Frank and Fearless
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| Frank and Fearless | |
|---|---|
| Frank_and_Fearless_DVD | |
| Directed by | Gray Hofmeyr |
| Written by | Gray Hofmeyr, Geoff Newton, Leon Schuster |
| Screenplay by | Trevor A Brown |
| Story by | Gray Hofmeyr,Leon Schuster |
| Produced by | G Hofmeyr,G Newton,L Schuster, M Cassim,J du Plessis,A Mahomed,R Mokadikoa-Cele,M Mpherwane,A Scholtz,Dries Scholtz,M Thabede,N Wilton |
| Starring | Leon Schuster,Thembalethu Ntuli,Kenneth Nkosi |
| Cinematography | Trevor A Brown |
| Edited by | Ziggy Hofmeyr |
| Music by | Nic Paton,Don Clarke |
Release date | 23 November 2018 |
Running time | 97 min |
| Country | South Africa |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $562,375 |
Frank and Fearless is a film by veteran film maker, Leon Schuster and Gray Hofmeyr. The movie is notable because it delivers an important message, rhino are being poached for the illegal trade in horn, in a film suitable for family viewing[1]. It is notable for its cast of local actors, and because the Don Clarke song featured in the film and performed with The Drakondale Girls' Choir[2], Till You're Free Again, won 1st prize in the Great American Song Contest (2018) in the Special Category.[3]
Genre
The film is a comedy. [4] Leon Schuster is known as "The king of slapstick comedy".[5]This film differs from his earlier movies in that it is not slapstick, although it does make use of exaggerated gestures, actions and expressions to get laughs.
Plot
Fearless,(Themba Ntuli) a young boy who lives in the African bush, befriends an orphaned baby rhino called Reini. Reini was orphaned by poachers and Fearless determines to put an end to the slaughter of rhino and prevent any more young rhino growing up without its parents. He plans to achieve this by kidnapping the ambassador of a South-East Asian country, using the Kruger Rand coin that his father left him to fund the travel and recruit the help he needs for his mission. Fearless and Reini team up with Dog, a Rottweiler, and Sonny Frank,(Leon Schuster) a roguish character who lives on his wits. The film follows the unlikely gang as they tackle Fearless' mission - through dangerous, comical and heart-wrenching moments.
The group face obstacles and opposition on their journey. Dolf, a corrupt ranger turned poacher, and his gang of ruthless criminals hinder their progress. Dolf and Sonny Frank's chequered history and mutual contempt causes some tight and often funny situations. Adventures, captures and some awkward characters line the path the friends take to reach their goal. Fearless and his crew have unlikely helpers from the bush itself, including wild animals and magic mushrooms.
Filming Location
The African bush scenes were shot in Broederstroom, Hekpoort and beyond, much of it on Glen Afric with assistance from the Rhino Pride Foundation. [6]
Sponsors
The Department of Environmental Affairs, together with SAN Parks, came on board as the primary sponsor.[6]
Inspiration
Director/Film maker,Gray Hofmeyr, in an interview with AnimalTalk said, "We have all the comedy implicit in a road movie about four diverse and wacky individuals, whom we grow to love, on an impossible quest, trying and failing to overcome their differences and the obstacles and evils they encounter. Which is funny. And also very emotional, not just for the characters themselves, but also for the audience watching. And it is all set in a powerful story with a powerful message. Laughter and tears can follow one from the other very quickly and with very high emotion."[7]
Reception
The film received mixed reviews. Ethan van Diemen summarised these in his review for News24. [8] Facebook reviews rate the film 4/5.[9]
Controversy
There is controversary around the film - It is one of a number of Leon Scuster's films films that Showmax took off the circuit in 2020 to evaluate for racial sensitivity. Following a review, Frank and Fearless is being reinstated. [10]
Trivia and Additional Information
Rheini is a robotic 3D character, created by Luma Creative Studio, animatrinics by DreamSmith and special effects by Refinery. [11]
The final scene in the film, is an apology and a plea to protect rhino, features the prize winning[3] theme song, Till You're Free Again, written and performed by Don Clarke with the Drakondale Girls' Choir. [12]
Frank and Fearless is a Leon Schuster film, the prolific South African film maker is known for his slapstick comedy. His career has spanned over 35 years. His best known films internationally are Mr Bones[13][14] and Yankee Zulu.[15]
Credits
Director - Gray Hofmeyr
Writing Credits - Gray Hofmeyr, Geoff Newton, Leon Schuster
Music
Nic Paton, theme by Don Clarke[16]
The Don Clarke song, Till You're Free Again[17] is used throughout the movie, and in the empassioned plea in the finale. The song has also been used by Rhino Revolution,[18] a conservation project.
