Gorillas in the Mist (1988)
"Gorillas in the Mist: The Story of Dian Fossey" (original title)

The story of Dian Fossey, a scientist who came to Africa to study the vanishing mountain gorillas, and later fought to protect them.

Director:

Michael Apted

Writers:

Harold T.P. Hayes (article), Dian Fossey (work),

Stars:

Sigourney Weaver, Bryan Brown, Julie Harris

Nominated for 5 Oscars. Another 5 wins & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Sigourney Weaver	...	Dian Fossey
Bryan Brown	...	Bob Campbell
Julie Harris	...	Roz Carr
John Omirah Miluwi	...	Sembagare
Iain Cuthbertson	...	Dr. Louis Leakey
Constantin Alexandrov	...	Van Veeten
Waigwa Wachira	...	Mukara
Iain Glen	...	Brendan
David Lansbury	...	Larry
Maggie O'Neill	...	Kim
Konga Mbandu	...	Rushemba
Michael J. Reynolds	...	Howard Dowd
Gordon Masten	...	Photographer
Peter Nduati	...	Batwa chief
Helen Fraser	...	Mme. Van Vecten

Storyline

Sigourney Weaver stars as Dian Fossey, in this true story about Fossey's study of gorillas, and her efforts to stop the decimation of the endangered apes.

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Plot Keywords:

gorilla | africa | mountain | sympathy | extinction | 

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Taglines:

They were beautiful

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Genres:

Biography | Drama

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Certificate:

PG-13

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 September 1988 (USA)

Also Known As:

Gorillas in the Mist

Filming Locations:

Karisoke Research Centre, Virunga Conservation Area, Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda

Box Office

Budget:

$22,000,000 (estimated)

Gross:

$24,720,479 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures, Warner Bros, Guber-Peters Company, The

Technical Specs

Runtime:

129 min

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) Dolby (35 mm prints)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Sembagare (John Omirah Miluwi), is based on Rosamund Carr's former house boy Sembagare Munyamboneza who set up the Imbabazi orphanage with her in 1994 after the Rwandan Genocide.

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Goofs

When Fossey's plane lands in Africa, the tires screech when they touch the runway. However, it's a grassy runway, so this is impossible.

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Quotes

Dian Fossey: How big are these night nests?
Sembagare: I don't know.
Dian Fossey: You mean you've forgotten.
Sembagare: How can I forget? I never knew.
Dian Fossey: Night nests, Sembagare. George Schaller's book says we count the gorillas' night nests to get the census.
Sembagare: I don't know about gorillas.
Dian Fossey: Of course you do. You're a tracker.
Sembagare: Yes, of buffalo, antelope and elephant.
Dian Fossey: What? Hey! Hey! That's great. That's just great.
Dian Fossey: What the hell have you been doing for the last five hours?
[...]

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Connections

Referenced in Players: Grand Re-opening (2010)

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Soundtracks

"September in the Rain"
Written by Harry Warren & Al Dubin
Performed by Peggy Lee
Courtesy of Ray Avery's Jazz Archives

User Reviews

Anyone who loves animals must see this film....

While this film may have taken certain creative license with some facts, this story is important and upsetting. Many people in the US are still not aware of the poaching issues, the wild horses that are being sold for profit now, and many horrific things that still go on, simply because animals have no one to protect their rights.

This film is upsetting and sad, but also beautiful. To see the silver back gorillas, how gentle they are to each other, and see Sigourney Weaver as Dian Fossey, who attempted to communicate and understand them.

It is sometimes difficult to learn what inhumanity man is capable of; against both humans and animals. But by learning about this issue, one may be galvanized into learning more, joining a humane association, or teaching their children to respect animals. Animals, especially in the wild are also God's creatures, and deserve to be respected. 10/10.