Untamed *** (1955, Tyrone Power, Susan Hayward, Richard Egan, John Justin, Agnes Moorehead, Rita Moreno, Hope Emerson, Brad Dexter, Henry O’Neill) – Classic Movie Review 8314

Director Henry King’s 1955 DeLuxe colour and widescreen adventure Untamed is a busy, complex, handsome-looking, well-done African epic, in which Tyrone Power stars as Boer leader Paul Van Riebeck, who romances impetuous colleen Katie O’Neill Kildare (Susan Hayward) while building his nation.

The performances are strong, the screenplay is efficient and Henry King is in his element. The film’s highlight is the murderous Zulu attack on the wagon train containing Katie (Hayward)’s husband Shawn Kildare (John Justin).

[Spoiler alert] Then, after Power and co rescue the remnants of the wagon train, Dutch farmer Kurt Hout (Richard Egan) claims Katie (Hayward) and starts up a group of outlaws.

The screenplay is by Talbot Jennings, Michael Blankfort and Frank Fenton, based on a novel by Helga Moray. It is filmed in South Africa and on the 20th Century Fox Ranch, Malibu Creek State Park, 1925 Las Virgenes Road, Calabasas, California.

It is the screen debut of Brian Corcoran and child actor Kevin Corcoran. Also in the cast are Agnes Moorehead, Rita Moreno, Hope Emerson, Brad Dexter, Henry O’Neill, Paul Thompson, Alexander D Havermann, Louis Mercier and Emmett Smith.

Untamed is directed by Henry King, runs 111 minutes, is made and released by 20th Century Fox, is written by Talbot Jennings, Michael Blankfort and Frank Fenton, based on a novel by Helga Moray, is shot in DeLuxe colour and CINEMASCOPE widescreen by Leo F Tover, is produced by Bert E Friedlob and William A Bacher, and is scored by Franz Waxman.

 © Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 8314

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