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Bwana Devil

Play trailer Poster for Bwana Devil 1952 1h 19m Adventure Play Trailer Watchlist
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Tomatometer 5 Reviews 14% Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
Big-game hunters are called in when two man-eating lions disrupt the construction of an African railroad.

Critics Reviews

View All (5) Critics Reviews
Kate Cameron New York Daily News In the case of Oboler's film, the story is, for once, not the most important thing about it. Rather, the manner in which it is presented becomes of prime interest. Rated: 3/4 Feb 24, 2016 Full Review Michael Barrett PopMatters While Bwana Devil was his most technically ambitious, it doesn't compare in atmosphere and drama to the others. However, like them, it's about angst-ridden, doom-laden characters. Aug 31, 2024 Full Review Rosalie Kicks MovieJawn BWANA DEVIL is truly a delight and there is nothing more delightful than viewing Robert Stack’s long legs in Natural Vision! Rated: C- Aug 6, 2024 Full Review Nell Dodson Russell Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder Bwana Devil is a grade B type motion picture about the attempt to complete a railroad in Africa against the threat of man eating lions. The lions are the most unferocious and mangy you'll see. Dec 16, 2021 Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews It will be remembered as the first full-length film in 3-D, otherwise deserves to be forgotten. Rated: C+ Aug 10, 2014 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (7) audience reviews
Audience Member Although it is the first 3-dimensional movie, I expected much more. It lacks passable directing; and takes no advantages of the 3D. Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 02/14/23 Full Review Audience Member I gave the movie a good rating for even attempting to tell this fantastic true story and for keeping a few elements of the original; story in...unlike the Ghost and the Darkness which is a joke as to historical accuracy.. 1952 was a different cinematic time, but today, the movie itself is no more than a dull absurdity. (Really missing Hedy Lamarr or even here.) No one seems to have a clue as to how to tell this story...or write a script, act, edit. Having found and read the book this movie is very loosely based on, the true story is a magnificent saga that is best left unaltered, however this era of Hollywood was rather careless with any story, and to alter even one sentence of Patterson's great work is criminal. My words would be useless to convey the true magnitude of the ACTUAL event as told by the person who was there, namely Patterson, The lions who killed around 40 people before they were killed by Patterson, were like supernatural monsters from a Hollywood Horror flick in their ability to prey on the railroad workers, natives, and others. Imagine the most horrific predatory monster you have ever seen in a movie and I guarantee it will not come close to the real story. Maybe Michael Cimino could have pulled it off...but I'm feeling Kevin Costner...oh well. Read JH Patterson "The Man-Eaters of Tsavo". It's awe inspiring... As if anyone still reads books anymore. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/24/23 Full Review Audience Member the first pic made in 3D Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 01/21/23 Full Review Audience Member 52% Like the other dude said, watch THE GHOST AND THE DARKNESS instead. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/17/23 Full Review Audience Member Largely the first exposure to 3D for mainstream audiences & like the film the 3D just falls a little short. Based on a true story of 2 man eating lions that held up a railway construction in Kenya. The plot is a to the film but it gets stagnant quickly, and the 3D is a little gimmicky. A rather dated, safari film with average acting , historically significant as one of the key first 3D Films in history. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 01/31/23 Full Review Audience Member Later remade as the superior "The Ghost and the Darkness". This has the distinction of being the 1st color film released in 3D. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 01/15/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Bwana Devil

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Cast & Crew

Movie Info

Synopsis Big-game hunters are called in when two man-eating lions disrupt the construction of an African railroad.
Director
Arch Oboler
Producer
Arch Oboler
Screenwriter
Arch Oboler
Production Co
Gulu Productions, Oboler
Genre
Adventure
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Sep 1, 2016
Runtime
1h 19m