Production[16]
| Leon Schuster | executive producer |
| Gray Hofmeyr | executive producer |
| Mahomed Cassim | executive producer |
| Jan du Plessis | executive producer |
| Asgar Mahomed | executive producer |
| Refilwe Mokadikoa-Cele | executive producer |
| Maijang Mpherwane | executive producer |
| André Scholtz | producer |
| Dries Scholtz | line producer |
| Menzi Thabede | producer |
| Nikki Wilton | executive producer |
Cast[16]
| Leon Schuster | Sonny Frank |
| Thembalethu Ntuli | Fearless (as Themba Ntuli) |
| Kenneth Nkosi | Dolf |
| Khanyi Mbau | Beauty |
| Jennifer Steyn | Ruby |
| Adam | Dog |
| David Dennis | Nambodian Ambassador |
| Mary Twala | Gogo |
| Camilla Waldman | Mrs. Manny |
| Tiro Venter | Rasta Bus Driver |
| Coco Merckel | Job Interviiewer |
| Reggie Ndlovu | Scavenger |
| Shelley Meskin | Woman on Train |
| Matt Stern | Man on Train |
| Annabel Linder | Stuck Up Woman |
| Sokhulu Mthiyane | Teeth Vendor |
| Tebogo Selebogo | Cookie |
| Uveka Rangappa | Television Interviewer |
| Asgar Mahomed | Head Steward |
| Greg Viljoen | Priest |
| Melissa Massyn | Bride |
| Bennie Fourie | Groom |
| Izak Davel | Best Man |
| Shadow Makhathelele | Nambodian Guard 1 |
| Sandile Mkhize | Street Sweeper |
| Robert van de Coolwijk | Old Timer (as Robert van de Coolwyk) |
| Makhosini Maxwell Nkosi | Limo Driver (as Maxwell Nkosi) |
| Gabriel Simelane | Poacher 1 |
| Lehlohonolo Mokoena | Poacher 2 |
| Roman Kriezek | Scout |
| Tshepo Romekgwe | Poacher Driver |
References
- ^ "#RhinoPoaching: Leon Schuster's new film, Frank and Fearless, has a heart as well as laughs". Fourways Review. 2018-11-30. Retrieved 2020-07-31.
- ^ "PressReader.com - Your favorite newspapers and magazines". www.pressreader.com. Retrieved 2020-07-31.
- ^ a b "20th Annual GREAT AMERICAN SONG CONTEST (2018) Here are your winners". Great American Song Hall of Fame. 2018. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Diemen, Ethan van. "Frank & Fearless". Channel. Retrieved 2020-08-02.
- ^ "Slapstick comedian Leon Schuster retires". Rekord East. 2015-08-13. Retrieved 2020-08-02.
- ^ a b Kleinhans, Mientjie (2018-11-22). "Frank and Fearless – the conservation-themed movie". AnimalTalk. Retrieved 2020-08-02.
- ^ Kleinhans, Mientjie (2018-11-22). "Frank and Fearless – the conservation-themed movie". AnimalTalk. Retrieved 2020-08-03.
- ^ Diemen, Ethan van. "Frank & Fearless". Channel. Retrieved 2020-08-02.
- ^ "Frank & Fearless". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2020-08-02.
- ^ Eloff, Herman. "Showmax removing 7 titles from its platform after concluding review of racially insensitive content". Channel. Retrieved 2020-08-02.
- ^ Dercksen, Daniel (2018-09-07). "Frank & Fearless – Leon Schuster's latest quirky comedy". The Writing Studio. Retrieved 2020-08-02.
- ^ "TILL YOU'RE FREE AGAIN Don Clarke and The Drakondale Girls Choir". YouTube. September 11, 2018. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Mr Bones". AllMovie. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Mr Bones". Amazon. ASIN B0017GK948. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Yankee Zulu 1993". IMDB. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b c "Frank and Fearless (2018)". imdb. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Till You're Free Again". YouTube. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Don Clarke Dedicates New Song to Rhino Revolution". Rhino Revolution Org. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)