International superstar Sabu is the real hero (without a gun) who tries to take on a tiger that is terrorizing his village thanks to Wendell Corey’s white hunter. Man-Eater of Kumaon is new to Blu-ray from Kino Lorber.
The Film
Talk about white colonizer issues. Wendell Corey plays the perfected white colonizer trying to sort out a mid-life crisis in a faraway land (aka India) in the Man-Eater of Kumaon. Both the antagonist and protagonist (partially) Corey’s Dr. John Collins learns to be 5% human by the end with the help of the true hero of the film Sabu’s Narian the young soon-to-be Leader of his tribe.
The Byron Haskin-directed B-Movie Adventure film is a lean and mean programmer with a tinge of horror. The film based on the novel by Jim Corbett takes the plight of a recently divorced Doctor taking his anger out on the wildlife of India. When he only wounds a Tiger instead of killing it – Collins sets off events that he cares little about. Not the murdering of women, orphaning and murder of children, nothing. He feels it isn’t his problem.
Haskin nor the script does not feel this way. The adroit approach they take is never to blame the white doctor but to make it all apparent that it is his fault. Not even the indigenous people of the country ever blame him only ask “Why don’t you help”. It’s a subtle approach that makes the film not overheated or melodramatic. Corey’s stiff delivery and arrogant stance and gait only help in Haskin and Company’s work to show how the white man is the problem.
However, the film is not some mediative piece but a ripe and juicy programmer that spares none of its cast at the Tiger’s jaws. That includes Collins who tussles with the man-eater of the title like he was Johnny Weissmuller’s Tarzan. Shockingly, it also does not hold back in the attacks of the various cast. The film also provides a positive look at the non-white characters specifically Sabu’s Narian character. Though much of the work is relegated to the village drama and less of the action-adventure titles of his past. Though Sabu outshines everyone, including Corey, in his role as the young man whose life is changed by the tiger’s attack. However, don’t look too closely at the actors that are not Sabu as they were not cast race-appropriately as is the custom in Hollywood Studio productions until recently.
Everything considered, both good and really not-so-good, Man-Eater of Kumaon does deliver in its final act in the way of action and drama considering the limitations (budget and otherwise) that can be seen.
The Transfer
The all-new HD Master by Paramount Pictures is a solid representation. The picture has consistent dirt and scratches that do come up. Those are not enough to be distracting but cineastes will notice the wear and tear, which is the norm without a full-on restoration (which to be honest is probably cost-prohibitive). The transfer and film look good on Blu-ray regardless of those issues. For the most part, the image is clean and wonderfully sharp deep focus Black and White photography by
The Extras
They include the following;
- NEW Audio Commentary by Film Historian David Del Valle and Film Historian/Producer Dan Marino (son of NFL legend)
- Trailers
The all-new Audio Commentary by Film Historian David Del Valle and Film Historian/Producer Dan Marino (son of NFL legend) begins with Corbett’s novel and its similarity to the incident that The Ghost and the Darkness. Some of the details include how different the adaptation so much so that the film bears no resemblance to the book; why the book was optioned at the time; a discussion of producer Monty Shaff and his involvement of the film, the option of the book, and the end product; a discussion of director Byron Haskin; the production’s low budget and its filming in Simi Valley (located outside of Los Angeles); a discussion of the era the film takes place – including British Colonialism; a discussion of the life and work of author Jim Corbett; the great cinematography by William C. Mellor – including his accomplished work outside of the film; Sabu’s status in Hollywood at the time; a larger conversation about the career and work of Sabu; a discussion of the real-life historical accounts of tiger as man-eaters – a larger conversation of why these tigers become man-eaters; the lack of success of the film – and a larger discussion of this and why it happened; Corey’s performance and its criticism which leads to a discussion of the career and life of Wendell Corey; how tigers were actually hunted – accounts by Jim Corbett who was a true hunter of tigers; a discussion of the work of Byron Haskin here and a larger discussion of his career; and much more. Del Valle with Marino this time as co-commentator delivers another informative and entertaining commentary track for this cult oddity.
Rounding out the special features include Arabian Nights (2:07); Cobra Woman (2:08); Tangier (1:51); Desert Fury(1:41); The Accused (2:27); I Walk Alone (2:26); The Boss (1:23); September Storm (2:01)
The Final Thought
Man-Eater of Kumaon is another win for Kino Lorber delivering a great edition with wonderful extras. Highest Recommendations!!!
