The Naked Prey

The Naked Prey (Criterion #415).
1966 Paramount Pictures.
Starring: Cornel Wilde, Ken Gampu, Patrick Mynhardt, Bella Randels, Gert Van den Berg
Director: Cornel Wilde
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Cornel Wilde starred, produced and directed this tale loosely based on the life of explorer John Colter, who was pursued by Blackfoot warriors through frontier Wyoming in 1809. The initial script was set in the Old West, and would've matched Colter's life more closely, but financial reasons prompted Wilde to change the setting to Africa, and the production was filmed in South Africa's rural regions.

Wilde plays an unnamed character leading a white explorer (Van den Berg) and his entourage on an elephant hunt in southern Africa during its colonial era (yes, there is actual footage of elephants being killed, sadly). The group intrudes on a local tribe's territory, and some of the natives are friendly enough to make contact, expecting to be bought off with gifts. Wilde's character advises the explorer to be courteous to them, but the explorer insults the natives, sending them away with nothing. This proves to be a mistake, as the tribe attacks the group later, taking captives, and puts everyone to death with various cruel and unusual punishments. The explorer is trapped in a ring of fire with a poisonous snake for company.

Wilde, however, is spared for last, as there is some kind of respect and understanding between he and the native tribe. He is stripped naked, given a knife, and given a brief head start before some of the tribesman pursue him. He manages to stay alive for several days, killing several of the warriors, finding food and water, and eventually reaches a fort just moments ahead of his surviving pursuers. Wilde then salutes the tribe leader (Gampu).

This was definitely an interesting picture, with some beautiful footage of rural Africa. Highly recommended.