Simba (1955)

Director:

Brian Desmond Hurst

Writers:

Anthony Perry (novel)
John Baines (screenplay)
(more)

Release Date:

9 September 1955 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

This is the real Mau-Mau Story!

Plot:

A European family in East Africa finds itself caught up in an uprising by local black Africans against their white colonial masters. Based on the Mau-Mau rebellion in Kenya in the early 1950s.

Plot Keywords:

Mau Mau | Brother | Father | Settler | Suspect

Awards:

Nominated for 3 BAFTA Film Awards. Another 1 nomination

US TV Schedule:

Thur. June 7

10:30 AM

TCM

Cast

Dirk Bogarde	...	Alan Howard
Donald Sinden	...	Inspector Drummond
Virginia McKenna	...	Mary Crawford
Basil Sydney	...	Mr. Crawford
Marie Ney	...	Mrs. Crawford
Joseph Tomelty	...	Dr. Hughes
Earl Cameron	...	Karanja
Orlando Martins	...	Headman
Ben Johnson	...	Kimani
Frank Singuineau	...	Waweru
Huntley Campbell	...	Joshua
Slim Harris	...	Chege
Glyn Lawson	...	Mundati
Harry Quashie	...	Thakla
John Chandos	...	Settler at Meeting
Desmond Roberts	...	Colonel Bridgeman
Errol John	...	African Inspector
Willy Sholanke	...	Witch Doctor

Directed by
Brian Desmond Hurst

Writing credits
Anthony Perry		(novel)
John Baines		(screenplay)
Robin Estridge		uncredited

Produced by
Peter De Sarigny	....	producer
Earl St. John	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Francis Chagrin

Cinematography by
Geoffrey Unsworth

Film Editing by
Michael Gordon

Art Direction by
John Howell

Costume Design by
Doris Lee

Makeup Department
George Blackler	....	makeup artist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Philip Shipway	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Gordon K. McCallum	....	sound mixer
Dudley Messenger	....	sound recordist
Winston Ryder	....	sound editor

Special Effects by
Charles Staffell	....	special effects
Bill Warrington	....	special effects

Camera and Electrical Department
Eric Cross	....	camera operator: second unit
David Harcourt	....	camera operator
Skeets Kelly	....	camera operator: second unit

Other crew
Arthur Alcott	....	production controller
Yvonne Axeworthy	....	continuity

Production Companies

• Group Film Productions Limited

Distributors

• General Film Distributors (GFD) (1955) (UK) (theatrical)
• Lippert Pictures (1955) (USA) (theatrical)
• Rank (1955) (France) (theatrical)
• Éclair-Journal (1955) (France) (theatrical) (16mm)
• Rank Film (1955) (Italy) (theatrical)
• J. Arthur Rank Film (1955) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Parvisfilmi (1956) (Finland) (theatrical)
• J.Arthur Rank-Film (1955) (Austria) (theatrical)
• Classic Movie Collection (2005) (Germany) (DVD)
• VCI Entertainment (2011) (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• J. Arthur Rank Film  German post-synchronized version

Also Known As:

Runtime:

99 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

West Germany:16 (nf) | USA:Not Rated | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | Australia:PG

Filming Locations:

Kenya

Company:

Group Film Productions Limited

Trivia:

This was Lippert Pictures last release in the USA.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in A Profile of 'A Town Like Alice' (2001) (V)

Emerging Kenya

One of my biggest complaints about American cinema films concerning Africa is that they are complete pulp fiction and give us no real understanding of the continent. How could it since we have no real ties, even colonial ones with Africa. Simba however which is British made and shot on actual location in Kenya Colony which it was at the time this film was made is a good insight to the problems of an Empire in its last gasp and they knew it.

Kenya took longer than most of sub-Saharan Africa to be free because of the Mau Mau rebellion. But it free it became within a decade of Simba reaching the screen. Dirk Bogarde stars as a young man come to Africa to work with his brother on the family farm in Kenya. But on his arrival he discovers that the brother has been murdered by the Mau Maus.

This does engender some racial attitudes in Bogarde, understandable to say the least. Seeing the better angels of Africa's nature is Virginia McKenna the daughter of neighboring farmers Basil Sydney and Marie Ney. Dealing with it from a military point of view is Donald Sinden in charge of the local constabulary which also is staffed with native troops.

These players and the rest of Simba's film crew took their lives in their hands going there to make this film. Another American film on Africa, Safari with Victor Mature and Janet Leigh, also dealt peripherally with the Mau Mau movement and was shot there a year later. This is the better product by far.

Mention must also go to Earl Cameron playing the European educated black doctor who is caught between the white colonials and his own natives and this violent outbreak which is harming all. Cameron delivers a fine performance, his is the voice of emerging Africa and Kenya in particular.

Don't miss this one if it's broadcast.