Wild Life (1918)

Genres - Western  |   Run Time - 50 min.  |   Countries - United States  |   MPAA Rating - NR
  • AllMovie Rating
  • User Ratings (0)
  • Your Rating

Share on

Synopsis by Hal Erickson

Wild Life was the generic title given to a series of "animal films" produced by naturalist Cherry Kearton and premiered in New York before an invited audience on February 19, 1913. Many of the images were filmed by Colonel Kearton during his 1909 photographic safari into Kenya. Described by movie historian Kevin Brownlow as "a punishing ordeal," this safari nonetheless yielded some of the most spectacular wild-animal scenes ever filmed; many of these vignettes were still being used as stock footage well into the talkie era. Also given ample screen time were scenes filmed by Kearton during an odyssey into Yellowstone Park, produced with the blessings of environmentalist (and ex-president) Theodore Roosevelt. Kearton's wildlife films were eventually distributed to the public by movie mogul-to-be Adolph Zukor.