WHITE HUNTER, BLACK HEART
US, 1990, 112 minutes, Colour.
Clint Eastwood, Jeff Fahey, George Dzundza, Marisa Berenson, Alun Armstrong, Timothy Spall.
Directed by Clint Eastwood.
White Hunter, Black Heart is based on a novel by Peter Viertel who also wrote the screenplay. Viertel was a screenwriter and novelist, working with director John Huston, accompanying him to Africa for the making of The African Queen. This film is a disguised (very lightly) version of the making of the film as well as a portrait of John Huston.
The film is something of a change of pace for Clint Eastwood after many westerns and police thrillers. His next film was to be Unforgiven for which he would receive the first of his Academy Awards for best director (the second in 2004 for Million Dollar Baby). Clint Eastwood was obviously interested in John Huston – a larger-than-life character, something like Cling Eastwood on screen but not in real life though Eastwood was a successful actor, one of the most prolific of actors who became directors in Hollywood, serving as mayor of Carmel and involved in American social and political life.
John Huston, however, was a law unto himself, a rip-roaring drinker, and a would-be hunter as demonstrated in this film. He wanted to go Africa, less for the film, than to bag an elephant. This theme is explored in the film – and the director having to face his own passions as well as his egocentricity when his guide is killed by an elephant.
Jeff Fahey plays Pete Verrill, the alter-ego for Peter Viertel. Fahey was also best known for his action films rather than drama. He acquits himself very well here, playing off Clint Eastwood’s boisterousness. George Dzundza portrays the put-upon producer. British actors Alun Armstrong and Timothy Spall play part of the technical crew, puzzled by and critical of the director. Marisa Berenson does an impersonation of Katharine Hepburn and Richard Vanstone of Humphrey Bogart. Jamie Koss is the wife of Phil Duncan, the Bogart character, and is played like Lauren Bacall.
The film gives some insight into the difficulties of making films, the caprices of directors, the hopes of cast, the exasperations of writers, the exasperations of producers. The film also has the atmosphere of Africa from such films of the 1950s as Mogambo.
This is an interesting film in its portrait of real-life characters as well as taking audiences into their personal lives and behind the scenes for film-making.
1. Clint Eastwood, his career at this stage, as actor, as director? His moving into more serious film-making?
2. The film based on the making of The African Queen, Peter Viertel and his novel, screenplay, based on his own experiences with John Huston? Africa, Viertel’s perspective, his being heroic and handsome – and playing off the boisterous Wilson?
3. Cinema history, John Wilson, as John Huston, larger-than-life, manner of talking, in action, interest in The African Queen, more interested in Africa, hunting, elephants? Katharine Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall and their presence in Africa? The staff and the technical crew? Their functions? The producer? Frustrations, clashes, finally filming?
4. The title, as applied to John Wilson, the big white hunter, colonial attitudes, obsessions, the advice of guides and his disregard of them? The white guides? Kivu and his collaborating with Wilson? Wilson relying on him? Wilson’s whims, the elephants, his being warned away? The older elephant and the young? His unwillingness to be warned, the sighting of the elephant, his leaving the filming, Kivu and his approaching the elephant, his death? The drums giving the message of Kivu’s death – and the translation: white hunter, black heart? The child’s grief and its effect on Wilson?
5. The British sequences, the planning of the film, Peter arriving, Wilson and his secretary, his attitude towards her? Peter and his novels, the screenplay, friendly relationship with Wilson? Their discussions? The writer, her glamour, the night out, her incessant telling of the story of her screenplay, The Dog? Wilson and his appetites? Peter, breakfast, the discussion of the ending? The arrival of the producer, Wilson’s attitude towards him, his treatment of him, talking about him, meeting with the money people? The difficulties, talking about the problems in Africa, the producer trying to smooth things out, getting the backing? The producer and his discussions with Peter?
6. Wilson, arriving in Africa, his ambitions, at Entebbe airport, the quarters, the guide, the meals, the drinking? The arrangements with the guides, with Kivu?
7. Katharine Hepburn, Marisa Berenson’s impersonation, her enthusiasm for Africa and the film? The ride in the jeep, the welcome, Wilson and his hosting the lavish meal? The Humphrey Bogart parallel, Lauren Bacall?
8. The set designer, his spurning of Hollywood, Wilson lecturing him about Hollywood? The humiliation? His drinking? The other members of the crew, observing Wilson? The arguments? The drinking, the mockery?
9. The producer, his frustration, the issues of finance, cajoling Wilson to start?
10. The effect of the tragedy on everybody, the effect on Wilson, his becoming quiet?
11. The film ready to roll, his quiet saying of ‘Action’? The white hunter, backing down, in the director’s chair? The set, the lighting? The making of The African Queen – and audience knowledge of its success as a film and commercially? John Huston making films for almost another thirty years?
