Africa Speaks! (1930)

Director:

Walter Futter

Writer:

Walter Futter (writer)

Release Date:

15 August 1930 (USA)

Genre:

Documentary | Adventure | History

Tagline:

See the real Africa - HEAR the real Africa! (original ad)

Plot:

Explorer Paul Hoefler leads a safari into central Africa and what was then called the Belgian Congo, in the regions inhabited by the Wassara and the famous Ubangi tribes.

Plot Keywords:

Africa | Lion | Pygmy | Explorer | Congo

Cast

Harald Austin	...	Himself
Paul L. Hoefler	...	Himself (as Paul Hoefler)
Lowell Thomas	...	Himself (narrator)

Runtime:

75 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

USA:Passed

Filming Locations:

Democratic Republic Of Congo

Company:

Walter Futter Productions

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in Africa Screams (1949)

Awful grandeur

This film is striking for several reasons. The obvious footage of animals and insects was magnificent, and so was the scenes of the veldt, regardless of the animals. But, beyond that, the whole feeling of the daily hardship of life on the African continent 70 odd years ago was almost overwhelming. This film brought the living in fear of lions, locust, tsetse flies and other dangers into sharp relief for me. It was well worth watch if only to get the historical sense of life on the dark continent.