Gorillas in the Mist: The Story of Dian Fossey (1988)

Director:

Michael Apted

Writers (WGA):

Harold T.P. Hayes (article)
Dian Fossey (work)

Release Date:

23 September 1988 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama

Tagline:

In a land of beauty, wonder and danger, she would follow a dream, fall in love and risk her life to save the mountain gorillas from extinction.

Plot:

The story of Dian Fossey, a scientist who came to Africa to study the vanishing mountain gorillas, and later fought to protect them.

Plot Keywords:

Gorilla | Mountain | Africa | Environmental | Love For Animals

Awards:

Nominated for 5 Oscars. Another 4 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Sigourney Weaver	...	Dian Fossey
Bryan Brown	...	Bob Campbell
Julie Harris	...	Roz Carr
John Omirah Miluwi	...	Sembagare
Iain Cuthbertson	...	Dr. Louis Leakey
Constantin Alexandrov	...	Van Veeten
Waigwa Wachira	...	Mukara
Iain Glen	...	Brendan
David Lansbury	...	Larry
Maggie O'Neill	...	Kim
Konga Mbandu	...	Rushemba
Michael J. Reynolds	...	Howard Dowd
Gordon Masten	...	Photographer
Peter Nduati	...	Batwa chief
Helen Fraser	...	Mme. Van Vecten

Also Known As:

Gorillas in the Mist: The Adventure of Dian Fossey (International: English title) (poster title) (International: English title) (DVD title)
Gorillas in the Mist (USA) (short title)

Runtime:

129 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Dolby (35 mm prints)

Certification:

Iceland:L | Iceland:LH (video rating) | Portugal:M/12 | Malaysia:U | Australia:M | South Korea:15 | UK:12 (video re-rating) (1999) | UK:15 (original rating) | Argentina:13 | Chile:14 | Finland:K-12 | France:U | Sweden:11 | USA:PG-13 | West Germany:12 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Karisoke Research Centre, Virunga Conservation Area, Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda

Company:

Guber-Peters Company, The

Trivia:

Jessica Lange turned down the lead role.

Goofs:

Factual errors: Diane did not try to convince Leakey to send her to Africa, nor did she volunteer to remove her appendix, quite the opposite: In 1966, Leakey contacted Fossey and urged her to study gorillas in the wild as an experiment. At first Fossey was reluctant citing her lack of experience, but eventually agreed upon further coercion. To test her enthusiasm Leakey asked Fossey to have her appendix removed in the pretense of health measures which she then did.

Quotes:

Sembagare: They think you are a witch.
Dian Fossey: They wouldn't be the first.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Tripping the Rift: Cool Whip (#2.1)" (2004)

Soundtrack:

September in the Rain

A story of survival, heart break and Gorillas in theMist

This amazing film inspired me to do something, to somehow involve myself in the rescue attempt of one of Mother Natures most cherished possesions, Animals.

This inspiring tale is a true story and is based in the Congo region of Africa, where Dian Fossey (Sigourney Weaver), is sent to find more information about the little known, Mountain Gorillas.

Dian starts as a bystander pleading to be sent for the trip to Africa in-order to help in some way or form. And boy does she finish wrapped in the core of the Mountain Gorillas chance of survival.

Dian Faces love, war, and poachers and beats them of one by one as her courage and determination prevails, she is truly an icon, a lady to be remembered.

This is made possible by the outstanding performance of Sigourney Weaver who amazingly succeeds in portraying this strong willed; complex character. Sigourney is an fantastically gifted actor and shows us this in this movie.

A must see, a winner, Go Sigourney!