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The story takes place at a British plantation in Africa where Tondelayo entices all the Brits, especially Harry Witzel.
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Cast verified as complete

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Tondelayo
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Harry Witzel
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The Doctor
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Mr. Langford
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Skipper of the Congo Queen
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The Reverend Dr. Roberts
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Wilbur Ashley
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Ted - First Mate of the Congo Queen
Leigh Whipper ...
Jim Fish
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Umeela
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Darby - The Doctor's Houseboy
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Mr. Worthing
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ed Allen ...
Native Drug Seller (uncredited)
John Burton ...
Jim Benson (uncredited)
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Seaplane Pilot (uncredited)
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Native Singer (uncredited)
Martin Wilkins ...
Native Prisoner (uncredited)

Directed by

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Richard Thorpe

Written by

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Ida Vera Simonton ... (novel "Hell's Playground")
 
Leon Gordon ... (play)
 
Leon Gordon ... (screenplay)

Produced by

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Victor Saville ... producer

Music by

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Bronislau Kaper
Daniele Amfitheatrof ... (uncredited)

Cinematography by

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Harry Stradling Sr. ... director of photography (as Harry Stradling)

Editing by

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Fredrick Y. Smith

Art Direction by

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Cedric Gibbons

Set Decoration by

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Edwin B. Willis

Makeup Department

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Jack Dawn ... makeup designer

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director

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Al Jennings ... assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department

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Daniel B. Cathcart ... associate art director
F. Keogh Gleason ... associate set decorator (as Keogh Gleason)

Sound Department

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Douglas Shearer ... recording director

Camera and Electrical Department

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Clarence Sinclair Bull ... still photographer (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department

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Robert Kalloch ... native costumes (as Kalloch)
Eugene Joseff ... costume jeweller (uncredited)
Robert Kalloch ... additional costumes (uncredited)

Music Department

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Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco ... composer: additional music (uncredited)
Joseph Nussbaum ... orchestrator (uncredited)
Leonid Raab ... orchestrator (uncredited)

Additional Crew

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Ernst Matray ... dance director
Maria Matray ... dance director (uncredited)
Crew verified as complete

Production Companies

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Distributors

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Special Effects

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Other Companies

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Storyline

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Plot Summary

In Africa early in World War II, a British rubber plantation executive reminisces about his arrival in the Congo in 1910. He tells the story of a love-hate triangle involving Harry Witzel, an in-country station superintendent who'd seen it all, Langford, a new manager sent from England for a four-year stint, and Tondelayo, a siren of great beauty who desires silk and baubles. Witzel is gruff and seasoned, certain that Langford won't be able to cut it. Langford responds with determination and anger, attracted to Tondelayo because of her beauty, her wiles, and to get at Witzel. Manipulation, jealousy, revenge, and responsibility play out as alliances within the triangle shift. Written by

Plot Keywords
Taglines "I am TONDELAYO!" See more »
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Parents Guide Add content advisory for parents »
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Additional Details

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Also Known As
  • Tondelayo (France)
  • Hvid last (Denmark)
  • Sirena del Congo (Italy)
  • Demônio do Congo (Brazil)
  • Tondelayo halvblodet (Sweden)
  • See more »
Runtime
  • 88 min
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Language
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Sound Mix
Filming Locations

Did You Know?

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Trivia Because of the miscegenation aspects of the play (Tondelayo was a black woman), it was on the Production Code Administraiton's "condemned" list of sources not to be considered. A big outcry was heard after the British film, based on the same sources, was released in New York in March, 1930, because it was deemed to violate the spirit of the Hays decree. MGM hired playwright Leon Gordon to adapt his play for the screen; he changed Tondelayo's parentage to half Egyptian and half Arab, and it was eventually given an approved certificate. Still, the movie was placed on the Legion of Decency's condemned list, and the film was banned in Singapore and Trinidad because of its racial implications. See more »
Goofs The main story is framed as a flashback of events recounted by Mr. Worthing, who only arrived on the scene at the end of the main story. Presumably, he learned of the earlier events from Witzel and/or The Doctor, but some of the action seen during the flashback was not witnessed by either of those two characters. See more »
Movie Connections Edited into Hollywood: The Dream Factory (1972). See more »
Soundtracks The Wedding March See more »
Quotes Tondelayo: [entering for the first time, seductively] I am Tondelayo.
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