Trader Horn

The film opens with scenes of an elephant herd agitated by human presence. One of the adult elephants moves towards the perceived threat. What follows is actual footage of an elephant being shot and the subsequent stress it causes the family pod. This could have been implied or done without having to witness such a senseless and vile act. I stopped watching at that point. I just did not need to see that.

This was just a waste. Remember catching a blooper. This was suppose to be in Late 1800s early 1900s but in one scene there was a 60something Chevy Impala you could see drive by just behind some trees and shrubs. Think there was another with jet con trails in it. Acting was so-so directing was bad and the story was just OK. They should have not made it if they could not do it right. The 1931 version was better. I was with family and they did not believe me when I told them about the car. So we sat through it again until that scene to prove I was right and they did see it. Hated watching it again but I was determined to show them I was right. Wish we had not wasted our money on it. Was brutal sitting through it to prove my point.

As it turned out, 1973 was destined to be a transitional year for Rod Taylor. Somewhat deceptively, it began on a comparatively high note in February when he opened in "The Train Robbers" , a lightweight but pleasant Western for Warner Bros. Co-starring opposite John Wayne and Ann-Margaret, it was Taylor's last hurrah as far as box office success was concerned. With his next release, the golden apple which he had been carrying on his journey through Movie Land for two decades suddenly turned into a lemon.

The trouble began in June when he bobbed up in Metro's "Trader Horn", an ill-considered remake of the 1931 Harry Carey picture. As the famed explorer of darkest Africa, Taylor had to lead a safari of day workers from Central Casting through an obstacle course of every conceivable B- movie cliché. There were rampaging natives, tangled vines, quick- sand and assorted wildlife - all of which materialized via a disconcerting gaggle of all-too-obvious stock footage and back projection. It looked liked the former life saver from Sydney had accidentally walked in front of a home movie screen while his brother-in-law was running a bad 1940s travel documentary. All that was missing was a cup of coffee and a piece of cake. It was the beginning of the end for Taylor as far as his big career was concerned

I spotted Stewart Granger and Co, from "King Solomon Mines numerous times during this "movie".It was so obvious .I notice grasslands and rolling Los Angeles hills in background of this show.They the actors never went within 12 ,000 miles of Africa. A travesty of the original movie from 1931.MGM should hang its head in shame.Start of Rod Taylor's downfall in movies.

Other than the title, there is absolutely no resemblance between the 1930 film MGM had so much trouble bringing in and this one which is your basic pulp adventure film. Rod Taylor costumed for the part is your basic great white hunter who with wartime has suddenly had a demand for his services.

The British want him as a guide to go into German colonies in West Africa, but Taylor gets a much better offer from Jean Sorel and Anne Heywood who want to find a platinum mine. So off they go.

They do encounter Germans and they are typical villainous Germans. They also encounter all kinds of hazards you find in any jungle picture. And of course there is the inevitable love triangle.

Elements of both The African Queen and King Solomon's Mines are found in this Trader Horn. But not a smidgen of the original.