Plot: What’s it about?
Sean Mercer (John Wayne) and his buddies run a wild game capture service, which takes & fills orders for zoos in need of animals. The tasks can be often be dangerous, but the team continues on and on their last mission, Little Wolf (Bruce Cabot) was gored by a rhino. It seems rhinos always causes these guys problems, as they always fail on those tasks and end up far worse for the wear, for sure. As if the danger of the wilds wasn’t enough, now a photographer named Anna (Elsa Martinelli) has arrived and of course, John wants to send her right back out again. But she is allowed to stay thanks to her employer’s bankroll, so she comes along on the hunts and documents the event that happen. But as time passes and the group becomes closer and closer, what will become of our band of workers?
A well crafted blend of adventure and comedy, Hatari! is one of my favorite John Wayne movies. I love the premise and it unfolds very well, so Wayne and his costars are able to shine, which they do. I was surprised at how well the capture scenes work and they add a lot to the film, since the animals are so central to the storyline. The visuals are lush and enhance the whole feel also, which is cool, especially in this widescreen edition. I do think the movie runs a little long at over 150 minutes, but the pace remains brisk and never becomes dull. Also, keep your ears open for Henry Mancini’s score, which is terrific and makes the movie even better. I like this movie and am pleased to have it on this format, but as usual, Paramount has done little to enhance the purchase. As such, I think a rental will suffice in most cases, since the disc offers little in terms of value.
We’ve seen him as a soldier, as a cowboy, and in all sorts of other roles, but how about John Wayne as a big game hunter? As usual, Wayne is likable and offers a good performance, but this is far from cinematic bliss, if you ask me. His work lacks in certain respects, but Wayne has a strong screen presence and as often is the case, that proves to be enough. I find this to be one of his better turns in the end, as he seems very relaxed and comfortable, but also stretches beyond the usual stuff, I think. You can also see Wayne in such films as The Sons of Katie Elder, The Horse Soldiers, Donovan’s Reef, The Green Berets, and The Searchers. The cast also includes Elsa Martinelli (The 10th Victim, Candy), Red Buttons (The Story of Us, The Longest Day), and Hardy Kruger (The Death Merchants, The Inside Man).
Video: How does it look?
Hatari! is presented in a 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer. This is a watchable visual treatment, but it looks like little effort was made by Paramount, though that isn’t too surprising, now is it? The image is very soft and plagued with grain throughout, which makes the film’s lush visuals crumble. The colors seem bold and bright, but I saw some bleeds and such, though flesh tones are solid enough. I also saw some edge enhancement, moire patterns, and all sorts of print flaws, which don’t help matters much. This is by no means a total loss, but I expected a better effort, especially at such a high price level.
Audio: How does it sound?
The included mono has been restored, but it sounds much like other mono options, so I don’t think much work was needed. The track has the normal limits of mono, but sounds good, when you consider the age and nature of the material. The musical score is smooth and has minimal distortion, while sound effects are good, aside from the mono format’s issues. No dialogue errors either, a clean and effective mono mix. This disc also includes a French language option, as well as English subtitles, if you’ll need those.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc includes the film’s theatrical trailer.
