Rating: 
Summary: Animals, thrills, and romance, Wayne-style
Review: "Hatari!" is the story of a very likeable group of men who live in Africa and catch animals for zoos. The gang includes Sean Mercer (John Wayne), Pockets (Red Buttons) and Kurt (Hardy Kruger). A photographer named Dallas (Elsa Martinelli) comes to stay, and everyone is surprised (and delighted) to find that she is a woman, and a beautiful one at that. She goes out on hunts with the guys and is attracted to Sean (who wouldn't be!); he likes her, too, although he won't admit it. Pockets and Kurt fight over their old boss' daughter, Brandy, who is all grown up now.
There is plenty of wild animal action (the actors really did catch the animals), plenty of fun, and innocent romance, too. John Wayne has one of his best roles as the rugged he-man who acts all dopey around a pretty girl. German heartthrob Hardy Kruger is the reason I watch this movie over and over again. Miss Martinelli is very good as the Italian beauty who falls hard for Sean and is the object of two baby elephants' affections, as well. The whole family can enjoy the breathtaking animal scenes, the strong bond of friendship shared by the little group, and the adventure of living in Africa. Heartily recommended.
Rating: 
Summary: Only John Wayne movie I'd consider owning
Review: "Hatari" is the film of my childhood. I grew up as a Marine's kid in the late 50's through the 60's, living primarily at Cherry Point USMC airbase (Havelock) NC. The town was so small then that we had to go to the base cinema which would, of course, show every John Wayne movie over and over again. This was the only one I would ask to go see. Violence and "ugly Americanism" are at a minimum for a JW movie. However, since the live capture of wild animals can be pretty intense, I wouldn't recommend it for pre-schoolers or very sensitive children. I gave it 4 stars because there is minimal technical information and I want to see the quality of the DVD transfer before I commit. This is definitely worth a rental.
Rating:
Summary: A one of a kind movie
Review: A big highlight of most of the vacations our family has taken over the years have been to zoos. Though the PETA people may not agree, to enjoy these zoos one has to accept that people need to catch these animals in the wild to make it work. While breeding in the zoos does help, there still needs to be a fresh supply from the wild. While the plot is fairly standard, the reason I titled this "one of a kind" refers to the type of work that is done. This is about the people who catch animals for circuses and zoos. It was shot forty years ago, and while the politics of the time are a bit different, the action of the movie is terrifically exciting throughout. These were the days long before computer-enchanced graphics, which would have been used had the movie been done today. No, these are real wild animals. Since I doubt that the animals used can be trained for this type of work, I have to conclude that the footage is real, and that real wild animals that didn't want to be caught were used. So we get scenes involving giraffes, zebras, rhinos, and one or two kinds I'm not able to identify. We also get to see genuine interraction with baby elephants, a cheetah, and even a hyena. With all the animals, it works great both as a family film which can also be viewed at an adult level. The adult level takes a bit away from a higher rating of what is still a very fine film. It seems that EVERYONE smokes ALL THE TIME, at least when they're not getting plastered drunk. The occasional fighting stunts are not done well, and some of the dubbing could have been done better. And with all the action with the animals, it really didn't need a love story, but the movie seems to think it was important to hook up the only females in the cast. But these are minor, and yes, it was a different time. But I will close by saying that every zoo I've been to seems deadly serious about treating their animals like the treasures they are. And it is a fact that animals in zoos generally live far longer than in the wild (and a lot safer, too). So while I'll admit there are probably unscrupulous people in this line of work, if we are to enjoy zoos, this type of work is necessary, as are the people who do it. So relax and enjoy.
Rating:
Summary: A one of a kind movie
Review: A big highlight of most of the vacations our family has taken over the years have been to zoos. Though the PETA people may not agree, to enjoy these zoos one has to accept that people need to catch these animals in the wild to make it work. While breeding in the zoos does help, there still needs to be a fresh supply from the wild. While the plot is fairly standard, the reason I titled this "one of a kind" refers to the type of work that is done. This is about the people who catch animals for circuses and zoos. It was shot forty years ago, and while the politics of the time are a bit different, the action of the movie is terrifically exciting throughout. These were the days long before computer-enchanced graphics, which would have been used had the movie been done today. No, these are real wild animals. Since I doubt that the animals used can be trained for this type of work, I have to conclude that the footage is real, and that real wild animals that didn't want to be caught were used. So we get scenes involving giraffes, zebras, rhinos, and one or two kinds I'm not able to identify. We also get to see genuine interraction with baby elephants, a cheetah, and even a hyena. With all the animals, it works great both as a family film which can also be viewed at an adult level. The adult level takes a bit away from a higher rating of what is still a very fine film. It seems that EVERYONE smokes ALL THE TIME, at least when they're not getting plastered drunk. The occasional fighting stunts are not done well, and some of the dubbing could have been done better. And with all the action with the animals, it really didn't need a love story, but the movie seems to think it was important to hook up the only females in the cast. But these are minor, and yes, it was a different time. But I will close by saying that every zoo I've been to seems deadly serious about treating their animals like the treasures they are. And it is a fact that animals in zoos generally live far longer than in the wild (and a lot safer, too). So while I'll admit there are probably unscrupulous people in this line of work, if we are to enjoy zoos, this type of work is necessary, as are the people who do it. So relax and enjoy.
