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Congorilla poster
6.0 / 10(5 votes)IMDb19321h 7mUnited States of America

Congorilla

“Tearing Through the Barriers of an Empire of Death”

Synopsis

The first sound movie made entirely in Africa, Congorilla premiered in 1932 and permitted audiences to hear what they had only been able to see during previous safari films. Martin and Osa Johnson began in Kenya and Tanzania before moving to Uganda and the Congo Basin (Zaire). Along the way they filmed Zebra in the Serengeti, charging Rhinos in the Northern Frontier District (Southern Somalia), and recorded exciting encounters with Crocodiles and Hippos as they went down the Nile. The latter part of the film is devoted to the 7 months the filmmakers spent in the Ituri Forest with the Mbuti people as they captured village life despite the humidity, which caused batteries to deteriorate, wires and connections to erode, and mildew to form on camera cases.

Release History & Theatrical Window

Theatrical Premiere

August 7, 1932

Wide Cinema Exhibition

Key Information & Fast Facts

Director
Martin E. Johnson
Original Title
Congorilla
Country of Origin
United States of America
Spoken Languages
English
Runtime
1h 7m
Production Studios
Fox Film Corporation

Creative Leadership & Key Crew

Director

Martin E. Johnson

Producers

Osa Johnson, Martin E. Johnson, Truman H. Talley

Department Leadership Roster

Osa Johnson

Producer

Martin E. Johnson

Producer

Martin E. Johnson

Director

Official cinematic photography and background stills for Congorilla.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Congorilla

Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.

What is Congorilla about?

The first sound movie made entirely in Africa, Congorilla premiered in 1932 and permitted audiences to hear what they had only been able to see during previous safari films. Martin and Osa Johnson began in Kenya and Tanzania before moving to Uganda and the Congo Basin (Zaire). Along the way they filmed Zebra in the Serengeti, charging Rhinos in the Northern Frontier District (Southern Somalia), and recorded exciting encounters with Crocodiles and Hippos as they went down the Nile. The latter part of the film is devoted to the 7 months the filmmakers spent in the Ituri Forest with the Mbuti people as they captured village life despite the humidity, which caused batteries to deteriorate, wires and connections to erode, and mildew to form on camera cases.

Who directed Congorilla?

Congorilla was directed by Martin E. Johnson.

Who stars in Congorilla?

The principal cast of Congorilla includes Martin E. Johnson, Osa Johnson.

When was Congorilla released and how long is it?

Congorilla was released in 1932 with a total runtime of 1h 7m.