Running Wild (1995)

A filmmaker determines to document the story of a conservationist who is struggling to save wild leopards in Africa from extinction.

Director:

Dee McLachlan

Writers:

John Varty (story), Andrea Buck (screenplay),

Stars:

John Varty, Elmon Mhlongo, Brooke Shields

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
John Varty	...	Himself
Elmon Mhlongo	...	Himself
Brooke Shields	...	Christine Shaye
Martin Sheen	...	Dan Walker
David Keith	...	Jack Hutton
Norman Anstey	...	Van Heerden
Themba Ndaba	...	Lester (as Thembe Ndaba)
Renée Estevez	...	Aimee (as Renee Estevez)
Greg Latter	...	Stevens
Vusi Kunene	...	Jimmy / Head Anti-Poaching
Tidi Modise	...	Tidi
Aimée Leigh	...	Global Explorers Receptionist (as Aimee Lee)
Stephen Miles	...	Awards Presenter
Lakakeny Ole Sukuli	...	Maasai Speaker
Leperes Yiamai	...	Maasai Messenger

Storyline

Christine Shaye works for the struggling television station Global Explorer. In an effort to find a good documentary subject, Christine travels to Africa to meet documentary maker John Varty. She finds out he has been following a mother leopard for the last twelve years and is convinced she has found the best project Global Explorer can think of. One of the executives in the United States however is trying his utmost to keep the project from getting started and things in Africa aren't going that well either. John reports that the mother leopard has died after a lion attack, leaving behind her two young cubs.

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Plot Keywords:

africa | cheetah | conservation

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

South Africa

Language:

English

Release Date:

March 1995 (South Africa)

Also Known As:

Born Wild

Company Credits

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min

Color:

Color

User Reviews

Somewhat amateurish script compensated by nice real wildlife setting

John Varty, a British wildlife conservationist living in Africa, co-produced, co-wrote and acted himself in this independent production of a conservation yarn shot in Africa and co-starring Brooke Shields. This was made in 1994, that is a few years before Shields' career would bounce back with TV stardom in the Suddenly Susan series and hence at a time when she was a largely forgotten ex-star.

The movie is watchable if approached with low expectations. The basic premise of the story is very promising (a young female filmmaker making a documentary about a conservationist raising two orphaned leopard cubs) and yet it has been scripted in a very incompetent manner, with lame dialog, not-fleshed out plot developments, etc. The acting is also high school performance level, unfortunately especially in Shields' case, but you may never know if it is because of the incompetent script or of any inherent incompetence of Shields. Yet, real wildlife scenes with the cubs are outstanding and make the movie worth a view.

Is Shields attractive in this movie? There is no intentional glamorization of her appearance here and I don't really like her bleached hair color at all. Yet, it is Brooke Shields in her late late 20s after all and you know what I mean. Plus, it is a nice bonus to see her intermingling with leopard cubs. By the way, Shields was no stranger to Africa, having ventured to a safari in Kenya for the TV series Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous in 1984.