Movie for the Evening: Snows of Kilimanjaro
1952
Self importance is an unattractive, if necessary, trait found in Hemingway and other writers. The belief that something important is happening somewhere in the world, in the self, is fundamental to the pursuit of that ideal as are great destinations, beautiful woman, and a self deprecation. Harry Street (Gregory Peck) owns the turf as a Hemingway-es character in “Snows of Kilimanjaro”.
From Paris to Africa, the big man lives life large while writing books that garner money and fame. Yet the ennui nips at his heals embodied in the legend of a leopard found at the 19k elevation of Kilimanjaro, a parabole at the heart of the enigma that is the life of the seeker.
This film has much of substance. Ava Gardner (as Cynthia Green, Harry’s true love), Susan Hayward (as Helen, a self sacrificing woman necessary to Harry’s world), and Henry King’s direction make several good scenes but, after all the excitement it’s just life.