Call Me Bwana (1963)

Director:

Gordon Douglas

Writers:

Nate Monaster (screenplay) &
Johanna Harwood (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

14 June 1963 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

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

Plot:

A returning moon capsule with vital information goes off course and lands in Africa where the little-known Ekele tribesmen find it...

Plot Keywords:

African | Secret Agent | Golf | Africa | Safari

Cast

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)
Richard Burrell	...	Reporter
Robert Arden	...	1st C.I.A. Man
Kevin Scott	...	2nd C.I.A. Man
Arnold Palmer	...	Himself
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Miles Malleson	...	Psychiatrist (uncredited)
Nosher Powell	...	Man (uncredited)
Nikki Van der Zyl	...	Luba (voice) (uncredited)

Directed by
Gordon Douglas

Writing credits
Nate Monaster		(screenplay) &
Johanna Harwood		(screenplay) &
Mort Lachman		(screenplay) &
Bill Larkin		(screenplay) (as William Larkin)

Produced by
Albert R. Broccoli	....	producer
Harry Saltzman	....	executive producer
Stanley Sopel	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Muir Mathieson
Monty Norman

Cinematography by
Ted Moore		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Peter R. Hunt		(as Peter Hunt)

Art Direction by
Syd Cain

Makeup Department
Anne Box	....	hair stylist (as Ann Box)
Basil Newall	....	makeup artist
Tony Sforzini	....	makeup artist
Eileen Warwick	....	hair stylist

Production Management
William Hill	....	production manager (as Bill Hill)
Eva Monley	....	production manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Henry Geddes	....	second unit director
Bluey Hill	....	second unit director
Clive Reed	....	assistant director

Art Department
John Graysmark	....	assistant art director
Peter Russell	....	set dresser

Sound Department
Bill Daniels	....	sound recordist
Harry Miller	....	dubbing editor
John W. Mitchell	....	sound recordist (as John Mitchell)
Norman Wanstall	....	dubbing editor
Graham V. Hartstone	....	assistant sound (uncredited)

Special Effects by
John Stears	....	special effects

Stunts
Nosher Powell	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
John Coquillon	....	second unit cameraman
Skeets Kelly	....	second unit cameraman
John Winbolt	....	camera operator

Music Department
Muir Mathieson	....	conductor

Other crew
Maurice Binder	....	main title design
Kay Rawlings	....	continuity

Production Companies

• Danjaq
• Eon Productions

Distributors

• United Artists (1963) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1967) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• J. Arthur Rank Film Distributors (1963) (UK) (theatrical)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2011) (USA) (DVD) (DVD-R)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (USA) (VHS)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (USA) (laserdisc)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

USA:102 min (Turner library print) | UK:93 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Finland:S | Sweden:11 | Australia:G

Filming Locations:

Pinewood Studios, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Company:

Danjaq

Trivia:

Anita Ekberg was dubbed by Nikki Van der Zyl.

Goofs:

Continuity: 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.

Quotes:

Matthew Merriwether:The only wild animal I want to see is the cigarette girl at the Stork Club.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in From Russia with Love (1963)

Soundtrack:

All Things Bright and Beautiful

Similar to his "Road" movies, but NO singing

Lots of one-liners by Bob Hope, in this film produced by Albert Broccoli, who did all the early James Bond movies. Acc to IMDb, this was the second film produced by Eon productions. The credits don't list who does the voices for John Kennedy or Kruschev at the opening, but clearly its a reflection of the politics of the day. The basic premise is that one of our space ships has gone astray, and landed in Africa. To save face, the U.S. must be the first to find it, so they hire African expert Matthew Merriwether (Bob Hope). Co-stars Anita Ekberg, Edie Adams, and Lionel Jeffries round out the cast. Viewers will recognize Jeffries, who played the grandfather in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. This film is very similar to Hope's "Road" movies with Bing, but moves slower. The good thing is... NO SONGS! and a five minute bit with a 30-something Arnold Palmer. Palmer had just won the 1961 And 1962 British Open. I can see why Broccoli wanted to do this project... lots of spies, intrigue, and exotic "foreign" locations, just like a James Bond flick. A fun way to kill some time. Not as bad as some others have thought....it's a lightweight Bob Hope comedy, after all.