Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Howard Hawks classic with John Wayne on the veldt,, 31 Mar 2005
Sean Mercer (John Wayne) and his co-workers are in the business of capturing wild African animals for zoos. They fill a quota of exotic animals including the dangerous rhinos. They take on a representative D'Allesandro; the representative turns out to be a woman (Elsa Martinelli) and of course this is man's work. To top this off the female that grew up with them is coming of age and stirring up some rivalry for here affections. All the people and situations are fun to watch. Some are a little cutesy, but they work. For example in one scene, all the animals watch on apprehensively as a thorn is pulled out of one's side. They play "Baby Elephant Walk (Instrumental)", as Elsa Martinelli becomes a surrogate mother. Will the Indian (Bruce Cabot) survive his deadly encounter with the rhino? When they capture the monkeys look closely at the bird cage helmet. Is it the same one used in "Bachelor in Paradise (1961) ASIN: 6302946476"? Not only is this a good movie with the standard Wayne formula, but it also has many of the actors that travel from one John Wayne movie to another.
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Animals, thrills, and romance, John Wayne-style, 24 Feb 2005
"Hatari!" is the story of a very likeable group of men who live in Africa and catch animals for zoos. The gang includes Sean Mercer (John Wayne), Pockets (Red Buttons) and Kurt (Hardy Kruger). A photographer named Dallas (Elsa Martinelli) comes to stay, and everyone is surprised (and delighted) to find that she is a woman, and a beautiful one at that. She goes out on hunts with the guys and is attracted to Sean (who wouldn't be!); he likes her, too, although he won't admit it. Pockets and Kurt fight over the attentions of their old boss' daughter, Brandy, who is all grown up now, but she is playing the field. There is plenty of wild animal action (the actors really did catch the animals), plenty of fun, and innocent romance, too. John Wayne has one of his best roles as the rugged he-man who acts all dopey around a pretty girl. German heartthrob Hardy Kruger is the reason I watch this movie over and over again. Miss Martinelli is very good as the Italian beauty who falls hard for Sean and is the object of two baby elephants' affections, as well. The whole family can enjoy the breathtaking animal scenes, the strong bond of friendship shared by the little group, and the adventure of living in Africa. Heartily recommended.
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5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Action, comedy and John Wayne in East Africa., 25 Jan 2004
It is hard to understand why this little gem almost has been forgotten; one reason may be that it is hard to fit into a single category. Hatari includes all the classical Hawksian themes with special emphasis on male-bonding, professional leadership and fear of falling in love, but it effortlessly switches between comedy and action, and it takes place in East Africa instead of the Wild West.John Wayne heads a team of white men with very different backgrounds and nationalities who each year converge on East Africa to catch animals to Western zoos. Hawks' choice of this group instead of traditional hunters is a stroke of genius: it appeals to a much larger audience, the hunting is much more difficult and dangerous to the men, and it involves more people and worn-down jeeps and trucks blazing (well, almost) across the savannah. This year three complications arise: One member of the team is wounded, and not only do they need every single man, but his blood type is very rare. Second: the daughter of the late head of the team is coming of age, and third: a female photographer shows up. She has been send by a zoo which has placed a large order for animals, so John Wayne cannot just send her away, like he wants to. Hawks must have selected these complications carefully, for they are just what he needs to develop his usual themes. On the other hand it seems like he just didn't know what to do with the Africans - we see traditionally-clad inhabitants of two villages, a cook, a few drivers/assistants and we visit a larger city twice. Apart from that this is Africa without Africans.
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