Moviecut—Stanley and Livingstone

source: Stanley and Livingstone

Stanley and Livingstone

There are few actors more convincing in drama than Spencer Tracy. He made dozens of wonderful films from the 30s to the 70s in his illustrious career. This is one of them. He plays a newspaper reporter seeking out the humanitarian, Dr. Livingstone. The famous line "Dr. Livingstone, I presume", comes from this film. Tracy is admirably supported by the Best Supporting Actor in the history of Hollywood, Walter Brennan. A riveting film from beginning to end.

A Wonderful Film. Spencer Tracy is Magnificent. A Much Underrated Film. I Cry Everytime. I Just Love The supporting actors Sir Cedric Hardwicke Charles Coburn Henry Hull Walter Brennan Henry Travers Richard Greene.

As was common at this time in Hollywood, the facts of the Stanley-Livingstone saga were highly fictionalized and romanticized in this film. This was an era in movie-making when close attention was not always given to historical accuracy. The ending of the movie, with "Onward Christian Soldiers" playing in the background, turned the movie into a salute to the "spreading of Christianity to heathen lands," one of the common arguments used in the 19th century to justify European imperialism. It's another example of Hollywood portraying Christianity as the "true religion" superior to all other beliefs. On top of that, the ending clearly overlooks the fact that while Stanley returned to Africa after Livingstone's death, it was for purposes of exploration and empire building, not to follow in Livingstone's footsteps as a missionary.

This is an interesting movie for a couple of reasons. It suffers from coming out in 1939, which may be the great year of movie releases in history. Its history might be quite different if it was not buried amongst the movie icons that also came out that year. The first thing I found worth noting was how Hollywood converted the basic western format into an African safari. You could see/hear so many western standard devices as you viewed the film. It was once stated that all movies can be converted into a cowboy movie. This movie was a very short trip in that respect. The second, and best part, was the whole historical concept of the story, despite the difference from the actual story, which were so eloquently detailed below. The story of this journey, along with the journey of Lewis and Clark, or one-armed Capt. John Wesley Powell through the southwest, especially the Grand Canyon, make up some of the greatest adventures of modern times. All in all, this movie is a good adventure.

A 1939 film that was directed by Henry King and stars Spencer Tracy, Walter Brennan and Cedric Hardwicke. Tracy stars as Stanley, a newspaper man who at first is seen talking to the chief of a bunch of hostile Indians and Walter Brennan is his guide. Tracy is then asked by his editor to go into Africa to find Livingstone, but they don't even know if he's alive. The next half hour is basically spent Tracy and Brennan spending over a year just trying to find Livingstone. When they finally do, they're surprised to see that Livingstone doesn't want to leave and Livingstone thought they were coming to help him. I love black and white movies but i thought that this movie would of been better if it had been done in color like Northwest Passage or Jesse James. Both Tracy and Brennan do a good job and Hardwicke also does a good job as Livingstone.

This isn't among Spencer Tracy's more well-known films, but it is still a very competently produced bio-pic about the search by the newspaper reported for the famous lost missionary, Dr. Livingston. While this is a true story, of course Hollywood of that era did rearrange the facts a wee tad in order to make the film more dramatic and entertaining. Considering that the movie is only about a search through Africa for the lost guy and you KNOW he's gonna find him alive in the end, it is amazing how involving the film becomes. A good job and well worth your time, though not among the greatest films of the era. Oh, and I throw in a bonus point to bring my score up to 7 because it features Cedrick Hardwick as Livingston.

Stanley and Livingstone is maybe not the most accurate historical movie presented,but nevertheless a very interesting experience. Spencer Tracy is very good in this one,portraying his character in the naturalistic style he was famed for.Cedric Hardwicke is Dr. Livingstone conveying the concern and love for humanity as a dedicated missionary would have.The treatment of the Africans in this movie would feel very racist today,but I think the attitudes of white supremacy was very true to life since this movie is set in the 1870's. Walter Brennan's comic supporting part is a bit annoying and Charles Coburn's British newspaper editor is a caricature.The African footage is spectacular,especially the native attack on Stanley's caravan. This movie is also crying out for a DVD release