Don't believe the publicity photos; even though Susan Hayward and Robert Mitchum starred in two romances together, there were no fond feelings off screen. The year after they starred in The Lusty Men and had a notoriously low opinion of one another, they reluctantly reunited for White Witch Doctor, a period piece about a missionary's work in Africa.
Susan Hayward, a young widow, travels to the Congo, but Robert Mitchum, who has lived there for many years, warns her about the dangers of staying. It's the turn of the century, so women doctors are a novelty and not highly respected. The natives won't take to her, he claims, and the insects and animals can be deadly. But it's Susan Hayward-no warning will stop her! Bob escorts her to her assigned village because he and Walter Slezak believe they can find gold as a natural resource, and along the way, she's faced with many obstacles. Everything Bob warned her about is true, but Suzy is as strong as she always is and refuses to give up.
It feels like most of the movie is spent observing native ceremonies, dances, rituals, and medical practices, but those scenes probably make up about one-third of the running time. The rest of the plot feels a little thin and improbable. Upon her arrival, Suzy claims she's studied dozens of native languages, but she isn't able to speak to anyone without an interpreter. Bob fights off an enraged gorilla, and after getting mauled by a ferocious lion, a young man is seen to only have a few scratches on his chest. But if you like movies like Mogambo, Untamed, or The African Queen, you'll be able to sit through this one. I love both the leads, so I found it entertaining, but it did feel a little long in the tooth after a while.
Susan Hayward, a young widow, travels to the Congo, but Robert Mitchum, who has lived there for many years, warns her about the dangers of staying. It's the turn of the century, so women doctors are a novelty and not highly respected. The natives won't take to her, he claims, and the insects and animals can be deadly. But it's Susan Hayward-no warning will stop her! Bob escorts her to her assigned village because he and Walter Slezak believe they can find gold as a natural resource, and along the way, she's faced with many obstacles. Everything Bob warned her about is true, but Suzy is as strong as she always is and refuses to give up.
It feels like most of the movie is spent observing native ceremonies, dances, rituals, and medical practices, but those scenes probably make up about one-third of the running time. The rest of the plot feels a little thin and improbable. Upon her arrival, Suzy claims she's studied dozens of native languages, but she isn't able to speak to anyone without an interpreter. Bob fights off an enraged gorilla, and after getting mauled by a ferocious lion, a young man is seen to only have a few scratches on his chest. But if you like movies like Mogambo, Untamed, or The African Queen, you'll be able to sit through this one. I love both the leads, so I found it entertaining, but it did feel a little long in the tooth after a while.