Something of Value (1957)

Even though Peter and Kimani grow up together, Kimani soon finds that different races are treated differently. After the father of Kimani is jailed for following tribal customs, Kimani ... See full summary »

Director:

Richard Brooks

Writers:

Richard Brooks (screen play), Robert C. Ruark (book)

Stars:

Rock Hudson, Dana Wynter, Wendy Hiller

1 nomination.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Rock Hudson	...	Henry's Son - Peter
Dana Wynter	...	Peter's Betrothed - Holly
Wendy Hiller	...	Henry's Daughter - Elizabeth
Juano Hernandez	...	Njogu - Oath Giver
William Marshall	...	Leader - Intellectual in Suit
Robert Beatty	...	Elizabeth's Husband - Jeff Newton
Walter Fitzgerald	...	A White Settler - Henry McKenzie
Michael Pate	...	A Farmer - Joe Matson
Ivan Dixon	...	Lathela - Loyal Gun-Bearer
Ken Renard	...	Karanja - Father of Kimani
Samadu Jackson	...	Witch Doctor
Frederick O'Neal	...	Adam Marenga - Mau-Mau Leader
Sidney Poitier	...	Kimani Wa Karanja

Storyline

Even though Peter and Kimani grow up together, Kimani soon finds that different races are treated differently. After the father of Kimani is jailed for following tribal customs, Kimani joins a band of rebels that wants all non-Kenyans out of their country. While Kimani believes in the cause, he does not agree with the indiscriminate killing of women, children and those who will not join or agree with them. Peter, even after the deaths of his little sister and brother by the Mau Mau, still believes that there is a chance for peaceful co-existence. He believes that he can stop most of the killing if he can only reason with Kimani.

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Plot Keywords:

tribal customs | death | mau mau | band | rebel | 

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Genres:

Drama | War

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

June 1957 (USA)

Also Known As:

Africa Ablaze

Filming Locations:

Africa

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

113 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Perspecta Sound) (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Rock Hudson himself drove the film crew round the Nairobi National Park, with the stand-in for his co-star next to him. The crew and game warden were in the back of the semi-open Land Rover. Although all the animals in the park were wild they were used to vehicles. Many shots of various animals were taken, including baboons. For the latter Hudson threw peanuts onto the front of the vehicle. One half-grown male, seeing the actual source of this food, jumped through the half-door onto Hudson's lap, stole some extra peanuts and even snatched a lipstick from the hand of the stand-in. Hudson grabbed the baboon by the scruff of the neck, calmly took back the lipstick and threw the animal out.

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Quotes

Henry's Son - Peter: Kimani's guilty of only one thing, Captain. Guilty of being born black.

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Connections

Featured in Rock Hudson's Home Movies (1992)

User Reviews

Yes it is...

This movie is really something of value.Rock HUdson's character says "we steal their earth and their religion,we 've got to give them something of value instead".Actually,Richard Brookes applied to Africa what he 'd done two years back with "the last hunt" where the white men killed the buffalos and starved the Indians.They even despised their belief by killing even the White animal.

Preceded by "Simba" an English movie starring Dirk Bogarde the screenplay of which

shows a lot of similarities with "something of value' Brooks 's work seems nevertheless superior ,because it has very strong scenes:Poitier,smashing the mirror with disgust after the killing,the informer killed on the barbed wire by the other prisoners;the old man ,afraid of thunder.This last scene may seem naive ,nay insulting for the natives ,but it was fifty years ago.People who criticize the movie should think about it:in 1957,it was a courageous movie,as "the last hunt" was.