A Good Man in Africa (1994)

In a West African nation, the womanizing British 1st Secretary of the High Commissioner deals with different issues.

Director:

Bruce Beresford

Writers:

William Boyd (novel), William Boyd (screenplay)

Stars:

Colin Friels, Sean Connery, Joanne Whalley

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Colin Friels	...	Morgan Leafy
Sean Connery	...	Dr. Murray
John Lithgow	...	Fanshawe
Diana Rigg	...	Chloe
Louis Gossett Jr.	...	Adekunle
Joanne Whalley	...	Celia (as Joanne Whalley-Kilmer)
Sarah-Jane Fenton	...	Priscilla
Maynard Eziashi	...	Friday
Jeremy Crutchley	...	Dalmire
Jackie Mofokeng	...	Hazel
Daphne Greenwood	...	Duchess
Themba Ndaba	...	Kojo
David Phetoe	...	Isaiah
Dambuza Mdledle	...	Sonny
Lillian Dube	...	Innocence

Storyline

Politics are already strained between English imperialists and the West African government of Kinjanja, when womanizing British diplomat Morgan Leafy (Colin Friels) is caught in bed with Celia (Joanne Whalley-Kilmer), wife of corrupt Kinjanjan Presidential candidate Sam Adekunle (Louis Gossett, Jr.). As punishment, Leafy is forced into bribing an official who has voted down a project that stands to make Adekunle very rich. Leafy thinks he's gotten off easy until he learns the lone holdout is none other than Kinjanja's own brick wall of integrity, Dr. Alex Murray (Sir Sean Connery). Meanwhile, Leafy must also contend with his absurdly stuffy boss Fanshawe (John Lithgow), Fanshawe's lusty wife, Chloe (Dame Diana Rigg), and their luscious, too friendly daughter.

---

Plot Keywords:

based on novel | independent film | british diplomat | female nudity | satire | 

---

Taglines:

Deep in the heart of Africa the British practice bizarre rituals.

---

Genres:

Comedy

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and sexuality

Did You Know?

Trivia

Colin Friels was cast after Gary Oldman dropped out of the production.

---

Quotes

Kojo: You're a good man, Mr. Leafy.
Morgan Leafy: You think so? Well, better late than never.

---

Connections

Featured in At the Movies: Quiz Show/Milk Money/A Simple Twist of Fate/A Good Man in Africa/What Happened Was... (1994)

---

Soundtracks

Come Home
Composed by George Lee
Performed by by George Lee (as The George Lee Band)

User Reviews

so much wasted potential

Don't be fooled by the "East Africa" disclaimer. This is about Nigeria, specifically Lagos at the time of the oil boom, when it was the capital. Although many names have been changed, the Yoruba thunder god, Shango, is not, nor are some of the others.

There was so much humor possible in that time and place (you had to laugh just to keep from crying sometimes) that of course some of it found its way into the film. The author never understood what was happening, so of course he missed a lot, but then he made the very ignorance of the British one of the butts of his humor. God I love British humor, I envy them for it and I'm grateful to them for giving us Chaplin, Bob Hope, and so many others. But I digress. And this film is not on the level of Chaplin or Hope. I was disappointed.

The biggest disappointment was watching great talents like Sean Connery, Diana Rigg and Lou Gossett sleepwalking through their roles on their way to a paycheck. They could have done better.

Details

Country:

South Africa USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

9 September 1994 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Good Man in Africa

Filming Locations:

South Africa

Box Office

Budget:

$20,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$1,144,942, 11 September 1994

Gross USA:

$2,308,390

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$2,308,390

Company Credits

Production Co:

Capitol Films, Polar Entertainment, South African Breweries

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1