An Elephant Called Slowly (1970) User Reviews

Strang documentary/fiction hybrid

[Leofwine_draca · 6/10 · 13 March 2014]

AN ELEPHANT CALLED SLOWLY is the last and least of the three Bill Travers/Virginia McKenna wildlife movies, following on from BORN FREE and RING OF BRIGHT WATER. It follows an odd template of having the two actors essentially playing themselves and recreating their real-life adventures for the camera, albeit in various scripted scenes.

There's more of a comic tone to this movie than there was in BORN FREE, although fans of that film will be delighted by cameo appearances from some old friends. And there's also more of an emphasis on comedy, although I have to say a lot of it does feel rather twee and dated and a bit forced compared to what came before; it's probably best that this was the last of the series.

Inevitably, the elephants steal the show, and the film is at its best when just sitting back and letting the wildlife entertain. Another plus is that Travers and McKenna have a real enthusiasm for their charges, and that enthusiasm easily transfers to the viewer. Watch out for another cameo from real-life wildlife expert George Adamson.

Slowly Slowly.

[morrison-dylan-fan · 6/10 · 21 October 2015]

Gathering up titles to view for my upcoming 900th review,my dad happily caught me by surprise,when he revealed that he had picked up the near-forgotten follow-up to Born Free,which led to me getting ready to find out how slow Slowly could go.

The plot:

Four years after filming Born Free, Virginia McKenna and Bill Travers are invited to take care of a friends animal home in Africa whilst he goes for an operation.Returning to Africa,Travers and McKenna meet up with all the people and the animals that they met 4 years ago.Along with getting reunited with the animals from the past,the couple also meet three recently orphaned elephants.

View on the film:

Backed by a silky Jazz score from Howard Blake & Bert Kaempfert,director co-writer/(along with Bill Travers) director James Hill gives the couples travels round Africa a dusty appearance,which gives the title a real sense of adventure.Whilst the couple get to show a playful nature with each other,Hill places the exquisite footage of the animals at the centre of the film.

Hill smartly covers the wild life scenes with restrained camera moves that allow the viewer to get a clear view of each animal.Hill's delicate blending of light Adventure and documentary goes from wild dogs hunting their prey,to Pole Pole the elephant (whose tragic, horrific death led to the creation of the Born Free charity) lighting up every scene with the outgoing McKenna and the hilariously grumpy Travers,as the couple discover that elephants are not slow at all.

An Elephant Born Free

[sol- · 5/10 · 16 July 2016]

Keen to return to Africa, 'Born Free' actors Bill Travers and Virginia McKenna accept an invitation to mind a friend's rural property in Kenya but are surprised when a trio of elephants join them in this offbeat follow-up of sorts to the iconic 1966 hit. While the film is laden with hit-and-miss humour (including a temperamental, rundown truck), 'An Elephant Called Slowly' is a curious exercise in defying narrative expectations with Travers and McKenna playing exaggerated versions of themselves who keep talking about their experiences filming 'Born Free'. The pair also dual narrate the film at times, and the movie is at its most interesting when the pair argue over details and terminology while narrating. Promising as all this might sound, the central story is never that enticing. Not once do the pair ever seem in real danger (even when a large rhinoceros walks up to them) and the repeated attempts to derive humour from the elephants detract from the other wildlife on display. The most intense scene of the film has the pair playing spectators as a leopard eyes a tame impala and its baby, ready to pounce, and yet far more screen time is dedicated to such shenanigans as the elephants getting into the bath water while Travers is cleaning himself. The film does boast some nifty animated opening credits and the comedy streak gives 'An Elephant Called Slowly' slightly more edge than 'Born Free', however, it remains a difficult film to recommend without some caution. Africa has, however, rarely looked so inviting a place as it does here.

Tons of animals. More breeds than the humans in the film.

[mark.waltz · 7/10 · 28 February 2022]

It's ironic that George Adamson appears in this film, having been portrayed by Bill Travers in "Born Free" several years before this. There's a lion with him too, assumed to be the famous Elsa. The character of the elephant is the leading animal, basically 1 of 3 who invades the African abode of Travers and real life wife Virginia McKenna (basically playing themselves) at the beginning of the film. There are pretty rowdy bunch, but the smallest of them becomes like their big dog, learning how to live side by side and when not getting into trouble, stealing their hearts. There are various wild cat species, friendly rhinos (a rare occurrence), lots of birds, some lizards, the rarely-seen wildebeest, gazelles and various primates. So it's a feast for the eyes for audiences of all ages, although there's not really much of a strong story. It's a semi documentary, showing the best and the worst of nature, yet not showing the worst of mankind when it comes to poaching even though that topic is mentioned.

While this is obviously a view of how Bill and Ginny (as she is called here) became involved and animal rights, leaving from London in the first scene and getting to Africa where they deal with a temperamental truck, followed by their determination to find the house that they are going to be temporary caretakers for. Hampshire, who looks like a young Glenn Close, is funny and sweet yet a bit sardonuc, while hubby Travers is bumbling and clumsy, always seemingly in the wrong place at the wrong time, especially when Slowly is in the mood to play pranks. Most of the film is told in a narration style, but it's simply enjoyable for how the human actors interact with the non-human non-actors "It's like a mad Noah's Ark Tea Party" Travers says at one point, and it really is without the mess. But the viewer can watch it comfortably, rest assured that no animals were harmed in making the film.

A beautiful film about native african animals presented in a nice personal story line

[siriusianer · 9/10 · 11 January 2002]

I was starting to watch this film, shortly after it started and liking nature fils, kept looking. I was pleasantly surprised, as the film showed the african nature in a interesting, quite personal and often funny way.

Bill and Ginny are invited by a naturalist friend to take care of his home in Africa while he is away, and they find themselves adopted by three orphan elephants an end, don't want to leave this paradise any more. By living there, they get in contact with a lot of animals and they have to find a way to live with them, hence they need to understand them. Of course they have at first all sorts of funny ideas and prejudices, but slowly discover the real truth through all sorts of funny incidents. All this set before the picturesque landscape of kenya, this makes truly a film to watch for the whole family or everybody who wants to have an enjoyable saturday or sunday arvo. Oh, i forgot. The main character is poly-poly (or slowly-slowly), an adorable 5 year young elephant that follows the couple around like a dog. I really like this film! Enjoy.

The best movie in the world that I didn't see as a child!?!?

[gilligan1965 · 10/10 · 21 April 2016]

TO ME - this is what dreams are made of!

Get up and go! Get on a plane and go to Kenya! Rent a Rover with a name...say the name, and, the engine starts! See beautiful Africa for what it really is - wildlife, landscape, and, beauty! And...if you're lucky enough, like 'Major' Bill Travers, you'll get to go with a beautiful and lovely wife!

What dreams are made of! :)

Those three elephants at that little oasis that Bill and Virginia live at are just the most beautiful creatures to watch...and, wake-up to!

People actually pay a lot of money to get 1/10th of what this safari movie has.

This movie is a lost masterpiece of what it's like to 'walk your elephant' in Kenya instead of 'walking your dog' wherever!?!?

Plus, the cinematography is A+...beautiful animals, landscapes, and, horizons.

The music is what it is...a wonderful and enjoyable representation of the 1960s and 1970s...I love it!

This movie, to me, leaves nothing to be desired about Africa's beauty; Africa's animals; Africa's 'everything'...it's priceless! :)

I really, and, have always, loved this Travers/McKenna movie-making!

This is a movie that everyone can love and appreciate! :)