...Mogambo...1953...

[GaryS]

That still happens, and in the 21st Century it has spread to sports figures as well.

Amazing things I learn here! I think many famous people live bigger than life because they are allowed to by almost everyone they meet and begin to believe that they are allowed to do anything they desire.

 

[GaryS]

"Trader Horn" from 1931 was the first fictional film shot in Africa. It's a pretty good, although the quality of the films still existing is a bit, uh, fuzzy.

From the Wikipedia article.

Many accidents and delays occurred during filming in Africa. Many of the crew, including the director W.S. Van Dyke, contracted malaria. An African crewman fell into a river and was eaten by a crocodile. Another was killed by a charging rhinoceros. The rhinoceros was captured on film and the scene was used in the final print. Swarms of many insects, including locusts and the-tse flies, were common and cast and crew was perpetually bitten or stung.
Female lead Edwina Booth became infected, probably with malaria or schistosomiasis during filming. It took six years for her to fully recover from this and other conditions she endured. She retired from acting soon after and sued Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. The case was settled out of court. A sound crew, sent halfway through filming, were unable to produce good quality work. This resulted in most of the dialogue sequences being reshot at the MGM studios in Culver City, California. This caused rumours that the entire production had been filmed there, so most of this footage was cut from the final release. Many animal scenes were filmed in Tecate, Mexico, by a second unit to avoid the American laws on the ethical treatment of animals. For example, lions were reportedly starved to promote vicious attacks on hyenas, monkeys and deer.[5]

Talk about artists suffering for their art!

Man you guys are movie smart. Recall watching these flicks with my folks. Another oldie was Elephant Walk where the elephants crushed a house in the jungle.

 

[Texas Star]

Just finished watching the 1950 version of King Solomon's Mines. Was surprised to see that one character had carved a message into the stock of a Winchester M-95, prob. a .405. The other guns were British bolt actions and doubles, save for the hero's Colt SAA .45 with 5.5 inch barrel.

It was good to see the film again after about 50 years.

 

[Texas Star]

About Mogambo what do you think - Did Mr. Marswell (Gable ) really shot that black leopard or was it staged? You can see, as opposed to shootind scenes in various movies where an actor fires a piece and there is not perceived recoil, in this one you can clearly see it.
And also the reaction of the leopard seems, at least to me to be very convincing, the real thing.

Regards, Ray

Ray -

Good point! I haven't seen, "Mogambo" in maybe 50 years, but if I get the DVD will look for that.

 

[Texas Star]

I'm noticing Flynn in the pic above appears to be right handed, judging by the pencil, but is wearing his Randall on his left side. Seems unlikely he'd have a pistol on his right side aboard ship.

Maybe he was ambidextrous?

Might be a flipped transparency. One of those had people thinking for decades that Billy the Kid was left handed.

But with the pencil in his right hand?

 

[Alpo]

I thought it might be flipped, but as I was blowing the picture up to see if his shirt buttoned the right way, I saw the clock is in the right direction.

 

[Ray]

I just happen to have both - Mogambo and King Solomon´s Mines, this one in portuguese, and watched them this weekend. In the opening scenes of King Solomon´s Mines there is a real elephant shooting - the first a frontal brain shot followed by another at the chest área,right side. The interesting thing, that I missed when I first saw the movie as a child, is that they used an Indian elephant for the subsequent charge, when a native is killed
Regards, Ray

 

[Texas Star]

Ray-

You have sharp eyes. I hadn't noticed that. Indian elephants are much easier to train.

I think I posted above that white hunter Bunny Allen shot the dead elephant.

 

[DWalt]

Ray-
You have sharp eyes. I hadn't noticed that. Indian elephants are much easier to train.
I think I posted above that white hunter Bunny Allen shot the dead elephant.

Indian elephants are quite docile compared to their African cousins. They also have much smaller ears.

 

[K-22]

Beauties! Is that a Winchester?

Model 70 Winchester.
.270
According to an auction site where it sold for $15,000

 

[les.b]

Model 70 Winchester.
.270
According to an auction site where it sold for $15,000

Well, I think that Gable had a Winchester Model 70 in .270, but not sure that that's what he is holding in the above photo with the ladies. See Texas Star's posts above. The film came out in 1953. For comparison, here is my Winchester Model 70 in .270 made in 1950. All original, except that someone slathered about 1/8" of polyurethane on the checkering and here and there around the stock. Which is why I was able to pick it up for restoration at a decent price. But anyway, excerpt for the finish, this is how a md.70 should have looked back in 1953:

PS: mine didn't cost $15,000!!

Best Regards, Les

 

[Texas Star]

Model 70 Winchester.
.270
According to an auction site where it sold for $15,000

But it is NOT the rifle that Gable is holding in the photo. There is another photo of him in camp where the M-70 is by him.

Some of you guys are terrible at recognizing guns on TV and in movies!

The rifle that Gable is holding in the photo with the women is a British one made on a Mauser action, with the sling swivel well out on the barrel.

Will someone please post the photo of him with the Winchester M-70? It's very obviously the .270 mentioned by a couple of men who just looked at auction prices for some guns sold. The movie, like Gable himself, had several guns!

Also see the photo above of Grace Kelly with the Rigby rifle. I don't know if it was hers, Gable's, or a prop rifle, but would be ideal for her to shoot lighter game when she and Gable went on their personal safari after the movie was finished.

Within a couple of years, Kelly would marry Prince Rainier and become Her Serene Highness, the Princess Grace of Monaco..

 

[Texas Star]

Well, I think that Gable had a Winchester Model 70 in .270, but not sure that that's what he is holding in the above photo with the ladies. See Texas Star's posts above. The film came out in 1953. For comparison, here is my Winchester Model 70 in .270 made in 1950. All original, except that someone slathered about 1/8" of polyurethane on the checkering and here and there around the stock. Which is why I was able to pick it up for restoration at a decent price. But anyway, excerpt for the finish, this is how a md.70 should have looked back in 1953:

PS: mine didn't cost $15,000!!

Best Regards, Les

Les-

Now THAT is a true Model 70. The one Gable had was made in 1949 and is probably identical to yours.

 

[les.b]

The rifle that Gable is holding in the photo with the women is a British one made on a Mauser action, with the sling swivel well out on the barrel.

Hey, T-S... How about this shot?

Almost like he's holding it out for your inspection!!

Best Regards, Les

 

[Texas Star]

Hey, T-S... How about this shot?

Almost like he's holding it out for your inspection!!

Best Regards, Les

Les-

Terrific! Looks like a John Rigby product, but could be from a rival maker. The appearance is pretty similar.

I think this is the one in the photo with the women. Note that the bolt handle isn't swept back so it is NOT the one held by Grace Kelly.