So This Is Africa (1933)

Bert Wheeler and Robert Woolsey play a couple of broke, hungry vaudevillians who are holed up in a hotel room with a few (tame) lions. They are hired by a movie producer who wishes to send ... See full summary »

Director:

Edward F. Cline

Writer:

Norman Krasna (story)

Stars:

Robert Woolsey, Bert Wheeler, Raquel Torres

Cast

Cast overview:
Robert Woolsey	...	Alexander
Bert Wheeler	...	Wilbur
Raquel Torres	...	Leader of Amazon Women
Esther Muir	...	Mrs. Johnson-Martini
Berton Churchill	...	President
Henry Armetta	...	Street Cleaner
Spencer Charters	...	Doctor

Storyline

Bert Wheeler and Robert Woolsey play a couple of broke, hungry vaudevillians who are holed up in a hotel room with a few (tame) lions. They are hired by a movie producer who wishes to send them and their lions to Africa with a great naturalist, in order to make a jungle picture. An earlier expedition by this same naturalist was a failure, because she is afraid of animals. They all head to Africa and the lions are not mentioned again. Once in the jungle they have to fend off the amorous advances of the naturalist, of a vine-swinging native girl, and of a gorilla. They then run into the fearsome Amazon tribe, made up entirely of nubile females. Eventually they disguise themselves as Amazons to avoid being "loved to death." But these disguises lead to further difficulties when the all-male tribe of Tarzans show up for their annual mating ritual with the Amazons.

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Plot Keywords:

lion | africa | entertainer

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Genres:

Comedy

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 April 1933 (USA)

Also Known As:

A África é Assim

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

61 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This was the only film Bert Wheeler and Robert Woolsey made for Columbia Pictures. All their other features were for RKO Radio Pictures.

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Quotes

Alexander: What a lovely gown! That certainly is pretty.
[One of the straps falls off Martini's shoulder]
Mrs. Johnson Martini: You think it becoming?
Alexander: It'll be coming off any minute now!

User Reviews

hacked but funny Wheeler and Woolsey

Originally filmed at some 90 minutes, Wheeler and Woolsey's only film at Columbia was chopped at the insistence of the censors and never re-released until its emergence on TCM some sixty-odd years later.

Wilbur and Alexander are failed lion tamers, who have a small tribe of toothless tame lions they won in a raffle. These lions are of great interest to a film company who need a film about Africa. So, the hapless two and their animals go on safari, alongside the oversexed Mrs Martini.

The jokes are fairly thick and fast in this 65 minute print, which includes a passionate female Tarzan, a huge group of Amazons, a foot-licking bear, a gorilla called Josephine, and a couple of musical numbers (one spoofing Minnie the Moocher).

Although usual cutie Dorothy Lee is missing, Raquel Torres and Esther Muir do well as the love interests for the boys, and Wheeler and Woolsey themselves are on fairly good form.