War Free
American James Kingstreet (John Saxon) has been many things in his time including a hunter, but now he and his wife Mary (Tippi Hedren) have turned to protecting rather than killing as they run a game reserve in Africa. But the year is 1939 and the armies from Italy and England are starting to converge on the area looking to take control of what resources they can. When both sides want to control the watering holes on Kingstreet's reserve he won't let it happen and by doing what ever he can to prevent it annoys Major Bernadelli (Rossano Brazzi) of the Italian army.
I think I need to write a book on movies which are not very good but are so curious that once you start watching them you can't stop. That book would certainly mention "Mister Kingstreet's War" which sees Hitchcock's leading lady Tippi Hedren team up with John Saxon in this tale of a reserve keeper taking on two armies who want to use their land and resources. Simply "Mister Kingstreet's War" is not very good, it feels like a low budget movie with ordinary characters, weak direction and a messy plot but something about this curious tale of protecting a game reserve in Africa keeps you watching.
So I will say this simply, after numerous scenes of John Saxon and Tippi Hedren running the reserve which means we get some travelogue footage of wild animals and sunsets we get to watch Saxon declare war on those who encroach on his land. You know this theme could have come out of a western; it has the sort of feel to it about a man protecting his ranch from those trying to steal it. The trouble is the minimal cast leads to several ridiculous scenes as Kingstreet using his small plane to bomb the army who as you would imagine outnumber him.
I suppose what I am saying is that "Mister Kingstreet's War" is a ridiculous movie about a man taking on two armies to protect his game reserve. But thanks to the casting of Saxon, Hedren and Brazzi it is still watchable in a predictable yet curious manner. There is just something about it which draws you in and that might even be the desire to see how ridiculous it can get but whatever it is "Mister Kingstreet's War" ends up like a can of Pringles, once started you can't stop.
What this all boils down to is that "Mister Kingstreet's War" is not a good movie but has something about it which despite numerous issues keeps you watching but not in the it's bad it's good sort of way.
