IMDb > Mogambo (1953)
Mogambo
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Overview

User Rating:
6.6/10   2,491 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 145% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
John Ford
Writers:
Wilson Collison (play)
John Lee Mahin (screenplay)
Contact:
View company contact information for Mogambo on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
9 October 1953 (USA) more
Genre:
Drama | Adventure | Romance more
Tagline:
Actually filmed by M-G-M on safari...amid authentic scenes of unrivalled savagery and awe-inspiring splendor! more
Plot:
Victor Marswell runs a big game trapping company in Kenya. Eloise Kelly is ditched there, and an immediate attraction happens between them... more | full synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 1 win & 1 nomination more
NewsDesk:
Rip Robert Quarry (1925-2009)
 (From Fangoria. 21 February 2009, 7:31 PM, PST)
User Comments:
Chick flick 1950s style. Silly, but with real Africa footage more (42 total)

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)

Clark Gable ... Victor Marswell

Ava Gardner ... Honey Bear Kelly

Grace Kelly ... Linda Nordley
Donald Sinden ... Donald Nordley
Philip Stainton ... John Brown-Pryce

Eric Pohlmann ... Leon Boltchak
Laurence Naismith ... Skipper
Denis O'Dea ... Father Josef
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Asa Etula ... Young native girl (uncredited)

Directed by
John Ford 
 
Writing credits
Wilson Collison (play)

John Lee Mahin (screenplay)

Produced by
Sam Zimbalist .... producer
 
Cinematography by
Robert Surtees 
Freddie Young  (as F.A. Young)
 
Film Editing by
Frank Clarke 
 
Art Direction by
Alfred Junge 
 
Makeup Department
Colin Garde .... makeup artist
Maude Onslow .... hairdresser (as Maud Onslow)
 
Production Management
Roy Parkinson .... unit manager
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Cecil F. Ford .... assistant director (as Cecil Ford)
Wingate Smith .... assistant director
John Pallatt .... assistant director: gorilla footage (uncredited)
 
Sound Department
Amy Fisher .... sound recordist (as A.S. Fisher)
A.W. Watkins .... recording director
Hugh Strain .... sound assistant (uncredited)
 
Special Effects by
Tom Howard .... special effects
Bert Monk .... special effects (uncredited)
 
Stunts
Bunny Allen .... stunt double: Clark Gable (uncredited)
 
Camera and Electrical Department
Cecil R. Cooney .... camera operator (as Cecil Cooney)
Skeets Kelly .... camera operator (as Graham Kelly)
Freddie Cooper .... camera operator: gorilla footage (uncredited)
Stephen Dade .... additional photographer (uncredited)
Jackson Drury .... camera operator: gorilla footage (uncredited)
Kelvin Pike .... clapper loader (uncredited)
Jack Whitehead .... director of photography: gorilla footage (uncredited)
Doug Wolf .... camera operator: gorilla footage (uncredited)
 
Costume and Wardrobe Department
Helen Rose .... costumes
 
Other crew
Joan Bridge .... technicolor color consultant
Angela Martelli .... continuity
Bunny Allen .... technical advisor (uncredited)
Frank Allen .... researcher (uncredited)
Frank Allen .... technical advisor (uncredited)
Yakima Canutt .... director: gorilla footage (uncredited)
Eva Monley .... production coordinator (uncredited)
 
Crew verified as complete


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Additional Details

Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parents
Runtime:
115 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Sound Mix:
Mono (Western Electric Recording)
Certification:
UK:U | Portugal:M/12 | Argentina:Atp | West Germany:12 (f) | USA:Approved (PCA #16530) | Australia:PG | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15
Filming Locations:
Democratic Republic Of Congo more
Company:
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Clark Gable was unimpressed by the script and was wary of reprising his Red Dust (1932) role after 21 years. He only agreed to make the movie after Across the Wide Missouri (1951) and Lone Star (1952) both flopped at the box office. more
Goofs:
Factual errors: A cheetah walks through Ava Gardener's tent late one night. Cheetahs are diurnal, hunting only during the day and sleeping at night. more
Quotes:
Eloise Y. 'Honey Bear' Kelly: This is no Sir Galahad who loves from afar. This is a two-legged boa constrictor. more
Movie Connections:
References Dumbo (1941) more
Soundtrack:
COMIN' THROUGH THE RYE more

FAQ

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User Comments

   (Comment on this title)
8 out of 11 people found the following comment useful.
Chick flick 1950s style. Silly, but with real Africa footage, 10 November 2005
4/10
Author: mravenwud from United States

Clark Gable plays a rough wildlife hunter, who captures wild animals for zoos and takes frivolous wealthy scientists on safari. The improbable story involves a lot of hand-wringing scenes with chatty, emotional women in immaculately pressed, cute outfits throughout hot, dusty, steamy Africa. The supporting cast is mostly dull and the plot...thin at best. The whole scene serves as a scaffold off of which the studio tries to hang a cat fight between two fabulous, yet totally dissimilar women, over the marginally sexy Clark Gable. Save yourself some time and grief: scan forward to the last half hour of the film and you'll see the best performances,figure out the whole story, and watch the rapid wind-up. Ava Gardner looks the quintessential 50's good-time girl. Grace Kelley works the nice-girls-need-love too angle with aplomb. The one thing that makes the film worth a look is the many scenes of Africa and the real tribesmen in their beautiful and interesting native clothes and adornments. African singing throughout. Warning: Politically incorrect conversations about taking baby gorillas away for profit. And holy smokes! For fun, Count the number of cigarettes doled out and in this film!

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