Out Of Africa

1. Out Of Africa

2. Directed by Syndey Pollack • Most recently “Michael Clayton” • Book by Karen Blixen • Based on true story • Screenplay by Kurt Luedtke • Won Oscar for this film • Starred Meryl Streep as Karen Blixen • Also starred in “Lions for Lambs” • Nominated for Oscar here • Robert Redford starred as Denys Hatton • Also starred in “Lions for Lambs” & “Spy Game” • Founder of Sundance Film Institute

3. Audrey Hepburn originally offered role of Karen • Shot on location in Africa, though they did have to import lions from California. • Originally planned as a project for Greta Garbo as well as Orson Welles, David Lean, and Nicolas Roeg. • Meryl Streep learned the accent by listening to actual recordings of Karen Blixen. • Karen Blixen used the pen name Isak Dinesen when writing the books. • Set Designer used Blixens actual furniture

4. Leslie Phillip’s has a cameo role (Sir Phillip) in the film, which also won him a role in Empire Of The Sun. • Phillip’s developed kidney trouble during filming. • Lion attack scene, Streep was told lion would be tethered by hind paws, but when filming began it wasn’t to capture genuine fear in Streep. • To this day Blixen is the only women to have been invited to drink in the men’s bar at the Muthaiga Country Club.

5. Decedents of the Kikuyu tribe, who were described in the book, appear in the film. Also filmed near the actual Ngong Hills outside Nairobi, Kenya as described in the book. • Redford had signed on to perform the role of Denys Hatton as an Englishman, director didn’t like it so he played it American. • Streep was very nervous during hair washing scene as there was a herd of wild territorial Hippo’s nearby. • Pollack and Luedtke took two years reading through Blixen’s books to find the right way to tell her story. • Fire Extinguishers were used to keep the Lions at bay.

6. Production designer Stephen B. Grimes spent a year building a set for 1913 Nairobi and Blixen’s house. • Which was near where Blixen actually lived • 70% of film shot in Africa • Scenes in Denmark actually shot in Northern England • Felicity based on Beryl Markham, another one of Hatton’s love interests in Africa. • Budget = $31,000,000 • Gross = $87,071,205

7. Movie told as a series of loosely joined episodes from Blixen’s life intercut with narration by Blixen. • Pace is slow as the pace of book is slow. • Element of sophistication in characters was very important and can be seen in their words, expressions, body language, sound effects, and flow of the plot.