White Hunter Black Heart (1990)

Director:

Clint Eastwood

Writers (WGA):

Peter Viertel (novel)
Peter Viertel (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

14 September 1990 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Drama

Tagline:

An adventure in obsession...

Plot:

A thinly fictionalized account of a legendary movie director, whose desire to hunt down an animal turns into a grim situation with his movie crew in Africa.

Plot Keywords:

Director | Africa | Elephant | Monkey | Tarmac

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Clint Eastwood	...	John Wilson
Jeff Fahey	...	Pete Verrill
Charlotte Cornwell	...	Miss Wilding, Wilson's Secretary
Norman Lumsden	...	Butler George
George Dzundza	...	Paul Landers
Edward Tudor-Pole	...	Reissar - a British Partner (as Edward Tudor Pole)
Roddy Maude-Roxby	...	Thompson, British Partner
Richard Warwick	...	Basil Fields, British Partner
John Rapley	...	Gun Shop Salesman
Catherine Neilson	...	Irene Saunders
Marisa Berenson	...	Kay Gibson, Film Star
Richard Vanstone	...	Phil Duncan, Film Star
Jamie Koss	...	Mrs. Duncan
Anne Dunkley	...	Scarf Girl in Nightclub Show
David Danns	...	Bongo Man in Nightclub Show
Myles Freeman	...	Ape Man in Nightclub Show
Geoffrey Hutchings	...	Squadron Leader Alec Laing
Christopher Fairbank	...	Tom Harrison, Art Director
Alun Armstrong	...	Ralph Lockhart
Clive Mantle	...	Harry
Mel Martin	...	Mrs. MacGregor
Martin Jacobs	...	Dickie Marlowe, White Hunter
Norman Malunga	...	Desk Clerk
Timothy Spall	...	Hodkins, Bush Pilot
Alex Norton	...	Zibelinsky
Eleanor David	...	Dorshka Zibelinsky
Boy Mathias Chuma	...	Kivu
Andrew Whaley	...	Photographer (as Andrew Whalley)
Conrad Asquith	...	Ogilvy, White Hunter

Directed by
Clint Eastwood

Writing credits (WGA)
Peter Viertel		(novel)
Peter Viertel		(screenplay) &
James Bridges		(screenplay) and
Burt Kennedy		(screenplay)

Produced by
Clint Eastwood	....	producer
Stanley Rubin	....	co-producer
David Valdes	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Lennie Niehaus

Cinematography by
Jack N. Green

Film Editing by
Joel Cox

Casting by
Mary Selway

Production Design by
John Graysmark

Art Direction by
Tony Reading

Set Decoration by
Peter Howitt

Costume Design by
John Mollo

Makeup Department
Lynda Armstrong	....	makeup artist
Paul Engelen	....	chief makeup artist
Colin Jamison	....	chief hair stylist
Janet Jamison	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Roy Button	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Chris Brock	....	second assistant director
Patrick Clayton	....	first assistant director
Tim Lewis	....	second assistant director
Isaac Mabhikwa	....	third assistant director
Simon Trevor	....	second unit director

Art Department
Robert Betts	....	chief painter (as Bob Betts)
Steady Chidyausiku	....	props
Dave Coldham	....	chief plasterer (as David Coldman)
Judy Farr	....	production buyer
Mark Fruin	....	props
Tony Graysmark	....	construction manager
Martin Hitchcock	....	assistant art director
Derek Ixer	....	property storeman
Patricia Johnson	....	assistant art director
Richard Law	....	stagehand
Peter Nyarambe	....	props
John Palmer	....	props
Keith Pitt	....	props
Barbara Spiller	....	production buyer
Tony Teiger	....	property master
Ty Teiger	....	props
Keith Vowles	....	props
Peter Williams	....	chief carpenter
John Wilson	....	draper
John Wilson	....	upholsterer
Martin Asbury	....	storyboard artist (uncredited)
Dean Coldham	....	chargehand plasterer (uncredited)

