SYNOPSIS: "The Snows of Kilimanjaro" (1952), directed by Henry King, is a romantic drama film based on Ernest Hemingway's short story of the same name. The film stars Gregory Peck as Harry Street, a famous writer who is seriously injured while on safari in Africa. As he lies waiting for rescue, he reflects on his life and past regrets, including his relationships with women. Through a series of flashbacks, we see his love affairs with Cynthia Green (played by Susan Hayward), who sacrifices her own happiness for his writing career, and Countess Liz (played by Ava Gardner), a glamorous but ultimately unattainable woman. As Harry faces death on the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro, he confronts his choices and their consequences, grappling with themes of love, loss, and the meaning of life. The film captures the beauty of the African landscape and the internal struggles of its protagonist, offering a poignant exploration of regret and redemption.

PLOT Spoiler Alert: "The Snows of Kilimanjaro" (1952), directed by Henry King, follows the story of Harry Street (played by Gregory Peck), a famous writer who is severely injured while on safari in Africa. As he awaits rescue, Harry reflects on his life and past decisions, which unfold through a series of flashbacks.

The film begins with Harry lying wounded and feverish in the African wilderness, tended to by his faithful friend and guide, Compton (played by Robert Beatty). As Compton waits for help to arrive, Harry drifts in and out of consciousness, reminiscing about his life.

Through flashbacks, we learn about Harry's relationships with women who have shaped his life. The first significant flashback reveals his passionate affair with Cynthia Green (played by Susan Hayward), a wealthy and talented woman who sacrifices her own dreams to support Harry's writing career. Despite Cynthia's devotion, Harry becomes increasingly dissatisfied with their relationship and leaves her.

Another flashback introduces Countess Elizabeth "Liz" (played by Ava Gardner), a glamorous and independent woman whom Harry meets while covering the Spanish Civil War. Their affair is intense and passionate, but ultimately, Liz chooses to marry another man for stability and security.

As Harry's condition worsens in the present, he grapples with regrets and missed opportunities. He reflects on his selfishness and the pain he has caused others, particularly Cynthia and Liz. Through these reflections, Harry confronts the deeper meanings of his life's choices and the pursuit of artistic fulfillment versus personal happiness.

The film concludes with Harry's rescue and return to civilization, where he faces the stark reality of his injuries and the irreversible consequences of his past actions. "The Snows of Kilimanjaro" explores themes of love, regret, mortality, and the complexities of human relationships against the backdrop of the majestic African landscape, offering a poignant examination of one man's journey towards self-awareness and redemption.

PRODUCTION: "The Snows of Kilimanjaro" (1952), directed by Henry King, was based on Ernest Hemingway's short story of the same name and marked another collaboration between King and Gregory Peck, who had previously worked together on "Twelve O'Clock High" (1949). The production was a significant undertaking, filmed on location in Africa to capture the authenticity of the story's setting. The film's cinematography, led by Leon Shamroy, aimed to showcase the awe-inspiring landscapes of East Africa, including Mount Kilimanjaro and the surrounding savannas. This required extensive logistical planning and the use of local guides and resources to ensure the safety and comfort of the cast and crew amidst the challenging filming conditions.

Gregory Peck's portrayal of Harry Street, the protagonist, was central to the film's production, emphasizing his character's introspective journey through flashbacks that delve into his complex relationships and life choices.

The adaptation from Hemingway's literary work was carefully managed to retain the essence of the original story while adapting it for the screen, focusing on themes of regret, love, and existential reflection. The production design and costumes aimed to evoke the 1930s period setting authentically, enhancing the film's visual narrative and emotional depth.

The filming process itself faced logistical challenges typical of shooting on location, including unpredictable weather conditions and the need to coordinate with local authorities and communities.

The commitment to authenticity extended to the use of real African wildlife and landscapes, adding to the film's visual grandeur. Overall, "The Snows of Kilimanjaro" production sought to capture both the epic scale of its African setting and the intimate emotional journey of its protagonist, setting a benchmark for cinematic adaptations of Hemingway's work during the Golden Age of Hollywood.

RELEASE: Upon its release in 1952, "The Snows of Kilimanjaro" garnered significant attention and critical acclaim, reflecting its ambitious production values and star-studded cast.

Distributed by 20th Century Fox, the film premiered in theaters amidst high expectations, driven by the popularity of its leading actor Gregory Peck and the allure of its exotic African setting. Reviews praised Peck's performance as Harry Street, highlighting his ability to convey the character's emotional depth and internal conflict. The film's adaptation of Ernest Hemingway's celebrated short story attracted audiences familiar with the author's work, while also appealing to fans of epic dramas set against breathtaking natural landscapes.

From a marketing perspective, the release capitalized on the film's visual spectacle, showcasing the majestic vistas of Mount Kilimanjaro and the African savannas, which were emphasized in promotional materials and trailers. The studio strategically positioned the film as a sophisticated and introspective drama, aiming to attract both critical acclaim and box office success.

