Africa Screams
About Africa Screams
Diana Emerson wants a map in the book Dark Safari. Bookstore clerk Buzz Johnson and his friend Stanley Livington fake one and are hauled onto her expedition, with Clyde Beatty along, supposedly to catch a giant ape. The real aim is diamonds. Frank Buck turns up. Cannibals dangle the stones. A gorilla Stanley had pulled out of Buck's trap gets them clear, then the chief wants Stanley himself in exchange for the diamonds. The giant ape scatters the camp. The gorilla recovers the diamonds. Buzz leaves Stanley behind. Stanley later does well, with the gorilla's help.
Cast & crew
More about Africa Screams
Charles Barton directed. Earl Baldwin wrote it. Edward Nassour and Huntington Hartford produced. The title plays on the 1930 documentary Africa Speaks! New York opened it on 4 May 1949. A general U.S. date is 27 May 1949. United Artists distributed. Bud Abbott plays Buzz. Lou Costello plays Stanley.
Themes
Music
Walter Schumann wrote the music.
Preservation
In the public domain in the United States since 1977. A restored Blu-ray, funded by a Kickstarter, came out in June 2020.
Notes
- Hillary Brooke plays Diana. Clyde Beatty and Frank Buck play themselves.
- Max Baer is Grappler McCoy. Buddy Baer is Boots Wilson. Shemp Howard is Gunner. Joe Besser is Harry.
- Burton Wenland plays the gorilla Bobo. Charles Gemora plays the ape.
- The picture entered the public domain in the United States in 1977.
- This file's year is 1950. The release dates on record are in May 1949.
Scenes
- Buzz and Stanley draw a fake map and get kidnapped onto the expedition.
- Stanley frees the gorilla from Frank Buck's trap.
- The gorilla brings the diamonds back after Buzz has already left.
Influenced by
- Africa Speaks! (1930)
Also available
- Internet Archive (AfricaScreams)
- Wikimedia Commons (Africa Screams (1949).webm)
