Diamond Safari (1958 film)

Diamond Safari is a 1958 American crime film directed by Gerald Mayer and starring Kevin McCarthy, Betty McDowall and André Morell.[1] Its plot involves an American who battles diamond smugglers in Africa.[2][3]

Diamond Safari
Original film poster
Directed byGerald Mayer
Produced byGerald Mayer
Written byLarry Marcus
StarringKevin McCarthy
Music byWoolf Phillips
Production
company
Regal Films Inc
Schlesinger Film Organisation
Distributed by20th Century Fox
Release date
1958
Running time
67 minutes
CountryUSA
South Africa
UK
LanguageEnglish

Filmed in South Africa in 1955, the film features the first (and only) two 30-minute episodes of a television series called African Drumbeat.[4][5]

Cast
  • Kevin McCarthy – Harry Jordan
  • Robert Bice – Reubens
  • Tommy Buson – Medicine Man
  • John Clifford – Doc
  • Joanna Douglas – Petey
  • Frances Driver – Glass Blower's Wife
  • Joel Herholdt – Sergeant van der Cliffe
  • Hanna Landy – Wanda
  • Betty McDowall – Louise Saunders
  • Michael McNeile – Phillips
  • Harry Mekela – Police Boy
  • André Morell – Williamson
  • Patrick Simpson – Carlton
  • Geoffrey Tsobe – Stephen Timbu
  • Gert Van den Bergh – Compound Manager

Production

African Drumbeat was a TV series produced by Gerard Mayer for Edward Dukoff, personal manager of Danny Kaye.[6] It was done in partnership with the Schlesinger Organization of South Africa and Great Britain.[7]

Larry Marcus wrote three scripts for the series which focused on Harry Jordan, an American soldier of fortune in South Africa. Kevin McCarthy was cast in this role. Filming began in South Africa on 1 July 1955.[8][9]

There was location filming in Krueger National Park.[10] Filming was completed by October 1955.[11][12]

No TV series resulted. The episodes were cut together and released as a feature film.

References
  1. BFI.org
  2. "DIAMOND SAFARI". Monthly Film Bulletin. 26. 1959. p. 18. ProQuest 1305822199.
  3. "DIAMOND SAFARI (20th century-fox)". Picture show (72). Feb 21, 1959. p. 10. ProQuest 1879631842.
  4. http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/73057/Diamond-Safari/notes.html
  5. Billboard 26 Nov 1955
  6. "MOVIELAND EVENTS". Los Angeles Times. Aug 31, 1955. ProQuest 166853399.
  7. THOMAS M PRYOR (Aug 31, 1955). "MANKIEWICZ SUED FOR PLAGIARISM". New York Times. ProQuest 113271683.
  8. Ames, W. (May 25, 1955). "Kevin McCarthy to star in 'african drumbeat'; TV theater celebrates". Los Angeles Times. ProQuest 166784944.
  9. Ames, W. (Jul 7, 1955). "Producer almost finds ideal actor; O'herlihy signs for svengali role". . Los Angeles Times. ProQuest 166823323.
  10. Ames, W. (Jul 25, 1955). "Arms haunted by old western on TV; gusher gushes on sound stage". Los Angeles Times. ProQuest 166814000.
  11. Schallert, E. (Oct 15, 1955). "Drama". Los Angeles Times. ProQuest 166881837.
  12. Ames, W. (Aug 20, 1956). "Afternoon shows for GOP confab on radio and TV". Los Angeles Times. ProQuest 166992003.


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