Man-Eater of Kumaon | |
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Directed by | Byron Haskin |
Screenplay by | Jeanne Bartlett Lewis Meltzer (screenplay by) Richard G. Hubler Alden Nash (adaptation by) |
Based on | the book Man-Eaters of Kumaon by Jim Corbett |
Produced by | Monty Shaff Frank P. Rosenberg (in association with) |
Starring | Sabu Wendell Corey Joanne Page Morris Carnovsky |
Cinematography | William C. Mellor, A.S.C. |
Edited by | George Arthur |
Music by | Hans J. Salter |
Production company | Shaff Productions |
Distributed by | A Universal – International release |
Release date |
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Running time | 79 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Man-Eater of Kumaon is a 1948 American adventure film directed by Byron Haskin and starring Sabu, Wendell Corey and Joanne Page.[1] The film was made after the success of the Jim Corbett book Man-Eaters of Kumaon, published by Oxford University Press in 1944.
The film was not based on any of the stories of the Corbett's bestselling book, but used a fictional plot. The credits also state that "the character of The Hunter is a fictional one, and is not meant in any way to portray the author on whose book this motion picture is based." The film was a box office flop, although some interesting footage of the tiger was filmed. Corbett is known to have said that "the best actor was the tiger".[2]
Prologue
"The Kumaon jungle of Northern India is known as "tiger country." Here the tiger is rivalled only by famine as a potential threat to human existence."
"Yet, human beings are not the natural prey of tigers. It is only when tigers are injured or infirm that, to satisfy their hunger, they are compelled to become man-eaters." ...Jim Corbett
Narration
"Those of us who have spent most of our lives in India, have watched men from all over the world come here to hunt the tiger. They come for many reasons. Some searching for tiger, others searching something within themselves. One such hunter was this American. He came here with his unhappiness, hoping that in the jungle, he would find a solution"
Plot
John Collins is visiting India. While he hunts a much feared man-eating tiger, he learns from native customs and understands the approach to life of native couple Narain and Lali.
Cast
- Sabu as Narain
- Wendell Corey as The Hunter / John Collins
- Joanne Page as Lali
- Morris Carnovsky as Ganga Ram
- Argentina Brunetti as Sita
- James Moss as Panwah
- Ted Hecht as Native Doctor
- John Mansfield as Bearer
- Eddie Das as Ox-Cart Driver
- Charles Wagenheim as Panwah's Father
- Estelle Dodge as Panwah's mother
- Lal Chand Mehra as Farmer
- Phiroze Nazir as Farmer
- Virginia Wave as Farmer
- Frank Lackteen as Villager
- Jerry Riggio as Villager
- Neyle Morrow as Villager
- Ralph Moody as Villager
- Alan Foster as Villager
References
- ^ "Man-Eater of Kumaon (1948) - Byron Haskin - Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related". AllMovie.
- ^ Martin Booth, Carpet Sahib; A Life of Jim Corbett (New York: Oxford University Press, 1991), 230.
External links