The Snows Of Kilimanjaro

The Snows of Kilimanjaro

Amazon.com essential video

Several pieces of Hemingway fiction fold together for this pastiche movie, in which a writer (Gregory Peck) lies on the slope of Africas famous mountain and thinks back on his life while awaiting medical attention. "Africa" in this case is a back-screen projection fortunately, the majority of the film is told through flashbacks set in France, Spain, and other parts of the Dark Continent. Pecks relationships with various women (played by Susan Hayward, Ava Gardner, and Hildegard Knef) are at the center of his recollections, but the overall thesis is a very Hemingway-esque summary of the responsibility of a writer to get at the truth. --Tom Keogh

Product Description

Studio: Tcfhe Release Date: 03/06/2007 Rating: Nr
Rate Points :3.5
Binding :DVD
Brand :TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX HOME ENT
Label :20th Century Fox
Manufacturer :20th Century Fox
MPN :FOXD2234919D
ProductGroup :DVD
Studio :20th Century Fox
Publisher :20th Century Fox
UPC :024543249191
EAN :0024543249191
Price :$19.98USD
Lowest Price :$9.74USD
Customer ReviewsWhat might have been
Rating Point :3 Helpful Point :2
This film can only be characterized as a huge disappointment. A great cast, a screenplay based on the works (and life) of a great author, a dangerous, romantic setting, and this film simply doesnt go anywhere at the end. This film opens with the main character Harry Street (played by Gregory Peck) lying in bed at a safari camp in Africa, wounded, perhaps mortally, and being attended by his lover, Helen (played by Susan Hayward). We are then taken back to Pecks earlier life as a young, talented writer (much like Hemingway himself) through a series of flashbacks. We see the ups and downs of his life, his loves, and his mistakes. We are occasionally taken back to Africa where Street reflects on his life, the women that he loved, and the relationship with his current love. This is a tale of adventure, of life, of love, and of reflection, it could have been an all time great film, but unfortunately falls well short. There is a lot to like in this film. The acting is, for the most part, top notch. Great performances by Susan Wayward and Ava Gardner in my view. The complex relationship between Peck and Gardner is particularly well done. Youll really feel the emotions of their love affair, as well as their ultimate lack of any real connection. I also thought that the overall portrayal of Streets life and his successes and failures, both professional and romantic, was well done. There are some things I really dislike about this film though. The cinematography in Africa is horrid. One thing that the audience can usually count on in films set in Africa (particularly with a safari-related theme - compare with other Africa films shot in the same era such as Mogambo or King Solomons Mines) is spectacular cinemtography of the wildlife, the landscape, etc. These scenes are so dark and poorly shot that youll be left wondering why you bothered. Second, the writer/producer/director went over the top with the melodrama at times, and it really weakens the overall effect of the film. I found the ambulance scene in Spain in which Harry Street comes across his long lost love in the middle of a battle to be almost laughably overblown. Finally, the ending is unimaginative and anti-climactic. Did Street truly find the women he loves because she spent one night taking care of him on what may be his deathbead? A pretty good film that is best remembered for what it might have been.

top Hemingway adaptation
Rating Point :4 Helpful Point :2
THE SNOWS OF KILIMANJARO was producer Darryl F. Zanucks prestige production for 1952. Based around several of Ernest Hemingways stories, it gave Gregory Peck the chance to play one of his most intriguing roles and also showcased Ava Gardner in one of her best performances.

Acclaimed author Harry Street (Gregory Peck) lies severely wounded and dazed on the African plains with his patient wife Helen (Susan Hayward), awaiting a rescue flight. Floating in and out of conciousness, he recalls his early life and the women who shared it with him. Themes of fate and thwarted love are constant in Hemingways works in THE SNOWS OF KILIMANJARO, those themes are explored with an almost poetic reverence.

Ava Gardner plays Harrys steadfast but ultimately doomed first love Cynthia Green Hildegard Neff is his grasping, possessive mistress, the Countess Liz. Susan Hayward provides a wonderful gravity as his eventual wife Helen. Gregory Peck plays Harry in the great tradition of his deeply-flawed heroes.

Despite its success with audiences and critics (plus two Academy Award nominations), Ernest Hemingway disliked the movie because he felt it poached from too many of his collective works to pad out the story, most notably "Fiesta" and "A Farewell to Arms".

Previously only available in horrid Public Domain prints, THE SNOWS OF KILIMANJARO is now thankfully back in the catalogue with a legitimate studio release from Fox. It might be a very wise idea for people to upgrade, the picture quality is superb and the overall package is very nice.

The Sun Also Rises
Rating Point :5 Helpful Point :2
I ordered three movies: The Sun Also Rises, The Snows of kilimanjaro and A Farewell to Arms. The movies are great. Amazon sent the movies in two shipments. The first shipment contained The Sun Also Rises and the Snows of Kilimanjaro, and the second shipment included A Farewell to Arms. Amazon charged me shipment costs twice. Why? The statement that came with the first shipment stated that the other item will be shiped at no additional shipping cost. That was a lie. What you going to do about that? This is not first time it happened. Next time if I order anything, please send ship them in one package.

THE STUDIO VERSION......AT LAST
Rating Point :5 Helpful Point :0
AT LAST THE 20TH CENTURY FOX VERSION TO REPLACE ALL THOSE PUBLIC DOMAIN, INCOMPLETE SLOPPY VERSIONS..........GREGORY PECK. SUSAN HAYWARD, AVA GARDNER......DARRYL F. ZANUCKS 20TH CENTURY FOX.....ONE OF THE BEST DVDS..........HIGHLY RECOMMENED........IF YOU HAVENT SEEN IT I WOULD SAY YOU ARE IN FOR QUITE A CINEMATIC TREAT..........GARY JASINKONIS......EAST NORTHPORT, NEW YORK.........SUSAN HAYWARD FOREVER...........

A Classic
Rating Point :3 Helpful Point :2
A fan of Gregory Peck, will enjoy this movie. Unfortunately the quality of my DVD,made watching this movie to fuzzy to enjoy. Thereby I recommend asking about clarity before purchasing.

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