Rating:
Summary: Delightful, Memorable
Review: A fine combination of action, romance, comedy and the battle of the sexes. Wonderfully scored by Henry Mancini and with the Mancini touch, capturing every mood and lifting the action and suspense.
Rating:
Summary: HATARI
Review: A very nice comedy! John Wayne made one of very best his movie.Red Buttons is memorabile. Great music too, everythink it is wonderful.
Rating:
Summary: Cowboy (or cowboys?) in Africa
Review: As in "The Hellfighters," the Duke here explicates a little-known modern profession, in this case that of wild-animal catcher for zoos, film companies, laboratories, and the like. He plays Sean Mercer, the senior "hunter" in a multinational group based somewhere in East Africa and working for the daughter (Giardon) of their old (French) boss. Complications begin when The Indian (Cabot), one of the most experienced men in the group, is gored by a rhino, and continue when an arrogant young Frenchman (Blain) tries to muscle in as his replacement while he's in the hospital. Then a newcomer (Martinelli) arrives at the farm: an Italian photojournalist who neglected to mention, during negotiations, that she was female. She and Sean enact "The Taming of the Shrew" for the rest of the film, while Pockets (Buttons), the company's driver, struggles to overcome his shy devotion to boss-lady Brandy. Filmed on location, the movie includes some heart-pounding animal-chase scenes (watch those rhinos!), splendid scenery (you'll gape when you see the open-air well used by the Masai), and liberal humor (Dallas and the baby elephants, her "adoption" by the local native tribe, and Pockets' scheme to bag several hundred monkeys in one go). One of the few films that has to be packaged as a double-VHS set, this epic comedy-adventure should be popular with all ages.
Rating:
Summary: Cowboy (or cowboys?) in Africa
Review: As in "The Hellfighters," the Duke here explicates a little-known modern profession, in this case that of wild-animal catcher for zoos, film companies, laboratories, and the like. He plays Sean Mercer, the senior "hunter" in a multinational group based somewhere in East Africa and working for the daughter (Giardon) of their old (French) boss. Complications begin when The Indian (Cabot), one of the most experienced men in the group, is gored by a rhino, and continue when an arrogant young Frenchman (Blain) tries to muscle in as his replacement while he's in the hospital. Then a newcomer (Martinelli) arrives at the farm: an Italian photojournalist who neglected to mention, during negotiations, that she was female. She and Sean enact "The Taming of the Shrew" for the rest of the film, while Pockets (Buttons), the company's driver, struggles to overcome his shy devotion to boss-lady Brandy. Filmed on location, the movie includes some heart-pounding animal-chase scenes (watch those rhinos!), splendid scenery (you'll gape when you see the open-air well used by the Masai), and liberal humor (Dallas and the baby elephants, her "adoption" by the local native tribe, and Pockets' scheme to bag several hundred monkeys in one go). One of the few films that has to be packaged as a double-VHS set, this epic comedy-adventure should be popular with all ages.
Rating:
Summary: Hatari! is the Best!
Review: Does anyone not like this movie? This and Red River are tied as my favorite John Wayne films. The scenery and cinematography are simply spectacular, and it's a joy to finally see it in wide-screen. There isn't a dull moment in Hatari!, and while the subject matter (catching wild animals for zoos) may be "politically incorrect" by todays thinking, it's a terrific film for the whole family.
Rating:
Summary: Howard Hawks classic with John Wayne on the veldt
Review: Finally a DVD. All the people and situations are fun to watch. Some are a little cutesy, but they work. For example in one scene, all the animals watch on apprehensively as a thorn is pulled out of one. They play "Baby Elephant Walk (Instrumental)", as Elsa Martinelli becomes a surrogate mother. Will the Indian (Bruce Cabot) survive? When they capture the monkeys look closely at the bird cage helmet. Is it the same one used in "Bachelor in Paradise (1961) ASIN: 6302946476"? Not only is this a good movie with the standard Wayne formula, but it also has many of the actors that travel from one John Wayne movie to another. So what's next? "Donovan's Reef" (1963) ASIN: B00005ASGF. Just put the number in the search box.
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