An incredible early historical view of Africa

Wow! I just saw this movie on TCM and it truly is, if nothing else, an incredible photographic history of Africa nearly 80 years ago. The animals, the tribes, the customs, have all but disappeared. Not even on Animal Planet or National Geographic channels have I seen animal footage such as this. The modern nature TV shows abound with the savage mutilations of prey animals by predators -- but rarely show prey animals fighting back! And the scene in Trader Horn where the zebra turns on the lion and charges him, then repeatedly kicks him and escapes, is probably more typical than not. After all, most prey animals "do not go gentle into that good night" -- they fight for their lives.

Also, today you would never see people actually being killed by animals in films -- but when one of the natives was killed by a rhino during the filming of Trader Horn, the footage was kept in the movie, and it is appalling to see this human being actually flung into the air like a rag doll by the freight train of a rhino. It is probably one of the rawest, most realistic adventure films ever made.

I would be interested to hear how African Americans feel about this film. Disregarding the casual racist comments of 80 years ago, it still brings a respect for Africans that other films of the era never showed. The gun bearer who is like a brother to Horn and who dies in his arms is the most stalwart character in the film, and his ghostly face appearing to Horn above the horizon at the end of the movie pays tribute to a great human being, not just a "native".

But for African Americans, I would think the most prized aspect of the film would be the diverse tribes of African people who were recorded for history -- captured on film, and filmed beautifully, in their antique dress and dances that are now a thing of the past, or used only for special occasions. Much like the garb and dances of early Native Americans, or the kilts and Highland dances of early Scotland, which at one time were an integral part of a warrior culture, the trappings of the early warrior cultures of Africa have all but disappeared. Unfortunately, the tribal or national wars still remain, but with modern weapons and uniforms. As with most other cultures, the destruction remains but the individuality of the culture has been absorbed by the ways of the West.





"The abuse of greatness is when it disjoins remorse from power."
- Julius Caesar, act 2 sc 1