Review of Stanley and Livingstone (1939) by Steve N — 31 May 2011
Highly glamorized Hollywood biopic of Henry M. Stanley's search for Christian missionary Dr. David Livingstone in 1871 is mostly remembered for the stunning location photography that came into vogue in the 1930s when cameras got light enough and film emulsions fast enough to make that kind of shooting less onerous.
Co-director Otto Brower shot 100,000 feet of film following Stanley's course through central Africa and the footage was expertly blended with the scenes shot on stage by Henry King to endow an otherwise mundane adventure story with an epic quality rare for the time.
None of the principal actors ever set foot in Africa! Tracy elevates an otherwise odious historical figure to a disturbingly sympathetic level by shifting Stanley's motivation from cynical fortune-seeking to winning the heart of Nancy Kelly, a worthwhile endeavor any time.
Walter Brennan seems out of place as a former Indian-fighter shadowing Tracy across Africa, but he does provide some much-needed energy to an otherwise languid cast. Tracy later recalled that he had a hell of a time keeping a straight face delivering the famous line: "Doctor Livingstone, I presume?".
This review of Stanley and Livingstone (1939) was written by Steve N on 31 May 2011.
Stanley and Livingstone has generally received positive reviews.
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