Spencer Tracy stars as a newspaper reporter turned explorer in order to find out what happened to a man who disappeared in the heart of Africa, but since Spence isn't given much to do, and just acts like he always does, he's not the best part of the movie. The supporting cast is far more memorable, reminding me of a Charles Dickens novel. Just as you get used to each colorful character and wish he'll stick around longer than the lead, he leaves and the lead gets introduced to a new sidekick. Henry Hull plays Spence's gruff, hardboiled newspaper editor, and it's fun to see them together again after Boys Town. Charles Coburn isn't too keen on getting to know the nosy reporter, but Henry Travers welcomes Spence into his home with open arms-but is it because he's friendly or because the foreign terrain has addled his mind? Nancy Kelly is the beautiful love interest, Richard Greene is a young man sick with fever, and Walter Brennan is the storytelling sidekick who doesn't know how to act around the natives, only to be shown up to find out one of the men he was giving elaborate sign language to speaks English. Cedric Hardwicke is the missionary so dedicated to the natives, he treats them like his own family. You'll also see Miles Mander and Paul Harvey if you keep your eyes open.
The explorer portion of the film isn't that interesting, but if you like stories with lots of varied characters, you might like this one.
The explorer portion of the film isn't that interesting, but if you like stories with lots of varied characters, you might like this one.