Drums Of Africa (1963)

Set in 1897 Equatorial East Africa, three men (Frankie Avalon, Lloyd Bochner, Torin Thatcher) and a woman (Mariette Hartley RIDE THE HIGH COUNTRY) make their way through the wilds of the jungle but an encounter with slave traders disrupts their journey. Directed by James B. Clark (FLIPPER), this "big white hunter" second feature must have seemed outdated even in 1963. KING SOLOMON'S MINES it's not. MGM certainly didn't spend much on it. It's a sound stage African jungle and the few exteriors look suspiciously like Southern California! The film is crammed with stock shots of the real Africa and its elephants, snakes, zebras etc. which noticeably show wear and tear next to the new footage. The film makers dwell far too long on a disturbing scene with a dying elephant that appears to be genuine footage and I could have done without the scene of a python lunching on some small furry animals, too. But I suppose with not much else going for it, this was an attempt at "realism". Amongst the stampedes and jungle fires, Avalon finds time to sing a mawkish love song. The jazz flavored score is by Johnny Mandel (THE SANDPIPER). With Michael Pate and Hari Rhodes.