With enough location footage shot from King Solomon's Mines to give Drums Of Africa a smidgen of authenticity MGM saved a lot of bucks not sending Frankie Avalon and the rest of the cast to East Africa for some real location shooting. No way was MGM going to spend a lot on what is clearly a B picture film.
Although Frankie Avalon is top billed he's in support of Lloyd Bochner, Mariette Hartley, and Torin Thatcher. Bochner plays an engineer commissioned to find a better route, part of that Cape to Cairo scheme the British had in those days. Avalon is the nephew of the owner and his American speech is explained as Frankie being Canadian. As is missionary Mariette Hartley. Torin Thatcher is the best known white hunter/guide in Africa spelled C-o-u-r-t-m-a-y-n lest we have to pay the estate of H. Rider Haggard.
Thatcher hates the railroad it will spoil his Africa. Hartley likes the idea of having her medical supplies delivered to her door without a big safari to get it and bring it back. She also likes Bochner.
Lloyd Bochner played mostly heels in his career and he's one here. But he's also called on to be a hero and someone like Tyrone Power made that a specialty, but it doesn't wear well on Lloyd Bochner.
Everybody however hates the slave traders and when they capture Hartley and some of her charges we go into action.
All that's left is a Frankie Avalon song, one of his most forgettable. This film is like eating leftovers.
Although Frankie Avalon is top billed he's in support of Lloyd Bochner, Mariette Hartley, and Torin Thatcher. Bochner plays an engineer commissioned to find a better route, part of that Cape to Cairo scheme the British had in those days. Avalon is the nephew of the owner and his American speech is explained as Frankie being Canadian. As is missionary Mariette Hartley. Torin Thatcher is the best known white hunter/guide in Africa spelled C-o-u-r-t-m-a-y-n lest we have to pay the estate of H. Rider Haggard.
Thatcher hates the railroad it will spoil his Africa. Hartley likes the idea of having her medical supplies delivered to her door without a big safari to get it and bring it back. She also likes Bochner.
Lloyd Bochner played mostly heels in his career and he's one here. But he's also called on to be a hero and someone like Tyrone Power made that a specialty, but it doesn't wear well on Lloyd Bochner.
Everybody however hates the slave traders and when they capture Hartley and some of her charges we go into action.
All that's left is a Frankie Avalon song, one of his most forgettable. This film is like eating leftovers.