open... It'll be rugged, but I'll keep it open.

Movie Connections:

References Dumbo (1941)

Soundtrack:

COMIN' THROUGH THE RYE

Solid John Ford

'Mogambo' is not one of the greatest of John Ford's films, but it is still a solid piece of work. Clark Gable is at his manliest, and Grace Kelly is cast perfectly (though her performance is not so perfect). However, Ava Gardner steals the show. Scenes without her seem dead. Scenes with her are charged with sexy movement and funny double-talk. Of course, Ford himself makes great use of the African landscape, applying his brilliant American West photography to the jungles and rivers of Africa. A good piece of entertainment and recommended for John Ford fans.