Sound Department
Bub Asman	....	sound editor
Don Brown	....	sound maintenance
Virginia Cook-McGowan	....	sound editor
Les Fresholtz	....	sound re-recording mixer
Peter Handford	....	production sound mixer
Robert G. Henderson	....	supervising sound editor
David M. Horton	....	sound editor
Joseph A. Ippolito	....	sound editor
Michael Jiron	....	sound re-recording mixer
Peter Jones	....	sound engineer
Karen Minahan	....	assistant sound editor
Alan Robert Murray	....	supervising sound editor
Jayme S. Parker	....	sound editor
Michelle Pleis	....	assistant sound editor
Vern Poore	....	sound re-recording mixer
Hank Salerno	....	adr editor
James Simcik	....	adr editor
Martin Trevis	....	boom operator
Brooke H. Ward	....	assistant sound editor (as Brooke Henderson)
Marshall Winn	....	sound editor
John Roesch	....	foley artist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Kevin Draycott	....	special effects technician
John Evans	....	special effects supervisor
Gift Nyamandi	....	special effects technician
Steve Sango	....	special effects technician
Barry Whitrod	....	special effects technician

Visual Effects by
Peter Field	....	visual effects assistant
Roy Field	....	visual effects supervisor

Stunts
David Mabukane	....	stunt double: Boy Mathias Chuma
George Orrison	....	stunts
Bill Weston	....	stunt riding double
George Orrison	....	stunt double: Clint Eastwood (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Matthew Allwork	....	camera loader: aerial unit
Matthew Allwork	....	focus puller: aerial unit
Peter Allwork	....	aerial unit camera
David Chiganze	....	grip: wildlife unit
Vince Clarke	....	best boy
Murray Close	....	still photographer
John Fletcher	....	camera loader: wildlife unit
John Fletcher	....	focus puller: wildlife unit
Kevin Fraser	....	grip
Nobby Godden	....	camera maintenance
Jack N. Green	....	camera operator
Graham Hall	....	clapper loader
Jamie Harcourt	....	camera operator: wildlife unit
Martin Kenzie	....	focus puller
Ron Lenoir	....	chief rigger
Clive Mackey	....	clapper loader
Colin Manning	....	key grip
Alan Martin	....	gaffer
Tony Rivetti	....	focus puller
Peter Robinson	....	camera operator
Simon Trevor	....	camera operator: second unit
Gary Cross	....	electrician (uncredited)
Peter Field	....	assistant camera: visual effects (uncredited)

Casting Department
Phyllis Huffman	....	casting: USA
Caitlin Rhodes	....	casting: UK
Andrew Whaley	....	local casting: Zimbabwe

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Ron Beck	....	wardrobe supervisor
Electra Garaba	....	wardrobe assistant
Beulah Guzara	....	wardrobe assistant
Janet Tebrooke	....	wardrobe supervisor: women

Editorial Department
Donah Bassett	....	negative cutter
Michael Cipriano	....	assistant film editor: USA
Mark Gill	....	assistant editor: UK
Tom Shaffer	....	color timer
Russ Woolnough	....	assistant film editor: UK (as Russell Woolnough)

Music Department
Donald Harris	....	music editor
Bill Perkins	....	musician: flute
Emil Richards	....	musician: percussion
Efrain Toro	....	musician: percussion

Transportation Department
Arthur Dunne	....	transportation manager
Brian Estabrook	....	unit driver
Coaster Nziramasanga	....	assistant transportation manager

Other crew
Marco Barla	....	unit publicist: USA
Richard Bell	....	consultant: white water unit
Fiona Birrell	....	location physician: Zimbabwe (as Dr. Fiona Birrell)
Titus Chikoto	....	camp manager (as Titus Chitokodo)
Nikki Clapp	....	script supervisor
Ian Cochrane	....	helicopter pilot: white water unit
Ian Cochrane	....	pilot: aerial unit
Tom Danaher	....	pilot: aerial unit
Nick Daubeny	....	location manager: UK
Robin Demetriou	....	catering manager
Julie Glanfield	....	contact: London
Nigel Haddon	....	rubber duck lieutenant: white water unit
Pat Harrison	....	location manager: Zimbabwe
Marianne Jacobs	....	location coordinator: Zimbabwe
Ben Jenkins	....	production runner: UK
Peter Jones	....	engineer: white water unit
Sara Keene	....	unit publicist: UK (as Sarah Keene)
Chris Lemmer	....	rubber duck captain: white water unit
Rob Martens	....	monkey wrangler
Michael Maurer	....	production accountant: USA
Randall Jay Moore	....	animal handler: elephant
Michael Pelly	....	location physician: Zimbabwe (as Dr. Michael Pelly)
Arlene Phillips	....	choreographer
Carol Regan	....	production coordinator
Tom Rooker	....	assistant: Mr. Eastwood
Murray Russell	....	location manager: Zimbabwe
Roy Street	....	horse master
Arthur Tarry	....	production accountant: UK
Li Chin Tye	....	nurse
Annie Van Wyk	....	nurse
Ian Abercrombie	....	voice-over (uncredited)
Aron Clayton	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Gary Nixon	....	assistant accountant (uncredited)
Jim Stockley	....	animal trainer: elephant (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Malpaso Productions
• Rastar Pictures
• Warner Bros. Pictures

