Simba: The King of the Beasts

Simba: The King of the Beasts is a groundbreaking, silent documentary from 1928 that carved a significant niche in the cinema history of wildlife portrayal and representation. This film stands out for its anthropological significance and cultural insights into human-wildlife interactions, as well as for its influential role in shaping the roots of what we now categorize as modern-day wildlife documentary filming.

Co-directed by the adventurous husband and wife duo Martin E. Johnson and Osa Johnson, the film offers a seamless amalgam of scientific exploration and artistic storytelling. The Johnsons possessed an unrivalled passion for wilderness and a remarkable knack for wildlife photography, both of which are effectively encapsulated within this film.

The film captures intimate, raw and uncensored excerpts from the jaw-dropping landscapes and scintillating array of wildlife on the African savannah. With their expedition beginning in Kenya and Tanzania, the Johnsons incorporate the use of unique filming techniques including aerial footage—remarkably ahead of its time—capturing scenic panoramas that were heretofore unseen by the majority of their audiences.

The title character, Simba, the notorious king of the beasts, aka the lion, is showcased with an unprecedented closeness that instills a mild fascination and invokes a sense of respect. The backstory of the wildlife is woven into the narrative throughout the course of the documentary, providing context that deepens audience understanding and engagement.

In direct contrast to modern wildlife documentaries, Simba: The King of the Beasts does not shy away from exhibiting the harsh realities of the animal kingdom, including hunting sequences and the stark survival tactics employed by the savannah’s inhabitants. These scenes, though brutal, serve to underline the inescapability of the rawness of nature and the unforgiving survival of the fittest credo that governs wildlife behavior.

Despite being primarily a wildlife documentary, the film also delves into the human aspect. The audiences are introduced to distinct tribal cultures and native societies of East Africa such as the Masai and Kikuyu tribes. The interactions between these tribes and the wilderness are depicted with sensitivity. The visual accounts of their traditional hunting techniques, customs, and everyday life constitute an invaluable anthropological record.

The narration by the Johnsons enriches the silent footage and adds a dimension of realism. Its anthropomorphic tone, overlaying human emotions onto animals, played a crucial part in driving the emotional appeal of the documentary.

Given the absence of colour cinematography in 1928, Martin and Osa opted for innovative filming techniques to compensate for this. Using techniques like overcranking the film for slow motion and undercranking for fast motion, they were able to convey the dynamism and electric charge of the African savannah. Their creative use of contrasting light and shadow brought an artistic aesthetic to the documentary and enhanced the visual narration of the African wilderness.

Simba: The King of Beasts is a testament to the tenacity of the Johnsons, as they had to face numerous challenges. From dangerous wildlife encounters to extreme weather conditions and technical difficulties with their primitive filming equipment, their unwavering passion and commitment are prominent throughout the film.

Do the Johnsons succeed in their audacious venture? In essence, yes. The film was received with massive public enthusiasm upon its release. It was also critically acclaimed, taking the audiences by storm with its vivid recollection of wildlife in their natural habitat – a perspective that was largely unknown to the typical western audience of the late 20s.

In sum, Simba: The King of Beasts is a cinematic chronicle and a time capsule that manages to funnel the resplendence, vigor, but also harsh realities of the African savannah into a moving picture. The result is an exceptionally captivating narrative of life and survival from the heart of the African wilderness, infused with the intense emotions of its human observers and participants. With its breathtaking climax, viewers leave with a new understanding of the cycle of life and perhaps even a sense of their own insignificance in the vastness of the wild.