Bwana Devil (1952)

Set in 1898 British East Africa, a pair of lions terrorize the workers (Hindis imported from India) who are building the Uganda railway. Two men, an engineer (Robert Stack) and a doctor (Nigel Bruce), are in charge of the mission but their attempt at capturing the lions prove futile. Written and directed by Arch Oboler (FIVE), the film is notable as being the first feature film shot in the 3D process and briefly starting a 3D (the film's poster shrieked, "A Lion In Your Lap!") craze which didn't last very long (about a year). Outside of the first AVATAR film, I've always found 3D a novelty, a gimmick that outwears its welcome very quickly. As to the film itself, it's a routine African adventure based on the true story of the Tsavo maneaters that killed dozens of railway workers in late 19th century Kenya. Although set in Africa, the landscape definitely looks like Southern California. The narrative attempts to create a somewhat complex character in Stack's engineer: a man married to his boss's daughter (Barbara Britton) who considers himself a failure and exiled to Africa as some sort of punishment. Being 1952, most of the violence is either muted or done off screen. Of interest as a historic footnote of Hollywood showmanship. With Ramsay Hill and John Dodsworth.