The Last Safari

{{Infobox film

| name = The Last Safari

| image = The Last Safari.jpg

| caption =

| director = Henry Hathaway

| writer = John Gay

| based_on = {{Based on|Gilligan's Last Elephant (novel)|Gerald Hanley}}

| narrator =

| starring = {{Plainlist|

}}

| music = John Dankworth

| cinematography = Ted Moore

| editing = John Bloom

| studio = Paramount Pictures

| distributor = Paramount Pictures

| released = {{film date|df=y|1967|11||}}

| runtime = 110 minutes

| country = United Kingdom

| language = English

| budget =

| gross = 297,680 admissions (France)
1,095,900 admissions (Spain)[http://translate.google.com.au/translate?hl=en&sl=fr&u=http://www.boxofficestory.com/&prev=search "Box office information for Stewart Granger films in France."] Box Office Story. Retrieved: 20 July 2016.

}}

The Last Safari is a 1967 British adventure film directed by Henry Hathaway. It stars Kaz Garas and Stewart Granger.[http://allmovie.com/work/the-last-safari-28376 "Review: 'The Last Safari'."] AllMovie. Retrieved: 20 July 2016. It was based on the 1962 novel, Gilligan's Last Elephant by Gerald Hanley. {{TOC limit|limit=2}}

Plot

Miles Gilchrist (Stewart Granger) is a big game hunter in Africa. He goes on a safari to shoot an elephant who killed his friend. He is accompanied by Casey (Kaz Garas), an American millionaire intrigued by Gilchrist's story, and Grant (Gabriella Licudi), Casey's half-caste girlfriend.

Miles feels he is to blame for his friend's death, and has to redeem himself. He sees hunter Alec Beaumont (Liam Redmond) refusing to eat with Grant, an indication of how life is different in Africa. Casey and Miles help to save a group of white hunters ambushed in a Masai village.

Later, Miles and Casey are nearly killed by a herd of charging elephants, led by a rogue elephant. Casey refuses to fire knowing Miles also won't shoot, but is not afraid. Casey bids Miles farewell and leaves Africa and Grant, who stays behind in the hopes of finding a new benefactor.

Cast

Kaz Garas as Casey
Stewart Granger as Miles Gilchrist
Gabriella Licudi as Grant
Johnny Sekka as Jama
Liam Redmond as Alex Beaumont
Eugene Deckers as Refugee leader
David Munya as Chongu
John De Villiers as Rich
Wilfred Moore as Game warden
Jean Parnell as Mrs. Beaumont
Bill Grant as Commissioner
John Sutton as Harry
Kipkoske as Gavai
Labina as Village chief

Production

The Last Safari was the first of a four-picture deal between Hathaway and Paramount.Martin, B. "Harris joins 'caprice' cast." Los Angeles Times, 5 March 1966. Kaz Garas was an actor under contract to Hal Wallis.Martin, B. "Movie call sheet." Los Angeles Times, 19 November 1966.

The film involved five weeks location shooting in Kenya.Thomas, K. "Hathaway in mood to sound off." Los Angeles Times, 11 June 1966.Neely, D. "Hathaway fed up with hefty extras". Los Angeles Times, 16 January 1967. The corporate jet used in the film was a Learjet 23 leased from Busy Bee. It was painted in zebra stripes for use in the film.{{cite news |title=Norske flyvere spiller film i Afrika med Stewart Granger som motpart |last=Børke |first=Rolf |work=Verdens Gang |date=27 December 1966 |page=6 |language=Norwegian}}

Reception

The Los Angeles Times called The Last Safari, "... a most satisfying film of its kind".Thomas, K. "'The Last Safari' in multiple screenings." Los Angeles Times, 10 November 1967.

Stewart Granger later called this "my last real film... the worst film ever made in Africa!"MacFarlane 1997, p. 230.