Distributors

• Warner Bros. Pictures (1990) (USA) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1990) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1990) (France) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1990) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Warner Home Video (1991) (USA) (VHS) (pan and scan)
• Warner Home Video (1991) (Germany) (VHS)
• Sandrews (2003) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Warner Bros. Finland (1990) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1990) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1990) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (????) (Italy) (video)
• Fazer Musiikki Oy/Fazer Video (1991) (Finland) (VHS)
• Mainostelevisio (MTV3) (1995) (2009) (Finland) (TV)
• Sandrew Metronome Distribution (2004) (Finland) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (19??) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Vidéo (2003) (France) (DVD)
• Warner Home Vídeo (Brazil) (video)

Other Companies

• Lee Lighting  grip and lighting equipment

Also Known As:

Runtime:

112 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Spain:T | Iceland:L | West Germany:12 | South Korea:12 | Portugal:M/12 | Finland:K-3 (new rating: 2001) | Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG | Finland:S | Norway:10 | Sweden:11 | UK:PG | USA:PG | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Company:

Malpaso Productions

Trivia:

The main character portrayed by Clint Eastwood is based on legendary director John Huston.

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): When John Wilson is talking to Pete Verrill over breakfast he refers to him as 'Jeff', Jeff Fahey being the real name of the actor.

Quotes:

John Wilson:How 'bout that. I feel pretty good, really. It's like I always tell ya kid, you gotta fight when you think it's the right thing to do. Otherwise, you feel like your gut's full of puss. Even if you get the hell beat outta ya, if ya fight, ya feel ok about it.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Brunnen (2005)

Soundtrack:

SATIN DOLL

Too bad about the beginning of the movie

I must admit that Clint Eastwood was the main reason why I watched this movie. I'm already quite familiar with his work as an actor and as a director - even though I still haven't seen his biggest success "Million Dollar Baby" yet - and overall I can enjoy his work. Does that mean that I love all his movies? No, certainly not, but most of the time, he's the one who saves the movie, even when it isn't all that good. Knowing that he directed this movie and played a major role in it, only made it more interesting for me.

"White Hunter Black Heart" shows how the world famous movie director John Huston is planning on making a trip to Africa, where he will shoot his next movie. But despite his reputation of being a good director, he is also a very difficult man to work with. He doesn't want to make any concessions towards the producers and to make things worse he is also more interested in shooting the biggest elephant possible than shooting his movie and there is nothing or no-one who can bring him to other ideas...

Overall this is a good movie, although I must say that the beginning didn't do it for me. At first I had the feeling that the characters weren't all that real. They felt too much like caricatures, almost making this movie feel like a comedy, which it certainly isn't. That's also the reason why I wasn't exactly thinking about giving this movie a very high rating. But I always make that final decision at the end of the movie and I admit that the end of the movie was a lot better than the beginning. Not only was it very clear that John Wilson felt himself more at ease in Africa than in England, his reactions after the hunt also showed that this wasn't yet another typical type of quiet tough guy without any human emotions that Clint Eastwood plays so often. I really appreciated that in this movie. What I also liked was the entire 'behind the scenes of a classic movie' idea. OK, if you regularly buy a DVD, then you know from the extra's how a movie is shot. But that's how it is done today with all the modern techniques, camera's, lighting equipment. They didn't have all that in the fifties and it's nice to see how it was done back then.

Overall this is an enjoyable movie that offers some good acting and an interesting story. If the beginning had been more believable, this might well have become one of my all-time favorites. Now I give it a rating in between 7/10 and 7.5/10.