Betty Bacall accompanied Bogie throughout the whole African shoot, enduring all manner of insects, wildlife and improvised bathrooms. While she does report illnesses amongst the crew, she herself was not unwell, so I'm beginning to think this story about the contaminated water from Huston's book may be made up (he claimed that only he and Bogie weren't sick as they always drank Scotch with their water). No matter, it's a wonderful film, made so by Katharine Hepburn and Bogart's performances. (Bogart won the Oscar, Kate was nominated but lost to Vivien Leigh in A Streetcar Names Desire.) We'd forgotten how romantic it is.
From a C.S. Forester story. Whilst credited, James Agee's screen play was largely rewritten by Huston and Peter Viertel; the writer was in the 'last phase of his alcoholic self-destruction' (Lee Server's Mitchum book.)
Guy Hamilton was assistant director, who burned himself when stopping the boiler fall over on to the two stars, Jack Cardiff shot it. The music's by Allan Gray and Ralph Kemplen edited.
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