I think it's difficult for people today to understand just how famous this story was. Even in the 1950s, when I was an elementary school student in the U.S., I remember studying this story and being rather fascinated by it. Today, at least in America, it is simply a footnote to history.
This is a splendid movie on several accounts. First, though on loan from MGM to 20th Century Fox, this was another of the solid screen performances, during this general period of time, which catapulted Spencer Tracy to the top of his profession. There are two scenes here which are most memorable. Of course, the "Dr. Livingstone, I presume" theme, and, near the end of the film, the scene where he begins his tirade against the forces which are attempting to diminish the discoveries of Dr. Livingstone. The latter, in particular, is another of those movie scenes where Tracy proves -- once again -- that often less in more, and his understated acting coupled with occasional outbursts of energy is very powerful.
Another factor in making this such a fine film is that although most of the acting was filmed here in the United States, many of the Safari scenes had been filmed in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda -- without Tracy -- two years earlier. The different segments are blended together quite well to make a rather convincing story.
Supporting actors are uniformly excellent here. Worth special mention are Charles Coburn in a not very likable performance as a somewhat unscrupulous newspaper owner, Cedric Hardwicke as Dr. Livingstone, Walter Brennan as the inevitable sidekick to Tracy, and Hencry Travers as a somewhat befuddled diplomat.
In fact, it's difficult to find much to criticize in this film, other than historical accuracy. However, if we keep in mind how the movie industry always treated historical accuracy, this film is about average in that respect.
There are enough compelling incidents in the script to keep things moving along well, and -- if you can put aside the historical inaccuracies -- you'll probably greatly enjoy this film.
This is a splendid movie on several accounts. First, though on loan from MGM to 20th Century Fox, this was another of the solid screen performances, during this general period of time, which catapulted Spencer Tracy to the top of his profession. There are two scenes here which are most memorable. Of course, the "Dr. Livingstone, I presume" theme, and, near the end of the film, the scene where he begins his tirade against the forces which are attempting to diminish the discoveries of Dr. Livingstone. The latter, in particular, is another of those movie scenes where Tracy proves -- once again -- that often less in more, and his understated acting coupled with occasional outbursts of energy is very powerful.
Another factor in making this such a fine film is that although most of the acting was filmed here in the United States, many of the Safari scenes had been filmed in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda -- without Tracy -- two years earlier. The different segments are blended together quite well to make a rather convincing story.
Supporting actors are uniformly excellent here. Worth special mention are Charles Coburn in a not very likable performance as a somewhat unscrupulous newspaper owner, Cedric Hardwicke as Dr. Livingstone, Walter Brennan as the inevitable sidekick to Tracy, and Hencry Travers as a somewhat befuddled diplomat.
In fact, it's difficult to find much to criticize in this film, other than historical accuracy. However, if we keep in mind how the movie industry always treated historical accuracy, this film is about average in that respect.
There are enough compelling incidents in the script to keep things moving along well, and -- if you can put aside the historical inaccuracies -- you'll probably greatly enjoy this film.