'Trader Horn' is one of those movies where the things that happened off camera are arguably more interesting then what happened on screen. Based on the memoir of ivory hunter/adventurer Alfred Aloysius "Trader" Horn (born Alfred Aloysius Smith; 1861–1931), the film was surprisingly innovative in its development and execution. It is largely a travel log and nature film in which Horn (played by famed westerns actor Harry Carey) leads the son of an old friend (Duncan Renaldo) on safari. This gives a narritive excuse for a guide to be explaining things about African wild life and culture to the audiance throughout the film.
Eventually a fictional narrative takes center stage as the expedition procedes to "rescue" the daughter of white missionaries (Edwina Booth) from the natives. Actually it is her who rescues them, she had been largely raised in and as result successfully integrated to native society, she gives her old life up for the pretty face of Duncan Ranaldo.
The film was shot largely in then colonial Africa. The cast and crew traveled by boat to the dark continent along with film and sound equipement, which was carted around on a long an exhausting shot. Though production began in 1929 the film took a long time to put together and would not hit movie screens until 1931.
Though tremendously expensive to produce it was also tremendously successful. Costing $1.3 million to make 'Trader Horn' brought in $4.2 million world wide. Though stilted by modern standards it was a massive novelty at the time, people had never seen anything like it on film before. The movie is more then a little bit sexist and racist, but Horn's genuine love for Africa and it's people comes through. The film was even nominated for a best picture Oscar.
The production difficulties behind the scenes are legendary, but the stand out in this regard is the story of the films female star Edwina Booth, which is the main reason I decided to finally see the film. Edwina was born Jospehine Constance Woodruff to a a prominent Mormon family in Provo, Utah in 1904. The family moved to California for her fathers health in the early 20's and Edwina (who adapted her stage name from those of a favorite uncle and grandfather) was discovered on a beach by director E.J. Babille and eventually signed with MGM. She worked small supporting roles for a couple of years and 'Trader Horn' was to have been her big break, it proved to be a nightmare.
The long, grueling shot overseas and away from her family saw Edwina fall from a tree, get cut by elephant grass, suffer sun stoke, insect bites, and contract malaria which may have rendered her sterile. In addition she was sexually harassed, and reported being forced to sunbath nude, at least in part to have a consistent skin tone for her skimpy and itchy costume made of monkey fur and lions teeth.
It took years for Edwina to recover her health, which combied with her suing the studio effectively ended her career just as it was taking off. She would appear on screen a few more times, mostly in adventure serials capitizling off of the success of 'Trader Horn'. She would make her last screen apperance in 1932 and marry three times, with the first annulled and her outliving her second two husbands. She was a commited member of the LDS Church and would serve as an ordinance worker in the Los Angeles Temple before dying in 1991 at the age of 86.
Though she kept a low profile after the end of her film career she would donate her personal papers to BYU. It was from these that we learn that she settled her lawsuit with MGM for $35,000, or approximately $600,000 in 2013 dollars. Booth will always be best remeberd for 'Trader Horn' and shows a real star quality in it. One wonders where her career could have gone had she not gotten sick or sued her studio.
The completed film was very much a product of its time, but also unlike other films of its time in the risks taken in front and behind the camera. There is a massive scope to the look of the film, and while generally played broad there are subtleties. Carey effectively conveys a listless jealousy of Ranaldo over Booth, he knows he is too old to have the spirited and beautiful young woman, he regrets this, but comes to reluctantly accept it. 'Trader Horn' managed to make something unique and memorable come from much pain and effort. ***
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