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Adventure historical film

Stanley and Livingstone (1939): Cast & Plot

Stanley and Livingstone (1939) movie poster

Stanley and Livingstone is a 1939 adventure historical film directed by Henry King and Otto Brower, starring Cedric Hardwicke as Dr. David Livingstone, Spencer Tracy and Henry Hull. It runs 1 hour 41 minutes.

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Stanley and Livingstone (1939) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 41m (101 min)
Directors
Henry King and Otto Brower
Genres
Adventure , History
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Stanley and Livingstone About?

The premise of Stanley and Livingstone without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

He returns from the western wars and, urged by editor James Gordon Bennett, journeys into Africa to locate the missing Scottish missionary Dr. David Livingstone. Stanley finds Livingstone, who is distributing medicine and faith to local tribes, and famously says, “Dr. Livingstone, I presume.” Though initially doubted, a girl's belief drives him onward.

Stanley and Livingstone Themes & Keywords

· 43 tags
  • henry m. stanley character
  • dr. david livingstone character
  • three word title
  • surnames as title
  • character names as title
  • period drama
  • 1870s
  • jungle adventure
  • comanche tribe
  • exploration
  • search
  • pith helmet
+31 more
  • king and tracy
  • africa
  • safari
  • missionary
  • publisher
  • zanzibar
  • religion
  • swahili
  • arabic
  • lake tanganyika
  • false accusation
  • native american scout
  • native american attack
  • tribal life
  • slave-trader
  • missing person
  • new york city
  • comanche indian
  • savage
  • explorer
  • jungle fever
  • native american
  • wyoming
  • storm
  • reporter
  • east africa
  • british geographical society
  • tanganyika
  • london england
  • gunfire
  • wild animal
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Cast & crew

Stanley and Livingstone Cast & Characters

Cedric Hardwicke leads the cast as Dr. David Livingstone, with Spencer Tracy as Henry M. Stanley and Henry Hull as James Gordon Bennett, Jr.. Directed by Henry King and Otto Brower; 45 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Stanley and Livingstone

· 41 more
Show all 45 cast members
Plot

Stanley and Livingstone Plot Summary

What happens in Stanley and Livingstone from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 11 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Henry Stanley is portrayed as a bold and determined newspaper reporter, willing to face immense dangers to uncover the truth. His adventurous spirit is evident when Colonel Grimes informs him that two peace commissioners from Washington DC are not permitted to make contact with the Native Americans in the Wyoming Territory of 1870—considered a highly risky move. Despite the risks, Stanley emerges from the wilderness, not alone but escorted by a band of natives and his trusted guide, Walter Brennan playing Jeff Slocum, demonstrating his resilience and unyielding pursuit of his story.

Full summary

The whole story of Stanley and Livingstone, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Stanley and Livingstone?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

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Who is the main protagonist of the film 'Stanley and Livingstone'?

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FAQ

Stanley and Livingstone FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date

Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of Stanley and Livingstone, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Stanley and Livingstone?

Stanley and Livingstone runs 1 hour 41 minutes (101 minutes).

When was Stanley and Livingstone released?

Stanley and Livingstone was released on August 18, 1939.

Who directed Stanley and Livingstone?

Stanley and Livingstone was directed by Henry King and Otto Brower.

More films by Henry King

Who is in the cast of Stanley and Livingstone?

Stanley and Livingstone stars Cedric Hardwicke as Dr. David Livingstone, Spencer Tracy as Henry M. Stanley and Henry Hull as James Gordon Bennett, Jr., among 45 credited actors.

Does Stanley and Livingstone have a post-credit scene?

No. Stanley and Livingstone has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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