The Hunters

1952-52

Released 1957

Filmmaker & Director: John Marshall

Editors: John Marshall, Robert Gardner

Produced by: Film Study Center, Peabody Museum, Harvard University.

This classic film follows the hunt of a giraffe by four men over a five-day period. The films is compiled with material from many hunts. The hunt of the giraffe happened much the way it is shown in the film, except that footage of many giraffes shot at many different time and places was edited into the film to make the story. The giraffe collapsed from spears; she was not shot by a gun.

The film celebrates hunting despite the fact that 800 percent of the people’s food was derived from gathering bush foods, in which both men and women participated. Hunting, however, now only provided much-needed protein, but also skins for clothing, sinews for fastenings, bags for carrying and items for trading.

The widespread misconception of a hunting territory is not corrected in the film. No Ju/’hoan territory is based on game; all are based on permanent resources of water and bush foods. (Description by John Marshall)

Taken from the John Marshall Filmography 1951-1991.