![]() We identify equally with the African warriors in the chase. He has a wedding ring so we know he’s married, but beyond that we learn nothing. As Stephen Prince points out in his insightful commentary, we learn much more about the pursuing Africans than we do Wilde’s lone white ‘prey.’ All we know about Wilde’s character, identified only as ‘Man,’ is that he’s going on one last safari before settling down on his farm. The Naked Prey goes a significant step further by humanizing the native tribesmen. Cornel Wilde looks as if he could withstand the film’s fictional ordeal it’s impossible not to admire his strength.Ĭy Endfield’s 1965 Zulu filled screens with hordes of authentic Africans in a respectful ode to the Zulu Wars. In The Naked Prey he’s still in admirable condition, lean and wiry, and certainly not musclebound. I later saw Wilde’s not-so-good Shark’s Treasure, where he seemed too aged to be playing an invincible macho hero. Wilde’s best picture by far, The Naked Prey stands out as a model of inspired filmmaking. His post-apocalyptic ecological science fiction saga No Blade of Grass suffers from a hysterical tone and exploitative excess. His war movie Beach Red was a big success but a much cruder effort. But he hit his stride with three key pictures about savagery and survival in the Vietnam years. Some of the tribesmen would rather quit but their leader (Ken Gampu) forces the party to press on.Ĭornel Wilde had previous success in smaller directing and producing ventures, such as his 1955 minimalist noir The Big Combo. He overpowers several of the warriors and by setting a brush fire manages to keep ahead of their spears and arrows. The guide has combat experience he takes his slim chance in the cruel game. Stripped naked and allowed a short head start, he’s pursued by the tribe’s leading warriors through the rough countryside. The last, the safari guide (Cornel Wilde) is given a lion’s chance to survive. He and two of his fellow ivory hunters are subjected to (truly) horrible deaths. The arrogant boss of an African safari foolishly offends a native tribe, which retaliates with a bloody attack. The storyline wastes no time with niceties. Modern audiences that reject anything that even hints of animal cruelty may be appalled what with the slow extinction of the great animals of the world, the footage is even more horrific than it once was. The only downside I can see to its finding many new fans is an unflinching look at an elephant hunt. ![]() For American audiences raised on TV airings of Tarzan movies, The Naked Prey’s richly drawn portrait of African native culture was an eye-opening and provocative experience.īenefiting mightily from the improved image quality of Blu-ray, The Naked Prey is a welcome addition to Criterion’s HD vault. Hollywood’s tradition of racist safari adventures had tapered off only slightly with the recent rise of the Civil Rights Movement. His subject is savagery, dramatized on real African locations with African talent. ![]() Previously known as a matinee idol of middling talent, independent producer-director Cornel Wilde proves himself a master of visual storytelling in this raw, pared-down adventure. The Naked Prey is an exotic, violent African adventure from the middle 1960s. Those not traumatized by the opening were propelled along with star Cornel Wilde, on a thrilling chase through the wild. In Panavision and blazing Technicolor, this grueling survival ordeal held us spellbound in 1965 - kids forgot to eat their popcorn. Original Music: Edwin Astley, Andrew Tracey, Cornell Wilde ![]() Starring: Cornel Wilde, Gert Van den Bergh, Ken Gampu, Patrick Mynhardt. available through The Criterion Collection / Street Date Octo/ 39.95 Actor Wilde may never have directed anything else quite as good, but this winner cements his name in the achievement books.ġ965 / Color / 2:35 widescreen / 95 min. Sent barefoot and naked on a hopeless ‘run of the arrow,’ our hero earns our admiration from his first desperate steps. An excellent example of a thriller that improves with age, Cornel Wilde’s survival tale is a lean ‘n’ mean exercise in first-person terror. ![]()
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