Stanley And Livingstone

An intelligent, if not strictly factual, retelling of the Stanley and Livingstone legend, this hardy adventure succeeds largely because of Henry King's graceful direction and Spencer Tracy's fine, subdued performance as American journalist Henry Stanley, who searches for the missing Dr. David Livingstone (Sir Cedric Hardwicke). The film opens as Stanley returns to New York after filing reports from the West. His editor next wants the reporter to head into the African jungle and find Livingstone, a Scottish missionary who has disappeared. Stanley accepts the assignment, taking along Jeff Slocum (Walter Brennan) to accompany him on the search. The trip proves full of...