Cheetah (1989 film)
| Cheetah | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Jeff Blyth |
| Produced by |
Roy E. Disney Laurenece Mark John Baldecchi (co-producer) |
| Written by |
Erik Tarloff Alan Caillou (novel) |
| Starring |
|
| Music by | Bruce Rowland |
| Cinematography | Thomas Burstyn |
| Edited by | Eric Albertson |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Buena Vista Pictures |
Release date | August 18, 1989 |
Running time | 83 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $5 million |
| Box office | $8,153,677 (United States) |
Cheetah, also known as Cheetah and Friends, is a 1989 live-action film from Walt Disney Pictures starring Keith Coogan and Lucy Deakins. This motion picture was based on Alan Caillou's novel The Cheetahs. It was shot in Nairobi, Kenya. This motion picture features the phrase "Hakuna matata" which became famous when Disney released The Lion King five years later.
Plot
Two California teenagers named Ted and Susan, spending six months in Kenya with their scientist parents Earl and Jean, befriend a Masai tribal boy named Morogo. After Morogo retrieves Ted and Susan's soccer ball from a sleeping rhino, they subsequently encounter and adopt a female cheetah they call Duma, only to realize that they must set her free so that she can learn to hunt and be free. However, when she is captured by two store owners led by a poacher named Abdullah who plan to race her against greyhounds, the two city kids, together with Morogo, head off into the wild to rescue her.
After Ted and Susan get captured by the three criminals, Morogo sets them free and head off to Naoribi Downs. However, the police has them in custody, but they escape by tricking him by letting them use the bathroom. They hop into a sheep farmer's truck to go to Nairobi.
When Duma was about to lose the race, Ted snatches his whistle from the racetrack cop and blows it to make Duma go faster and win. Duma chases and attacks Abdullah and he gets arrested.
After Abdullah's arrest, the trio decide to release Duma back into the wild where she belongs.
Cast
- Keith Coogan as Ted Johnson, Susan's younger brother
- Lucy Deakins as Susan Johnson, Ted's older sister
- Collin Mothupi as Morogo, a friendly and wise goat herder who befriends Ted and Susan
- Timothy Landfield as Earl Johnson, a scientist who is the father of Ted and Susan
- Breon Gorman as Jean Johnson, Ted and Susan's mother
- Mhlangabezi Ka Vundla as Kipoin, a goat herder who is Morogo's father
- Lydia Kigada as Lani, Morogo's mother
- Kuldeep Bhakoo as Mr. Patel, a greedy store owner who wants to use Duma for racing against greyhounds
- Paul Onsongo as Abdullah, a poacher who wants to skin Duma
- Anthony Baird as Nigel, Mr. Patel's best friend
- Rory McGuinness as Larry, Earl's scientist friend
- Rod Jacobsen as David, Earl's best friend
- David Adido as Mwangi, Earl's African friend
- Konga Mbandu as the police captain
- Martin Okello as the friendly policeman
- Allaudin Qureshi as Patel's cousin, the unnamed cousin of Mr. Patel
- Willaim Tsuma as Cabbie
- Waigwa Wachira as the racetrack policeman, the announcer's best friend
- James Ward as the announcer, Nairobi Downs's race announcer
- Jan Maccoy as Stewardess
- Evalyne Kamau as Nyambura
- Richard Clarke as the announcer (voice)
- Michael Rogers as the racetrack policeman (voice)
- Jane Gelardi as the announcer's girlfriend, the unnamed girlfriend of the announcer
- Thomas Akare as Bettor 1
- Denis Doughty as Bettor 2
- Siddick Ebrahim as Bettor 3
- Lee Hervin as Bettor 4
- Aloysius Lazarus as Greyhound Owner 1
- Njoroge Ngoima as Greyhound Owner 2
- Frank Turner as Greyhound Owner 3
- Joe Herrington as Duma, an orphaned female cheetah
See also
- Born Free (1966)
- A Far Off Place (1993)
- Duma (2005)
- The Last Lions (2011)
- African Cats (2011)