White Witch Doctor (1953)
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Filmed on location, White Witch Doctor is set in the Belgian Congo, circa 1907. Professional hunter Lonni Douglas (Robert Mitchum) is hired by nurse Ellen Burton (Susan Hayward) to escort her into the African interior, in hopes of finding her former mentor. Eventually they discover that the man Burton seeks has died, but Burton decides to stay around for awhile and tend to the wounds of the local witch doctor's injured son -- and, incidentally, to convince the tribesmen that "white man's medicine" is a good thing. Unfortunately, Douglas' avaricious partner Huysman (Walter Slezak) endangers the lives of himself, Douglas and Burton by going on a forbidden hunt for gold. Based on a novel by Louise A. Steindorf, White Witch Doctor is distinguished by Bernard Herrmann's evocative musical score, wherein genuine African musical instruments are utilized. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Complete Cast:
- Susan Hayward - Ellen Burton
- Walter Slezak - Huysman
- Joseph C. Narcisse - Utembo
- Timothy Carey - Jarrett
- Charles Gemora - Gorilla
- Naaman Brown - Witch Doctor
- Everett Brown - Bakuba King
- Michael Ansara - De Gama
- Michael Granger - Paal
- Floyd Shackelford - Chief
- Robert Mitchum - Lonni Douglas
- Mashood Ajala - Jacques
- Elzie Emanuel - Kapuka
- Otis Greene - Bakuba Boy
- Paul Thompson - Witch Doctor
- Myrtle Anderson - Aganza
- Dorothy Harris - Chief's Wife
- Louis Polliman Brown - Councilman
- Henry Hastings
- Director(s):
- Henry Hathaway
- Writer(s):
- Ivan Goff, Ben Roberts
- Producer(s):
- Otto Lang
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