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Overrated and overhyped

Fun premise, good actors, bad writing. This film seemed to have potential at the beginning but it quickly devolves into a trite action film. Ultimately it's very boring.

This film is so real. It treats its characters with so much care and sensitivity.

The acting in this movie is really good.

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.

Dana Andrews stars in this B-grade jungle adventure as an insurance investigator who teams up with the widow (Crain) of a diamond merchant (Farrar) who has apparently drowned after falling from a boat. Cautioned by native guide Vincent (Mataka) that his presence won't be welcome when they reach the village, Andrews persists in his doggedness to uncover the truth about Farrar's disappearance, and in his attempts to seduce the now nubile widow.Assistant director Tony Kelly died making this picture, so it's of some comfort to know that it isn't a bad little pot-boiler, building some reasonable tension and punctuated with occasional light humour (the scene in which the chimp empties their luggage from the jeep is worth a chuckle). George Montgomery's look-a-like brother Dana Andrews is sturdy without being marvellous, and Farrar plays the obnoxious British git with aplomb.Superimposing the actors over the white-water rapids backdrop, or in a confrontation with a menacing lion often looks clumsy, but this B-picture isn't staking any grand claims, just mild entertainment for afternoon channel-surfing.

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.