The leading information resource for the entertainment industry
Call Me Bwana (1963 )
A returning moon capsule with vital information goes off course and lands in Africa where the little-known Ekele tribesmen find it. Washington orders the great African Authority Matthew Merriwether (Bob Hope), an utter fraud and authority only on feminine pulchritude, to go find it. A foreign power sends Secret Agent Luba (Anita Ekberg) to go after Matthew and stop at nothing - absolutely nothing - to get it from him. Dr. Ezra Mungo (Lionel Jeffries) is peeved that Luba superseded him, and is sent along posing as her father but has plans of his own. All meet and form a safari but there is time out for a golf match between Merriwether and Arnold Palmer (Himself). After reaching their destination, with Merriwether madly in love with Luba, they find that the Ekeles believe the capsule is a holy talisman and won't give it up. Written by Les Adams <longhorn1939@suddenlink.net>
Plot Keywords:
Bob Hope takes off for the jungle and takes on Russian spy Anita Ekberg. See more »
In his initial meeting with the US officials, Matthew Merriwether mentions Robert C. Ruark. Ruark was a noted US author who wrote several books with an African setting e.g. Something of Value, Uhuru. See more »
In US operations centre, there is a map of Africa with a coloured area showing where the satellite may have landed. The shape of this coloured area changes between the long and close shots. See more »
Matthew Merriwether. The only wild animal I want to see is the cigarette girl at the Stork Club.
See more »
Crazy Credits
Opening credits of cast and crew are depicted by various monkeys and chimps. See more »
Connections
Soundtracks
William Tell Overture
Written by Gioachino Rossini
Heard during the scenes with the satellite on the truck.
See more »
Frequently Asked Questions
User Reviews
A Film To Relax and Have Fun
If you read the other reviews here, you'll be told about how bad this movie is. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, and I'm not going to argue with the other reviewers. I just want to say that I had fun watching this film, and that's really all the justification I need. (I use movies as a springboard to the imagination anyway). I thought Hope was funny enough, and I liked the supporting players, all memorable to me. The plot was silly, but it wasn't boring. Everyone comes off as a buffoon, the Americans, the Russians, the CIA, the KGB. Even the Africans were funny, but not in a demeaning way. I've seen this three or four times over the years, and I've always looked forward to seeing it again.
I doubt, though, that people born after the 1960s would think much of it. It succeeds for what was intended, but it's very much a movie of its time. I was six when it came out, and I still remember what was going on in that era. I "get" the jokes in the film that were aimed at then-current events and people. On the other hand, just as I can enjoy and appreciate comedies made decades before even my generation, people whose experience is only of today might broaden their horizons and get a kick out this when they simply want to personally relax and have a little fun.
10 of 14 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Contribute to This Page
IMDb's Comic-Con 2017 Guide
Check out IMDb's 2017 Comic-Con Guide for the latest celebrity interviews, event coverage, cosplay photos, and more.