A Song of Africa
February 29, 2000
· Universal Pictures
· 50 minutes
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Directed by: Charles Kiselyak
"Out of Africa", Sydney Pollack's epic drama based on the life story of Karen Blixen, became an instant classic ever since its theatrical release and was awarded with seven Oscars in 1986. Featured on the Special Edition DVD of "Out Of Africa", director Pollack was joined by Meryl Streep, John Barry, the composer of the unforgettable "Out of Africa" theme, screenwriter Kurt Luedtke and biographer Judith Thurman in a discussion on the making of the film, the beauty of the African landscape, and working with lions.
Sydney Pollack, Kurt Luedtke, John Barry, Judith Thurman, Meryl Streep
Meryl Streep notes in the documentary: “We were shooting the washing-the-hair scene with some hippos in the water who were not imported like some of the lions were brought from California. These were native hippos, who, you know, didn’t know that this was Robert Redford and me (laughs). If you get between them and the water, apparently, or between them and their offspring they’ll just eat you. So I was more scared of doing the hair-washing scene then doing the than the beating-up-the-lion scene. Sydney wanted a sensual quality to her that would go with the landscape, as he saw it, of Africa. He didn’t think that I was… sexy enough… to play Isak Dinesen that sexpot (laughs). But you know, it’s a movie and I understood that. But I went for the meeting, I finally wrangled a meeting. And I went, pathetically, in a very low-cut blouse with a push-up bra. I’m very ashamed to say it, but I did. And it worked. That’s the really sad part.”
