The Naked Prey *** (1966, Cornel Wilde, Gert Van Den Berg, Patrick Mynhardt) – Classic Movie Review 7079

‘Stripped, weaponless, alone and only ten desperate seconds ahead of the killers!’ Producer-director Cornel Wilde’s 1966 movie The Naked Prey is a tough, demanding and excellent 19th-century jungle adventure thriller starring himself as the safari guide The Man taking elephant hunters (Gert Van Den Berg, Patrick Mynhardt) and company on an ivory search in the South African veld, and then being hunted like a wild animal by natives, and turning to violence to combat the hunters.

The commendable Wilde brings imagination and style as director to this very dark, impactful, action-filled Most Dangerous Game-style movie that is also played with equal conviction. It was nominated for one Oscar: Best Writing, Story and Screenplay – Written Directly for the Screen for Clint Johnston and Don [Donald A] Peters.

Also in the cast are Ken Gampu, Bella Randles, Jose Sithole, John Marcis, Horace Gilman and Morrison Gampu.

The Naked Prey is directed by Cornel Wilde, runs 95 minutes, is made by Theodora Productions and Sven Persson Films, is released by Paramount, is written by Clint Johnston and Don [Donald A] Peters, is shot by H A R Thomson, is produced by Cornel Wilde and Sven Persson and is scored by Andrew Tracey.

It was filmed in Sibasa, Limpopo, and Kruger National Park, South Africa; Zimbabwe; and Botswana.

It is a South Africa and US co-production, made on a tight $900,000 budget.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 7079

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