Bullet Points: Escape from Angola
There aren’t many words used to describe a movie that gets the blood flowing in action movie fans like from “the man who brought you Flipper.” That’s right, the genius that is producer Ivan Tors, a man who brought you a film about a boy and his dolphin, is back with an action adventure on the dark continent… more specifically, Angola. If you think that a movie from the man behind Flipper is going to be full of wild animal action you would spot on. Luckily for you there is no passport needed as I just so happen to have some Bullet Points for the 1976 film Escape from Angola.
- Onwards Angola – James Mallory (Stan Brock, Galyon) is a large wildlife ranch owner in Angola who is working there with two of his sons Steven and Peter (played by Steven and Peter Tors, two of the sons of Ivan Tors). The Mallory Ranch is there to not only protect the unique wildlife of Africa, but to also work on a sustainable cattle source to feed the local populace. Karen Mallory and Dave Mallory (played by David Tors, another son of Ivan Tors) are soon joining the rest of their family to make the unit complete again. Dave is the youngest son and he is into electronics and not being a cowboy like his brother. I don’t see that becoming a significant factor later in the movie. Karen is not used to life in Angola, but that doesn’t stop her from being a total badass when push comes to shove. Although, I always enjoy Karen’s exasperated looks when her dinner is getting ruined by a baboon or her laundry eaten by a kudu. Hilarious.
- Virtue Is Stronger When United – Insurgent forces are threatening the safety of the people living in Angola. James doesn’t believe there will be any trouble at his ranch because he is working to help the people of Angola, but not everyone feels so safe. Fellow rancher Lars Olaffson (Ivan Tors himself finally makes an appearance) is struggling to keep his ranch going because he is losing most of his help. Lars decides it is time to pack up some of his best breeding stock and start over across the border in Zambia. James and his three sons head over to help out Lars who is only left with ranch hands Tshoma and Kruse. Kruse consistently has a look of consternation on his face and I don’t see him becoming a significant factor later in the movie.
- Chance All – When the Mallory boys are heading out they have a little run in a with a rhinoceros and hot damn that is some pretty fine stunt driving next to a 700 kg beast. Their truck breaks down and Dave injures his ankle. James decides to head one direction to find help, while Steven and Peter head the other way. Dave is left alone, except he does have his good friend the baboon, with the broken truck and an inoperable radio. I wonder if Dave’s electronic skills will help him with the radio? James has some struggles finding any help and is forced to fight a lion. Steven and Peter make their way to a damned river and run across Kruse who is with some nefarious Angolan insurgents. Kruse wouldn’t be double crossing Lars for his own personal gain, would he?
- See What Destiny Yields – In a land of wide open spaces with very few people, the insurgents end up doing a deal for explosives very near to Dave. It is Dave’s turn to shine and there is a dynamite action set piece… literally. When the baddies realize that the Mallorys are trying to stop their misdeeds, someone is sent to the ranch. Little do they know that only Karen is there and she turns from dutiful housewife to a bell bottom wearing, shotgun toting, stone faced ass kicker.
Will the Mallorys reunite? Will Angola be returned to peace? Will the animals be saved? These questions and more may be answered in Escape from Angola. Ivan Tors knew how to provide high quality wildlife action into his films and Escape from Angola is no exception. Escape from Angola should be watched for the wildlife and scenery alone. The story is nothing unique and the cast is filled novice actors, but not many films can compete with the wildlife. I’m talking about elephants, lions, rhinos, baboons, crocodiles and not just wildlife footage, the actors are interacting with the animals. There are tons of other animals that I have no clue what they are… but I am pretty sure I saw a gnu. There is one thing you will definitely see, Escape from Angola Bonus Bullet Points.
- Give Credit – All animal catching scenes were filmed during actual conditions when rare animals had to be rounded up and relocated in safer areas. No animals were injured or mistreated for the purpose of this film. Or at least that is what the opening credits tell us.
- If You Ever… – Wanted to see a baboon riding on the back of a motorcycle than Escape from Angola is for you. No helmet though… not so sure about that no mistreatment of animals claim.
- Escapism – Escape from Angola is one of the first of many in the long line of Escape from… action films. It came before greats like Escape from Alcatraz, the Snake Plissken films Escape from New York and Escape from L.A. and the underrated family adventure film Escape from Atlantis starring Jeff Speakman.
- No Escape – For a movie called Escape from Angola, only one person is trying to escape and spoiler alert, Lars isn’t long for the film.