Matialth Good concept, poorly executed.

Twilightfa Watch something else. There are very few redeeming qualities to this film.

Seraherrera The movie is wonderful and true, an act of love in all its contradictions and complexity

Staci Frederick Blistering performances.

chuck-reilly Reporter/explorer Stanley's famous trek to the heart of Africa to find the missing missionary Doctor Livingstone is one of the most famous and epic stories to come out of the Victorian era. This film captures the significance of that event, although a few facts get in the way of the narrative. Spencer Tracy (at his best) is Stanley and he gives one of his greatest performances. Unbelievable as it may seem, he's nearly upstaged by Sir Cedric Hardwicke's portrayal of Doctor Livingstone, even though that actor's screen time is limited to twenty minutes. Hardwicke captures Livingstone's eccentricities and religious fervor perfectly without turning him into a caricature. The scene where he leads his native charges in a rousing songfest ("Onward Christian Soldiers") is nearly the highlight of the film. The pivotal meeting of the two men where Stanley utters the famous line "Doctor Livingston, I presume?" has the correct dramatic buildup and is handled with dignity and enough gravitas to satisfy most historians. Tracy's fiery speech at the Society of Geographers back in England after his discovery is also a key moment in the film and nearly worth the price of admission. The film is directed with competency and some verve by Henry King. Unfortunately, many of the African countryside scenes were left over from previous films and they're incorporated rather clumsily into this movie. The performances are uniformly excellent, however, especially the two men of the title. Also around is Richard Greene as a malaria-stricken explorer and beautiful Nancy Kelly as his fiancé. Tracy's character is also smitten with her and that angle of the story is irrelevant and completely unnecessary. Walter Brennan, as one of Tracy's American colleagues, comes aboard for the safari but his brand of Old West comic relief falls flat---even with the natives. Charles Coburn, as the ruthless Lord Tyce, is the designated villain of the piece, but he changes colors in the final reel and gets a nice hug from his daughter (Ms. Kelly). As Stanley marches off to uncover more of the mysteries of the "Dark Continent," viewers are left with the feeling that he's now emulating the same type of messianic mission as Doctor Livingstone. But that's not what actually happened. In reality, Stanley became a "hired gun" for expanding colonialists and was involved in more than his share of "safaris gone bad." He had plenty of blood on his hands by the time he called it quits. That unpleasant fact didn't prevent Queen Victoria from knighting him late in his life. As they say, no one's perfect.

Longjohnbob I loved this movie as a young boy. It got me interested in history, especially the story of Europe's efforts to discover the geographic source of the mighty Nile River. Spencer Tracey as Stanley and Cedric Hardwicke as Livingstone are superb. Spencer Tracy didn't think much of the quote "Dr Livingstone I presume" and it took many takes for him to get it right. Supposedly he kept laughing when saying the line. Ironically that line helps make the film so memorable. If you enjoyed MOUNTAINS OF THE MOON you will enjoy this old black and white film classic as well.Not everything in it is historically accurate. In the film Stanley vows to return to Africa to follow in Livingstone's footsteps, but instead becomes a brutal exploiter of Africa for the King of Belgium.

nnnn45089191 Stanley and Livingstone is maybe not the most accurate historical movie presented,but nevertheless a very interesting experience. Spencer Tracy is very good in this one,portraying his character in the naturalistic style he was famed for.Cedric Hardwicke is Dr. Livingstone conveying the concern and love for humanity as a dedicated missionary would have.The treatment of the Africans in this movie would feel very racist today,but I think the attitudes of white supremacy was very true to life since this movie is set in the 1870's. Walter Brennan's comic supporting part is a bit annoying and Charles Coburn's British newspaper editor is a caricature.The African footage is spectacular,especially the native attack on Stanley's caravan. This movie is also crying out for a DVD release

kyle_furr A 1939 film that was directed by Henry King and stars Spencer Tracy, Walter Brennan and Cedric Hardwicke. Tracy stars as Stanley, a newspaper man who at first is seen talking to the chief of a bunch of hostile Indians and Walter Brennan is his guide. Tracy is then asked by his editor to go into Africa to find Livingstone, but they don't even know if he's alive. The next half hour is basically spent Tracy and Brennan spending over a year just trying to find Livingstone. When they finally do, they're surprised to see that Livingstone doesn't want to leave and Livingstone thought they were coming to help him. I love black and white movies but i thought that this movie would of been better if it had been done in color like Northwest Passage or Jesse James. Both Tracy and Brennan do a good job and Hardwicke also does a good job as Livingstone.