Cheetah (1989 film) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cheetah |
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Theatrical release poster
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| Directed by | Jeff Blyth |
| Produced by | Roy E. Disney Robert Halmi, Sr. |
| Screenplay by | Erik Tarloff John Cotter Griff Du Rhone |
| Story by | John Cotter |
| Starring |
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| Music by | Bruce Rowland |
| Cinematography | Thomas Burstyn |
| Editing by | Eric Albertson |
| Studio | Walt Disney Pictures Silver Screen Partners III |
| Distributed by | Buena Vista Pictures |
| Release date(s) | August 18, 1989 |
| Running time | 84 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $5 million |
| Money made | $8,153,677 (United States) |
Cheetah, also known as Cheetah and Friends, is an exciting 1989 American family movie from Walt Disney Pictures. It stars Keith Coogan and Lucy Deakins. The story is based on a book called The Cheetahs by Alan Caillou. The film was shot in Nairobi, Kenya. You might recognize a famous phrase from this movie, "Hakuna matata", which became super popular when Disney's The Lion King came out a few years later!
Contents
Plot
An Adventure in Kenya
Ted and Susan Johnson are siblings from Los Angeles. They join their parents in Kenya. Their dad, Earl, works for NASA. Their mom, Jean, works at a clinic. Ted dreams of wild adventures on the African plains. But their house looks just like one from back home!
Even though their mom tells them not to explore, Ted and Susan sneak out. They find a nearby watering hole. There, they meet a friendly Maasai boy named Morogo. Morogo shows the siblings the amazing wildlife of Kenya. In return, Ted and Susan teach him how to play video games.
One day, their mom finds Morogo in their house. The kids convince their parents that Morogo will keep them safe. Their parents agree, but they are a bit unsure.
Meeting Duma the Cheetah
One day, Ted kicks a soccer ball. It rolls over a barrier and lands near a sleeping rhino. Morogo bravely sneaks up on the rhino to get the ball. He even places a small stone on the rhino's side. He then dares Ted to do the same. The rhino wakes up as Ted gets close, and Ted quickly runs away!
Morogo's father, Kipoin, scolds him for not taking care of his goats. Morogo says he will do his duties. But he also says he's learning new things from his friends. He feels a bit sad because his new friends are different from him.
Later, the three friends find a baby cheetah cub. Its mother was killed by a poacher. Susan insists they take the cub home. She knows it's the only way the cub will survive. Their parents reluctantly agree to keep the cub. The cub becomes their family pet and they name her Duma.
Duma is Stolen
Six months later, the Johnson family's vacation is almost over. They decide it's time to release Duma back into the wild. They train her to hunt with advice from an Australian game warden named Larry.
Meanwhile, a store owner named B. Patel wants Duma. He tried to buy her, but the family refused. So, Patel hires an Englishman named Nigel and a poacher named Abdullah. They plan to make money from Duma. They want to use her speed in a race against greyhounds.
The night before Ted and Susan are supposed to leave Africa, Patel breaks into their house. He steals Ted's special whistle. The three bad guys manage to capture Duma.
The Rescue Mission
The next morning, the family says goodbye to Morogo. They stop at Patel's store. Patel accidentally says something that makes Ted suspicious. Ted also notices marks on Abdullah's shoes. These marks are similar to those of the poacher who killed Duma's mother. Ted tries to tell his parents about Patel's plan, but they don't believe him.
So, the kids miss their flight home. They send a message to their grandmother. They learn from Patel's cousin that Patel is working at a camp in Jamhuri. The children convince Morogo to help them save Duma. But Morogo is scared to go. He gives them directions to Jamhuri instead.
The next morning, Morogo secretly leaves his home too. He decides to help his friends rescue Duma.
The Race to Save Duma
Morogo's parents find out he's gone. They tell Ted and Susan's parents. Earl calls his mother, who tells him about the message the kids sent. The parents call the police. Their wives insist on going to find the children themselves.
Meanwhile, the children arrive at the camp. They sneak in at night. They find Duma, but the poachers catch them! The kids are locked in a cage. While the poachers leave for the race, Morogo unlocks the cage. The three friends then head to Nairobi to stop the race.
They chase after the poachers. But policemen, who are looking for them, catch them on the road. The kids manage to escape because the policeman isn't paying attention. Finally, they make it to Nairobi with help from a sheep farmer.
The children reach the racetrack just as the cheetah-greyhound race is announced. During the race, Duma is falling behind. But then she sees her friends! This gives her new energy, and she starts winning again. Ted grabs his whistle from a security guard and blows it. This helps Duma use her amazing speed and win the race!
The other gamblers have to pay up. Duma then turns on Abdullah and attacks him. Earl rescues her. Both sets of parents scold their children for running off. The poacher is arrested.
Duma's New Home
The families go to Cheetah Valley to release Duma. They see another cheetah there. The children don't want to extend their vacation. They try to release Duma, but she doesn't want to leave. Finally, Susan convinces her to go.
The children remember a Kenyan saying Morogo taught them: "Though we are far apart, our spirits share the same earth and the same sky." They happily watch Duma play with her new friend in the wild.
Cast
- Keith Coogan as Ted Johnson
- Lucy Deakins as Susan Johnson
- Collin Mothupi as Morogo
- Timothy Landfield as Earl Johnson
- Breon Gorman-Landfield as Jean Johnson
- Mhlangabezi Ka Vundla as Kipoin
- Lydia Kigada as Lani
- Kuldeep Bhakoo as Mr. Patel
- Paul Onsongo as Abdullah
- Anthony Baird as Nigel
- Rory McGuinness as Larry
- Rod Jacobsen as David
- David Adido as Mwangi
- Konga Mbandu as Police Captain
- Martin Okello as Friendly Policeman
- Allaudin Qureshi as Patel's Cousin
- William Tsuma as Cabbie
- Waigwa Wachira as Racetrack Policeman
- Jim Ward as Announcer
- Jan MacCoy as Stewardess
- Evalyne Kamau as Nyambura
- Jane Gelardi as Announcer's Girlfriend
- 'J.J.' Joseph Otieno Adamson as Blue Duka Band Member 1
- David Otieno as Blue Duka Band Member 2
- Wally Amalemba as Blue Duka Band Member 3
- Tony Evans Kalanzi as Blue Duka Band Member 4
- Kelly Harry Ngetsa as Blue Duka Band Member 5
- Thomas Akare as Bettor 1
- Denis Doughty as Bettor 2
- Siddik Ebrahim as Bettor 3
- Lee Harvin as Bettor 4
- Aloysius Lazarus as Greyhound Owner 1
- Njoroge Ngoima as Greyhound Owner 2
- Frank Turner as Greyhound Owner 3
- Richard Clarke as Announcer (voice)
- Michael Rogers as Racetrack Policeman (voice)
See also
In Spanish: Cheetah (película) para niños
