White Hunter Black Heart (1990)

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.

Director:

Clint Eastwood

Writers:

Peter Viertel (novel), Peter Viertel (screenplay)

Stars:

Clint Eastwood, Jeff Fahey, Charlotte Cornwell

2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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

Storyline

The world famous movie director John Wilson has gone to Africa to make his next movie. He is an obstinate, contrary director who'd rather hunt elephants than take care of his crew or movie. He has become obsessed with one particular elephant and cares for nothing else.

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Plot Keywords:

based on true story | director | elephant | africa | antonyms in title | 

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Taglines:

An adventure in obsession...

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Genres:

Adventure | Drama

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 September 1990 (USA)

Also Known As:

Cazador blanco, corazón negro

Filming Locations:

Hwange, Matabeleland North Province, Zimbabwe

Box Office

Budget:

$24,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$165,450, 16 September 1990, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$2,319,124

Company Credits

Production Co:

Malpaso Productions, Rastar Pictures, Warner Bros.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

112 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The central character in this film, John Wilson, based on director John Huston, is played by Clint Eastwood. In the crew credits for this movie, is a real-life person called John Wilson, who worked on the movie as a draper and upholsterer.

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Goofs

In the scene where the first day of shooting is interrupted by rain, the rain was created using a special rig, which is a common practice in film in order to make sure there's rain on schedule. During the shot where Lockhart talks about the rainy season, in the background you can clearly see that the wet ground reaches a sudden end a few metres away and beyond it everything is perfectly dry.

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Quotes

Ralph Lockhart: No Hollywood safaris for me.
John Wilson: That word has crept into the conversation quite a few times, hasn't it?
Ralph Lockhart: Which word is that, sir?
John Wilson: Hollywood. I realize it's the name of a place, but the way you say it has an added meaning. Like an insult.
Ralph Lockhart: Well, l didn't mean it like that.
John Wilson: Don't contradict me, Ralph. I've heard it all before. In the Army, in New York in the theater. Hell, l've heard it everywhere. People say Hollywood when they want to insult you. Well, really Hollywood is just a place where they ...
[...]

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Connections

Referenced in At the Movies: The Rookie/Berkeley in the Sixties/Edward Scissorhands/The Grifters (1990)

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Soundtracks

SATIN DOLL
Written by Duke Ellington, Johnny Mercer and Billy Strayhorn

User Reviews

Adventures in Africa

The egocentric, stubborn and grumpy Hollywood director John Wilson (Clint Eastwood) invites his friend Pete Verrill (Jeff Fahey) to write the screenplay of his next movie that will be a masterpiece in his opinion. He convinces the producer Paul Landers (George Dzundza) that the movie must be shot in Africa and they travel to the continent. Once in Africa, John becomes obsessed to hunt an specific elephant and neglects his cast and crew prioritizing the hunting with the native Kivu (Boy Mathias Chuma).

"White Hunter Black Heart" is an underrated fictional movie directed by Clint Eastwood. The character John Wilson is based on the director John Huston. Clint Eastwood has an amazing work performing a character with strong personality and stubbornness. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "Coração de Caçador" ("Hunter Heart")