Audiences were drawn to the film's exploration of themes such as regret, love, and existential reflection, resonating with post-war sensibilities and the era's fascination with exploring complex human emotions on screen. The film's release was bolstered by a strong supporting cast, including Susan Hayward and Ava Gardner, whose performances added depth to the narrative and heightened its appeal to a broad audience.

Despite facing competition from other high-profile releases of the time, "The Snows of Kilimanjaro" managed to carve out its niche as a memorable adaptation of Hemingway's work, solidifying Gregory Peck's reputation as a versatile leading actor and affirming director Henry King's skill in bringing literary adaptations to life on screen.

The film's release marked a notable contribution to Hollywood's exploration of existential themes and its ongoing fascination with exploring distant and exotic locales through the lens of dramatic storytelling.

CAST:

• Gregory Peck as Harry Street

• Susan Hayward as Helen

• Ava Gardner as Cynthia Green

• Hildegard Knef as Countess Liz

• Leo G. Carroll as Uncle Bill

• Torin Thatcher as Mr. Johnson

• Ava Norring as Beatrice

CREW:

• Director: Henry King

• Producer: Darryl F. Zanuck

• Screenwriter: Casey Robinson

• Cinematographer: Leon Shamroy

• Editor: Barbara McLean

• Music: Bernard Herrmann

Production Company: Twentieth Century Fox
Distributor: Twentieth Century Fox

Release Date: September 18, 1952
Country of Origin: United States
Running Time: 117 minutes
Budget: $3 million
Box Office Return: $6 million

IMDB Rating =  6.1 / 10

TRIVIA:

• Gregory Peck was reportedly Ernest Hemingway's personal choice for the role of Harry Street.

• The film's African safari scenes were shot on location in Kenya and Uganda, adding authenticity to the setting.

• Ava Gardner's role as Cynthia Green was expanded from the original short story to provide a more comprehensive backstory for Harry Street.

• The screenplay made several changes from Hemingway's original story, including a more hopeful ending where Harry survives his ordeal.

• Bernard Herrmann, known for his work with Alfred Hitchcock, composed the film's score, adding a dramatic and emotional layer to the narrative.

• In a scene where Gregory Peck lifts up Ava Gardner, he injured his knee, causing production to halt briefly as he recovered. Scenes of his lying in a sickbed had already been filmed.

• Ernest Hemingway disliked the film, feeling it borrowed material from his other works to pad the story. He reportedly liked only Ava Gardner and the hyena in the film, with director Henry King mimicking the hyena's sounds.

• Although impressive second unit work was shot in Kenya, the principal actors filmed their African scenes in Hollywood.

• The countess' bohemian lifestyle contrasts with Cynthia's desire for a homebody life, reflecting Ava Gardner's real-life bohemian lifestyle versus Hildegard Knef's reserved nature.

• Scenes of Hildegard Knef singing two Cole Porter songs were shot but not used in the final cut, though one remained in the German version.

• Uncle Bill, Harry's mentor in the film, is loosely based on Hemingway's mentor Sherwood Anderson.

• Gregory Peck initially hesitated to accept the role due to the failure of a previous Hemingway adaptation in which he starred.

• While American actors played the African roles with American accents, their Kiswahili lines were passable, fitting appropriately with the action.

• Twentieth Century-Fox purchased the film rights to Hemingway's story for $125,000 in 1948.

• "The Snows of Kilimanjaro" was Twentieth Century-Fox's highest-grossing film of the year and the third highest overall at the box office.

• Ava Gardner's marriage to Frank Sinatra caused the film's schedule to be rearranged so she could complete her scenes quickly, though a delay on the last day of shooting led to tensions.

• Screenwriter Casey Robinson initially opposed Gregory Peck's casting, but Fox chief Darryl F. Zanuck and director Henry King insisted on Peck.

• The freeze-dried leopard mentioned in the film was a real discovery on Mount Kilimanjaro, later removed from the mountain.

• Roy Ward Baker directed location footage, while Henry King directed studio footage.

• This was Ava Gardner's second film based on an Ernest Hemingway story, the first being "The Killers" (1946), both expanded considerably from their original short forms.

• The film's cinematographer, Leon Shamroy, was temporarily replaced by Joseph MacDonald due to illness.

• The Swahili spoken in the film aimed for accuracy but was spoken slower than normal speed due to actors' fluency.

• Most images of Kilimanjaro in the film were taken from the Tanzania side.

• The film was broadcast as the second-ever on NBC-TV's "Saturday Night at the Movies" series in 1961.

• The riddle of the leopard carcass in the film was a true element, symbolizing Harry's own fruitless quest for fulfillment.

"The Snows of Kilimanjaro" remains a notable adaptation of Hemingway's work, blending the author's themes of love, loss, and existential reflection with Hollywood's cinematic grandeur.