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International superstar Sabu is the real hero (without a gun) who tries to take on a tiger that is terrorizing his village thanks to Wendell Corey’s white hunter. Man-Eater of Kumaon is new to Blu-ray from Kino Lorber.
The Film
Talk about white colonizer issues. Wendell Corey plays the perfected white colonizer trying to sort out a mid-life crisis in a faraway land (aka India) in the Man-Eater of Kumaon. Both the antagonist and protagonist (partially) Corey’s Dr. John Collins learns to be 5% human by the end with the help of the true hero of the film Sabu’s Narian the young soon-to-be Leader of his tribe.
The Byron Haskin-directed B-Movie Adventure film is a lean and mean programmer with a tinge of horror. The film based on the novel by Jim Corbett takes the plight of a recently divorced Doctor taking his anger out on the wildlife of India. When he only wounds a Tiger instead of killing it – Collins sets off events that he cares little about. Not the murdering of women, orphaning and murder of children, nothing. He feels it isn’t his problem.
Haskin nor the script does not feel this way. The adroit approach they take is never to blame the white doctor but to make it all apparent that it is his fault. Not even the indigenous people of the country ever blame him only ask “Why don’t you help”. It’s a subtle approach that makes the film not overheated or melodramatic. Corey’s stiff delivery and arrogant stance and gait only help in Haskin and Company’s work to show how the white man is the problem.
However, the film is not some mediative piece but a ripe and juicy programmer that spares none of its cast at the Tiger’s jaws. That includes Collins who tussles with the man-eater of the title like he was Johnny Weissmuller’s Tarzan. Shockingly, it also does not hold back in the attacks of the various cast. The film also provides a positive look at the non-white characters specifically Sabu’s Narian character. Though much of the work is relegated to the village drama and less of the action-adventure titles of his past. Though Sabu outshines everyone, including Corey, in his role as the young man whose life is changed by the tiger’s attack. However, don’t look too closely at the actors that are not Sabu as they were not cast race-appropriately as is the custom in Hollywood Studio productions until recently.
Everything considered, both good and really not-so-good, Man-Eater of Kumaon does deliver in its final act in the way of action and drama considering the limitations (budget and otherwise) that can be seen.
The Transfer
The all-new HD Master by Paramount Pictures is a solid representation. The picture has consistent dirt and scratches that do come up. Those are not enough to be distracting but cineastes will notice the wear and tear, which is the norm without a full-on restoration (which to be honest is probably cost-prohibitive). The transfer and film look good on Blu-ray regardless of those issues. For the most part, the image is clean and wonderfully sharp deep focus Black and White photography by
The Extras
They include the following;
The all-new Audio Commentary by Film Historian David Del Valle and Film Historian/Producer Dan Marino (son of NFL legend) begins with Corbett’s novel and its similarity to the incident that The Ghost and the Darkness. Some of the details include how different the adaptation so much so that the film bears no resemblance to the book; why the book was optioned at the time; a discussion of producer Monty Shaff and his involvement of the film, the option of the book, and the end product; a discussion of director Byron Haskin; the production’s low budget and its filming in Simi Valley (located outside of Los Angeles); a discussion of the era the film takes place – including British Colonialism; a discussion of the life and work of author Jim Corbett; the great cinematography by William C. Mellor – including his accomplished work outside of the film; Sabu’s status in Hollywood at the time; a larger conversation about the career and work of Sabu; a discussion of the real-life historical accounts of tiger as man-eaters – a larger conversation of why these tigers become man-eaters; the lack of success of the film – and a larger discussion of this and why it happened; Corey’s performance and its criticism which leads to a discussion of the career and life of Wendell Corey; how tigers were actually hunted – accounts by Jim Corbett who was a true hunter of tigers; a discussion of the work of Byron Haskin here and a larger discussion of his career; and much more. Del Valle with Marino this time as co-commentator delivers another informative and entertaining commentary track for this cult oddity.
Rounding out the special features include Arabian Nights (2:07); Cobra Woman (2:08); Tangier (1:51); Desert Fury(1:41); The Accused (2:27); I Walk Alone (2:26); The Boss (1:23); September Storm (2:01)
The Final Thought
Man-Eater of Kumaon is another win for Kino Lorber delivering a great edition with wonderful extras. Highest Recommendations!!!
Kino Lorber’s Blu-Ray edition of Man-Eater of Kumaon is out now.
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