IMDb > The Roots of Heaven (1958)

The Roots of Heaven (1958) More at IMDbPro »


Overview

User Rating:
6.1/10   258 votes
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Director:
Writers:
Romain Gary (novel)
Romain Gary (screenplay)
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Contact:
View company contact information for The Roots of Heaven on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
15 October 1958 (USA) more
Genre:
Plot:
In Fort Lamy, French Equitorial Africa, idealist Morel launches a one-man campaign to preserve the African elephant from extinction... more | add synopsis
User Comments:
One of the 'Sickest' Films of All Time more (12 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Errol Flynn ... Forsythe
Juliette Gréco ... Minna (as Juliette Greco)
Trevor Howard ... Morel
Eddie Albert ... Abe Fields

Orson Welles ... Cy Sedgewick
Paul Lukas ... Saint Denis

Herbert Lom ... Orsini
Grégoire Aslan ... Habib
André Luguet ... Governor
Friedrich von Ledebur ... Peer Qvist (as Friedrich Ledebur)
Edric Connor ... Waitari
Olivier Hussenot ... Baron
Pierre Dudan ... Major Schölscher
Marc Doelnitz ... De Vries
Francis De Wolff ... Father Farque (as Francis de Wolff)
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Additional Details

Runtime:
121 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
4-Track Stereo (Westrex Recording System)
Filming Locations:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Terrible heat and sickness took their toll on the cast and crew. The 130 people had 920 sick calls during the filming. more
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FAQ

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7 out of 7 people found the following comment useful.
One of the 'Sickest' Films of All Time, 30 June 2007
5/10
Author: bkoganbing from Buffalo, New York

When the original script of The Roots of Heaven was shown to John Huston, he had it in mind for William Holden to star in it. It seemed like a natural given Holden's interest in conservation. Errol Flynn remarked in his memoirs that he was looking forward to co-starring with Holden.

But Bill Holden backed out of the project and not as big a movie name, Trevor Howard, was substituted. Flynn's part was then built up though clearly he's a supporting character. In any event all these guys were just there in support of Juliette Greco who was Darryl F. Zanuck's main squeeze at the time. Ms. Greco was a better actress than that other squeeze of Zanuck's Bella Darvi and she didn't come to a tragic end as poor Bella did.

Huston maybe should have known better, after all he had done The African Queen on location in Africa already and knew the problems therein. The Roots of Heaven may have set some kind of record for illnesses among the cast, maybe rivaling The Conqueror. The most serious was Eddie Albert's nearly fatal case of sunstroke.

It was reported that Errol Flynn kept the illness at bay by consuming large quantities of gin on location. He had the most to worry about as he had chronic malaria, acquired in his youth in the New Guinea jungles that kicked up on him every now and then. Of course right after the film, he was reported to suffer a major attack of it and was in hospital for weeks.

The story never quite takes off. It's about Trevor Howard's efforts to save the elephant population and the lack of interest therein among most of the natives who depend on the ivory trade for a livelihood. Conservation is a noble cause, but it's usually talked about by those who've already plundered their area already for its resources and are now telling others what to do.

Howard's cause never quite gets off the ground and sad to say, neither does the film. Maybe it could be made today with better results.

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