Africa: Texas Style!

Africa: Texas Style! is a vivid and adventurous Western cum African safari from 1967 starring dynamic heartthrob Hugh O'Brian and the magnificent John Mills, accompanied by the seasoned Nigel Green. This visual treat by Paramount Pictures, directed by Andrew Marton, is a unique, thematic crossover which attempts to incorporate the American cowboy's quintessential ruggedness and bravado into the expansive, exotic wilderness of the African veld. Packed with action, drama and the exhilarating rush of a classic wildlife hunt, this film is sure to entertain fans of Westerns and adventure movies alike.

In Africa: Texas Style!, Hugh O'Brian plays Jim Sinclair, a skilled and intrepid cowboy from Texas who is entrusted with a challenging mission that takes him far from his homeland. John Mills, the man behind the character Wing Commander Hayes, is an old friend who invites Sinclair and his buddy, John Henry, to run his African game ranch, Mukumbura, a cattle-style operation located in Kenya’s wild country. The idea is an audacious one - to introduce the American-style ranching to the African veld, replacing guns with lassoes.

As the film unfolds, this daring venture of Sinclair encounters innumerable high-wire confrontations and mishaps emblematic of classic adventure narratives. From hostile African tribes resisting the intrusion of foreign systems to dangerous wildlife encounters that test the mettle of the Texan cowboys, the film dynamically blends Western heroics with African adventure. The film also provides a generous backdrop of exotic African landscapes and wildlife, all of which reinforces the thrilling and fascinating vibes the movie intends to radiate.

The character of Jim Sinclair allows Hugh O'Brian to leverage his robust cowboy persona honed through numerous Western roles. As a tough, rational, and confident cowboy characterized by an invincible charm, O'Brian manages to create an appealing and compelling lead. John Mills effortlessly molds himself into the role of a daring owner of an African game ranch whose unflinching faith in his old friend culminates into this adventurous narrative. Last but not least, Nigel Green, appearing in the role of a local game officer complements the core leads and adds a persuasive layer of storytelling to this grand narrative.

The cinematography in Africa: Texas Style! is nothing short of spectacular. There are abundant panoramic and vibrant shots of the Kenyan wild-country – breathtaking valleys, the mighty Zambezi river, wild animals in their natural habitat, tribes and their cultures, and the mighty Serengeti. Director Andrew Marton, known for his work on visually stimulating films, spends a lot of time elaborating on the breathtaking vistas and the raw beauty that the African wilderness has to offer.

Though the plot does revolve around the classic outsider theme common in most Westerns, Africa: Texas Style! extends itself into becoming a fish out of water tale as it layers the narrative with clashes of culture and ideas. One of the prominent motifs in the film is the critique of Western imperialism with its often destructive attempts at imposing foreign systems onto indigenous cultures. Such symbolism shapes the film as an exploration of cultural clashes and the resultant challenges faced by the characters in the story.

The film also includes an iconic sequence illustrating a saddle bronc riding episode on a zebra, which is a true visual spectacle and a pivotal narrative moment blending the wild with the unfamiliar and underlining the fundamental theme of the film – merging of the West and the African wildlife.

Africa: Texas Style! employs a captivating fusion of Western and adventure genre tropes, resulting in a unique narrative that promises to keep the audience on the edge of their seats. Coupling riveting performances by a star-studded cast with stunning cinematic visuals of the African landscape, this movie invites viewers into a world where the charm of the West meets the untamed country of Africa. With its mishaps and triumphs, Africa: Texas Style! serves as an unforgettable safari experience in the 1960s cinematic universe.