The Last Safari


The Last Safari is a 1967 British adventure film directed by Henry Hathaway. It stars Kaz Garas and Stewart Granger. It was based on the novel, Gilligan's Last Elephant by Gerald Hanley.

Plot

Miles Gilchrist is a big game hunter in Africa. He goes on a safari to shoot an elephant who killed his friend. He is accompanied by Casey, an American millionaire intrigued by Gilchrist's story, and Grant, Casey's half-caste girlfriend.
Miles feels he is to blame for his friend's death, and has to redeem himself. He sees hunter Alec Beaumont refusing to eat with Grant, an indication of how life is different in Africa. Casey and Miles help to save a group of white hunters ambushed in a Masai village.
Later, Miles and Casey are nearly killed by a herd of charging elephants, led by a rogue elephant. Casey refuses to fire knowing Miles also won't shoot, but is not afraid. Casey bids Miles farewell and leaves Africa and Grant, who stays behind in the hopes of finding a new benefactor.

Cast

The Last Safari was the first of a four-picture deal between Hathaway and Paramount. Kaz Garas was an actor under contract to Hal Wallis.
The film involved five weeks location shooting in Kenya. The corporate jet used in the film was a Learjet 23 leased from Busy Bee. It was painted in zebra stripes for use in the film.

Reception

The Los Angeles Times called The Last Safari, "... a most satisfying film of its kind".
Stewart Granger later called this "my last real film... the worst film ever made in Africa!"