''Beyond Mombasa'' is a 1956 British/American

Technicolor Technicolor is a series of Color motion picture film, color motion picture processes, the first version dating back to 1916, and followed by improved versions over several decades. Definitive Technicolor movies using three black and white films ...

adventure film An adventure film is a form of adventure fiction, and is a genre of film. Subgenres of adventure films include swashbuckler films, pirate films, and survival films. Adventure films may also be combined with other film genres such as action, an ...

starring

Cornel Wilde Cornel Wilde (born Kornél Lajos Weisz; October 13, 1912 – October 16, 1989) was a Hungarian-American actor and filmmaker. Wilde's acting career began in 1935, when he made his debut on Broadway. In 1936 he began making small, uncredited app ...

and

Donna Reed Donna Reed (born Donna Belle Mullenger; January 27, 1921 – January 14, 1986) was an American actress. Her career spanned more than 40 years, with performances in more than 40 films. She is well known for her portrayal of Mary Hatch Bailey in ...

. It was directed by

George Marshall George Catlett Marshall Jr. (December 31, 1880 – October 16, 1959) was an American army officer and statesman. He rose through the United States Army to become Chief of Staff of the US Army under Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry ...

, set in

Kenya ) , national_anthem = "Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu"() , image_map = , map_caption = , image_map2 = , capital = Nairobi , coordinates = , largest_city = Nairobi , ...

and filmed there and at a London studio.

Plot

Matt Campbell (

) arrives in Kenya, where his brother George is reported missing. A man named Ralph Hoyt (

Leo Genn Leopold John Genn (9 August 190526 January 1978) was an English actor and barrister. Distinguished by his relaxed charm and smooth, "black velvet" voice, he had a lengthy career in theatre, film, television, and radio; often playing aristocr ...

) tells him that George has been killed by members of the "Leopard Men" cult. Matt is introduced to Hoyt's niece, Ann Wilson (

), an anthropologist, who is puzzled by Matt's reluctance to go to

Mombasa Mombasa ( ; ) is a coastal city in southeastern Kenya along the Indian Ocean. It was the first capital of the British East Africa, before Nairobi was elevated to capital city status. It now serves as the capital of Mombasa County. The town is ...

for his brother's funeral. Matt also meets big-game hunter Gil Rossi (

Christopher Lee Sir Christopher Frank Carandini Lee (27 May 1922 – 7 June 2015) was an English actor and singer. In a long career spanning more than 60 years, Lee often portrayed villains, and appeared as Count Dracula in seven Hammer Horror films, ultimat ...

), who was helping George search for a valuable uranium mine. Hoyt claims the mine doesn't exist. Another business partner, Elliott Hastings (

Ron Randell Ron is a shortening of the name Ronald. Ron or RON may also refer to: Arts and media * Big Ron (''EastEnders''), a TV character * Ron (''King of Fighters''), a video game character *Ron Douglas, the protagonist in ''Lucky Stiff'' played by Joe A ...

), claims that George's body has been cremated but he did find a map. An expedition beyond Mombasa is formed, guided by Ketimi (Dan Jackson) and other local tribesmen. A shared experience with a charge of hippos brings Matt and Ann closer together, while Gil is nearly killed by a crocodile before it is shot by Hastings. Tribesmen wearing leopard disguises attack Hastings that night. Ketimi is then killed by a poison dart, causing the other tribesmen to leave. Locating a shaft to the mine, Elliot, Matt and Ann descend into it. She discovers to her horror that Hoyt, her uncle, has murdered Gil with a blow gun. Hoyt confesses to killing Ketimi and paying other natives to disguise themselves as the mythical Leopard Men. Matt and Ann are about to become the next victims, but Ketimi's fellow tribesmen reappear and take their revenge.

Cast

as Matt Campbell *

as Ann Wilson *

as Ralph Hoyt *

as Elliot Hastings *

as Gil Rossi * Dan Jackson as Ketimi

Production

Development

The film was made by Hemisphere, an off shoot of Columbia under the supervision of

Mike Frankovich Mitchell John "M. J." Frankovich (September 29, 1909 – January 1, 1992), best known as Mike Frankovich, was an American football player turned film actor and producer. Frankovich was the adopted son of actor Joe E. Brown and his wife, Kathry ...

which shot films outside the US. They co produced with Todon, the production company of agent-turned producer Tony Owens and his wife, actor Donna Reed.A TOWN CALLED HOLLYWOOD: Studio Has 4 McGowans, Not to Mention a Megowan Scheuer, Philip K. Los Angeles Times 26 Aug 1956: D2. It was originally named ''Mark of the Leopard''. It was then known as ''Mombasa'' and ''Black Mamba''. The film was to star Aldo Ray but he turned down the role. As a result Columbia put him on suspension.

replaced him in December 1955. Leo Genn signed to do the film after pulling out of ''

Run for the Sun ''Run for the Sun'' is a 1956 Technicolor thriller adventure film released by United Artists, the third film to officially be based on Richard Connell's classic 1924 suspense story, "The Most Dangerous Game", after both RKO's ''The Most Dangerous ...

''. A key support role went to

Shooting

Filming took place in the studio in London and on location in Africa. It was to have begun in July 1955. Filming didn't start until February 1956.Star Ends Safari: With Elephants, Monkeys By Melita Knowles Staff Correspondent of The Christian Science Monitor. The Christian Science Monitor 1 May 1956: 14. After the film was completed, Owen said all of his films "stink - but they made money." However he said ''Beyond Mombasa'' "is the first one I've done that isn't lousy - and I'm worried."

References

External links

* * * *
Review of film
at Variety {{Humphrey Searle 1956 films Films directed by George Marshall Columbia Pictures films Films based on British novels 1956 adventure films Films scored by Humphrey Searle Films set in Kenya Films shot in Kenya Films about mining British adventure films 1950s English-language films 1950s British films