Call Me Bwana (1963)

A returning moon capsule with vital information goes off course and lands in Africa where the little-known Ekele tribesmen find it. Washington orders the great African Authority Matthew ... See full summary »

Director:

Gordon Douglas

Writers:

Nate Monaster (screenplay), Johanna Harwood (screenplay),

Stars:

Bob Hope, Anita Ekberg, Edie Adams

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Bob Hope	...	Matt
Anita Ekberg	...	Luba
Edie Adams	...	Frederica
Lionel Jeffries	...	Ezra
Percy Herbert	...	First Henchman
Paul Carpenter	...	Col. Spencer
Orlando Martins	...	Chief
Al Mulock	...	Second Henchman
Bari Jonson	...	Uta
Peter Dyneley	...	Williams
Mai Ling	...	Hyacinth
Mark Heath	...	Koba
Robert Nichols	...	American Major
Neville Monroe	...	Reporter
Mike Moyer	...	Reporter (as Michael Moyer)

Storyline

A returning moon capsule with vital information goes off course and lands in Africa where the little-known Ekele tribesmen find it. Washington orders the great African Authority Matthew Merriwether (Bob Hope), an utter fraud and authority only on feminine pulchritude, to go find it. A foreign power sends Secret Agent Luba (Anita Ekberg) to go after Matthew and stop at nothing - absolutely nothing - to get it from him. Dr. Ezra Mungo (Lionel Jeffries) is peeved that Luba superseded him, and is sent along posing as her father but has plans of his own. All meet and form a safari but there is time out for a golf match between Merriwether and Arnold Palmer (Himself). After reaching their destination, with Merriwether madly in love with Luba, they find that the Ekeles believe the capsule is a holy talisman and won't give it up.

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Plot Keywords:

african | secret agent | golf | africa | safari | 

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Taglines:

Hope was never lovelier... Elberg was never funnier!

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Genres:

Comedy

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 June 1963 (USA)

Also Known As:

Appelez-moi chef

Filming Locations:

Pinewood Studios, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Danjaq, Eon Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min 102 min (Turner library print)

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Terry-Thomas was the original choice for the role of Dr. Ezra Mungo.

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Goofs

In US operations centre, there is a map of Africa with a coloured area showing where the satellite may have landed. The shape of this coloured area changes between the long and close shots.

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Quotes

Luba: Matt, I meant what I said last night.
Matthew Merriwether: [Being carried off by cannibals] Oh, swell... You can shed a few tears on my gravy.

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Connections

References The Flintstones (1960)

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Soundtracks

"Call Me Bwana"
Music and Lyrics by Monty Norman
Performed by Bob Hope (uncredited)

User Reviews

Hope is Hope.

Look this movie is a comedy that has a value today more as a remembrance of the type of fluff Hollywood produced in the early '60s. This film is watchable, but it isn't a classic. It has some funny gags, but not the best plot. It's something about a lost satellite in Africa, and once the leads get there it moves along briskly. It's very reminiscent of the 'Road to ...' movies, although this one doesn't have Crosby. It offers Ekberg who worked w/ Abbott & Costello AND with Lewis and Martin. The woman knows comedy and plays off Hope well. There are A lot of worse films to watch, and this does offer a good remembrance of the time once known as Camelot w/ its jokes about the Kennedy family.