Call Me Bwana

Watch Call Me Bwana

"Hope was never lovelier... Ekberg was never funnier!"
  • NR
  • 1963
  • 1 hr 42 min
  • 5.3  (869)

In 1963, Call Me Bwana premiered in theaters, a comedy film starring Bob Hope, Anita Ekberg, and Edie Adams. The film is directed by Gordon Douglas and produced by Aaron Rosenberg. It follows the adventures of part-time magician and full-time marketer, Matthew Merriwether (Bob Hope). Matt's latest endeavor is to promote a new brand of breakfast cereal called "Ukabanna."

The story begins with Matt being approached by a British intelligence agency that needs his help tracking down a missing missile. Matt happily accepts the mission and travels to East Africa. Once there, he encounters the incredibly seductive Luba (Anita Ekberg), who makes his mission a lot more complicated.

Matt is also tasked with teaching the locals how to play American football, one of the film's many subplots. The scenes of the Africans learning about and playing the game are comedic gold. It's a perfect representation of the kind of slapstick humor that Bob Hope was known for.

The film's humor mostly revolves around Merriwether's bumbling attempts at espionage, his clumsy interactions with Luba, and the absurd situations that he finds himself in. One of the standout scenes includes Matt and an accomplice trying to smuggle a missile out of Africa by disguising it as a burial urn.

On the other hand, Luba's character serves as a love interest for Merriwether, and she dominates the screen with her charm and beauty. The two actors' chemistry is palpable, and their slow-burn romance is one of the film's highlights. Luba is a spy for a different agency and is Matt's competition in the missile retrieval operation. When the two finally work together, the combination of their skills is a joy to witness.

Another subplot is Edie Adams' character of Frederica, who is an U.S. Embassy representative with her own agenda. Frederica is smitten with Matt and schemes to get closer to him, much to Luba's jealousy.

The film's cinematography is stunning, capturing the beauty of Africa's wildlife, while the sound and music perfectly support the visual storytelling. The sequence where the African villagers play football on a makeshift field is a particular highlight, with the drumming music and dancing creating an electric, joyful atmosphere.

Call Me Bwana has its racism issues by today's standards, some of which is expressed through the African characters' dialogue, but it is notable that many of the positive moments in the movie, such as the aforementioned football scene, involved African actors enjoying themselves and embracing American culture. The film is also contemporaneously reliant on its gender politics, as Luba, Frederica, and a minor character are all female spies or intelligence operatives.

Overall, Call Me Bwana is a lighthearted comedy that showcases Bob Hope at his best. The film's visuals, music, and humor create an engaging and entertaining experience that will make any audience member chuckle. It's a perfect example of the type of movie that defined the comedies of the 1960s.

Call Me Bwana
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Description
  • Release Date
    1963
  • MPAA Rating
    NR
  • Runtime
    1 hr 42 min
  • Language
    English
  • IMDB Rating
    5.3  (869)
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