Elephant Walk [VHS]

It's never been as revered as The African Queen, but Elephant Walk is a similarly prestigious entry in the exotic adventure movie trend of the 1950s. This is one of those glossy Technicolor melodramas that inevitably climaxed in a scene of tragic destruction, typically intended to teach men a humbling lesson about the forces of nature. In this case, a seemingly delicate newlywed (Elizabeth Taylor) joins her husband (Peter Finch) on his tea plantation in Ceylon, only to uncover mysteries about the plantation and her husband's long-dead father, whose ghostly presence looms over the stately estate where elephants once roamed freely. Dana Andrews is the plantation foreman who catches Liz's attention when Finch is injured during one of many drunken interludes with a band of snobby sycophants; she grows intolerant of them, and impatient with the enigmatic Appuhamy (Abraham Sofaer), a Ceylonese valet who knows more than he's telling. After the plantation endures an outbreak of cholera and a drought that sends thirsty elephants into an stampeding frenzy, Elephant Walk delivers a spectacular finale that's still quite impressive; the sight of Liz fleeing from a pack of rampaging pachyderms is enough to make this a worthwhile diversion. With its exotic settings and fashionable wardrobe, Taylor's fans should consider Elephant Walk a must-see, and everyone else will enjoy the fiery climax. It's this movie's version of the burning of Atlanta, which is fitting because Gone with the Wind star Vivien Leigh was replaced by Taylor shortly after filming began, and can still be glimpsed in a few long shots. --Jeff Shannon