This movie is the proof that the world is becoming a sick and dumb place

everything you have heard about this movie is true.

It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

British made Technicolor flick that really shows off Jeanne Crain's carrot top to advantage. She plays Marian Taylor: personal secretary to London-based diamond merchant Perry Henderson(David Farrar), who has recently taken out a life insurance policy of $2 million on himself, with his elderly mother as beneficiary. American insurance investigator Scott Walters is sent to London to check out why Perry would want such a large policy. There, Scott meets Perry's brother, with an office next door, and Perry's luscious private secretary: Marian. Scott takes an immediate personal interest in Marian, but she tries to dissuade his attempts to engage her. He even comes knocking on her apartment door after disturbing most of the other M. Taylors in the London phone book. Eventually, she informs him that she's engaged to Perry. Scott is also interested in her as a likely source of further information on the whereabouts of Perry, somewhere in Southern Africa. Separately, each takes a flight to Johannesburg. Scott discovers Marian has taken the same ship that Perry disappeared from, so Scott intercepts this ship at a small town, and discovers Marian on it. They both arrive at a small town, where Scott discovers Perry's mother. Meanwhile, Marian has hired some natives to take her on an expedition to a native village in the interior, where she thinks(why?) Perry's mother has gone. After discovering Marian's trip, Scott hires a jeep and driver to follow her. Eventually, he finds her, not pleased at first, but they board a canoe and go up the Zambezi River, portaging around impressive Victoria Falls, until they come to the village. They are shocked to find Perry, instead of his mother, there. Seems he slipped off the ship, made it to shore, and took backroads to this village. His plan was for his mother to collect the insurance money, and 'loan' it to him to finance the search for diamonds off the shore of East Africa(He should have chosen Namibia, on the west coast.) After some time, he would come out of hiding, and head this search. This fraud shocked Marian, who began to favor Scott. She and Scott took a canoe down the Zambezi river after a sneaky attempt to kill Scott failed. Near the head of Victoria Falls, they abandoned the canoe and roamed through the 'jungle', knowing that Perry was close behind in another canoe. Perry found them and began shooting at Scott, until another European showed up, with native support. Perry then ran to his canoe and paddled downstream, toward Victoria Falls, but capsized in the rapids, and was in danger drowning or being swept over the falls. Scott dove in and pulled his limp body to shore, where he recuperated. Presumably, the insurance policy was cancelled, Perry was apprehended for insurance fraud, and Scott and Marian strengthened their romance.The first part of the film is rather slow, emphasizing Scott chasing Marian. Once we get into the African bush, things pick up. We see glimpses of various savanna animals, close by the greenery near the river. We also get a decent look at part of Victoria Falls, although an aerial view would be needed to appreciate its vast horizontal scope. Nice to see real Africans, instead of African Americans dressed up like natives, to experience their chanting and drums in the village and on the trail.Jeanne was the token helpless female of the 'jungle' trek. She adequately served as eye candy, and as a bone of contention between the 2 male stars. It's not the most exciting jungle flick out there, but reasonably interesting. For a more exciting viewing experience, I suggest "Duel in the Sun".

Dana Andrews plays Scott Walter, an insurance investigator from the States. While in London on business, he's asked to stop by and look into an unusually large life insurance policy written on the life of a diamond magnate. It seems Walters' bosses are worried about issuing a million dollar policy. While there doesn't seem to be a lot for Walter to do, he does have a great time sexually harassing the secretary of the man obtaining the policy during his visit. He is actually very boorish about all this.Walter soon is ready to leave for his next meeting abroad when he finds out the insured man (who he hasn't yet me) was reported dead-- washed overboard and no trace of him. This seems fishy...and when the sexy fiancée (Jeanne Crain) leaves suddenly, he decides to follow as she might lead him to the dead man...if he is, in fact, alive. This results in a twisted trail that leads to a merchant vessel, a safari and, eventually, to see the dead man...quite alive and openly admitting the insurance fraud. Obviously, the man has no intention of allowing Walter out of the African back country alive.This is a bizarre film for Dana Andrews as well as Jeanne Crain. You just don't expect to see these actors in such an international film--which filming in the UK, South Africa and Rhodesia (since renamed Zaire). It's a nice chance to see Africa as it once was...as I have visited some of these same regions since the film was made in the 1950s and they have often changed dramatically. That's progress for you.So is it any good? Well, yes...but the first portion is a bit bad. They really have Andrews acting like a sexual harrasser....which is nothing like his usual nice-guy image. His pursuit of the lady before he realizes there might be insurance fraud is pretty sad--and he is a guy who sure won't take no for an answer, at least until she shows him her engagement ring. From here on, it's actually a grand adventure-- filled with thrills and lots of great footage. Sadly, occasionally the filmmakers resorted to some obvious stock footage...though mostly it was real footage in glorious color. And seeing Victoria Falls...well that was a treat as well as all the animals. Plus, the film certainly is unique and exciting.

This British-produced (albeit with American leads) film doesn't reach any great heights, but is a solid piece of entertainment.The plot is about insurance investigator Scott Walters (played by Dana Andrews) investigating the death of diamond dealer Henderson (played by David Farrar who went overboard on one of his own ships during a storm. Due to the large payout his company will make, Andrews is immediately suspicious and the more he investigates (travelling to Africa in the process), the more his suspicions grow.The mystery is a fairly intriguing one, although it's pretty obvious that Henderson will be found (especially as he's prominently listed in the credits), and the eventual explanation as to why he did it is rather hard to believe.The final section of the film is a confrontation between the two leads; seemingly Henderson has all the advantages being on his 'home turf' and having lots of locals working for him, but Scott Walters is a tougher and smarter foe than he anticipates.Jeanne Crain is effective as the woman who initially is in love with Henderson but eventually falls in love with Walters (despite disliking him for most of the film). The romance between Walters and Crain's character is effectively portrayed, although her naivety at not knowing Henderson's true plans is a bit of a stretch.Add in some nice African scenery, and you have a pleasant, satisfying film.

Interesting adventure in which Dana Andrews plays an insurance investigator who goes to Africa to check out the death by drowning of a man ( David Farrar ) who had a million dollar insurance policy. Also looking for info regarding the allegedly dead man is his wife, Jeanne Crain. Pretty fast paced drama, the last portion of the film set in the African jungle. Dana Andrews & Jeanne Crain were one of the great film pairings. Besides this film, they were also in State Fair, Madison Avenue, and Hot Rods to Hell. I had seen this film as a kid & it had kept me on the edge of my seat. It doesn't get much play these days--but I did find a DVD thru a collector. Seeing the film again was a thrill.