Generally, I steer clear of movies about movies but when Clint Eastwood is involved and hunting in Africa is involved, well, pop some corn, sweetheart, I'm gonna prop my feet on the coffee table.Eastwood is so convincing in this role I plumb forgot he is my favorite western character, Josey Wales.I suspect the fact that John wanted to kill an elephant turned some viewers off and that is a shame for they missed a great performance, in which no elephants were killed. I have been a hunter all my life and when John said, "It's a passion that's beyond you. I'd have to explain to you the sound of the wind and the smell of the woods. I'd have to create you all over again. . . .and stamp out those years you spent on the dirty pavement in cramped shoes." we connected and there was a tear in my eye.And this is what a true artist does...he relays an emotion, from the writer to the reader; from the singer to the listener; from the actor to the viewer. I predict White Hunter Black Heart will gain popularity as time goes by.

Many have questioned Eastwood's accuracy in his portrayal of John Huston upon which 'White Hunter Black Heart' is based. However, in my opinion, he owns the John Wilson character turning in a compelling performance. He displays Wilson's carefree attitude and stubbornness with élan. Yes, his accent is amusing but he appears comfortable speaking with it. He also displays a comic side which is hardly witnessed in most of his other films.As director, he does an equally superb job especially the lead up to the ending. In the first few minutes I was disappointed by it as I felt it was too abrupt, like slamming the door on your face, but thinking about it later on, this was the best ending. The film was about Wilson's careless attitude and his irresponsibility and in the end we see him pay the price and the effect it has.'White Hunter Black Heart' is a well crafted film. The natural African landscape is beautifully captured. The music is great. Editing is very good except that the pacing slows down a tad in the second half. Jeff Fahey is brilliant as Wilson's friend and confidante. George Dzundza's accent takes some getting used to.This is perhaps another one of Eastwood's underrated lesser known films and it may not appeal to a majority but it makes a strong point and a worthy viewing.

That for some reason won't call him John Huston. So they call him "John Wilson" and he's directing a film called "African Trader" right after World War II, that just happens to use the same boat Humphrey Bogart used in "The African Queen".but it isn't about making the movie, it's about the director's obsession with shooting an elephant.It's an elegant movie with some great dialog, and Clint Eastwood, trying to escape his type-casting as Clint Eastwood, does some fine work here. But there are places where the movie drags, and Clint just can't help himself.It's elegantly shot and nice to look at, but not a great film.

John Wilson is a maverick Hollywood film director with a reputation for self-destructive egocentric behaviour. His latest movie is a drama set in Africa and he hires Pete Verrill, a writer, to assist with the script. Pete soon discovers however that Wilson is much more interested in shooting an elephant than shooting a movie …Although the names have been changed, this is obviously a story about John Huston and the notoriously arduous shooting of his 1951 classic The African Queen. It's not really so much about the movie however as the man, and as a character study of the dictatorial, risk-taking temperament required to be a successful movie director it's first-rate. Aside from being tall, Eastwood does not resemble Huston either physically or professionally yet he does what any good actor can do and disappears into this persona. He seems larger than life, gleefully shocking polite society ladies and stubbornly refusing to behave like a professional, but by all accounts this was what Huston was like. He may be insufferable, but he is candid, honest, witty, and seizes life by the throat whilst others are simply swept along. It's one of Eastwood's most extreme and remarkable performances, and he is ably supported by the very capable cast, notably the underrated Fahey. Movies about movies are often either vacuous (America's Sweethearts) or pretentious (8½) but by concentrating on character, and filling out its story with satire and humour, this is one of the most interesting. Written by Peter Viertel, James Bridges and Burt Kennedy, based on a novel by Viertel (who was married to Deborah Kerr for fifty years). Photographed in beautiful locations in Zimbabwe and at West Wycombe Park in Buckinghamshire.