Safari (1956)

'On a safari, blow your horn... Must stay alert from dusk til dawn...' It's actually quite apt that I'm watching this now just as the King returns from Kenya where apologies for the colonial treatment of the Mau Mau were top of the reconciliation agenda. In this jungle adventure, it's Victor Mature's "Duffield" who is out to avenge a murderous attack by these self same freedom fighters on his family. The authorities want him out of the way, but the influential "Sir Vincent" (Roland Culver) arrives on the scene bent on killing a legendary lion and so arranges for "Duffield" to be his guide. The latter man sees a chance for retribution and is also intrigued by "Linda" (Janet Leigh) who is engaged to the trip's patron. As he's a bit of a pompous bully, nobody is quite sure why. Anyway, the adventures ensue with snakes, crocodiles, lions and some good old human treachery before an ending that delivers just desserts all round. It's of it's day this, so some of the language and imagery might offend, as might Mature's really rather wooden acting but if you are a fan of the boy's own style of action movie then this isn't the worst. Might have been more fun if the man and the rhino went head to head without one having the benefit of a gun!