Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Africa Ruark vs. Capstick

I don't know if this is directed in general or to me but my feeling was that his "devil-may-care" flamboyance in his books was moderated quite a bit on camera where he seemed somewhat tense or on edge, tired (as I indicated above this may be due to the of the heart problems he later died of but is purely conjecture) but certainly articulate. I sensed a sensitive and friendly man underneath it all.

Well, lately I've sprung for some safari videos by others. After seeing my first and only safari video (Capstick) I never thought I'd buy one of his nor anyone else's. Loved his writing so much I was somewhat saddened by the results of the video. Some are worth watching more often than others. Seeing that 'staged lion charge' in my email perked my interest and began to wonder if there was some good entertainment out there. Another way I look at it is like buying bullets and discovering my rifle doesn't like 'em. Then <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> what ?? But yes, I was directing my query to Goodnews and really all others who want to chew on a plug (tobacca) !

God, why aren't movies made as well as these guys wrote books ? BTW, saw the "Fastest Indian" recently and it's worth the time and more. No swearing, nudity, and stuff that most of Hollywood seems to think are necessary.

I never said he wasn't friendly. He was. And a bit of an ingenue, which I don't think he would have admitted. But he was.

The man is dead and can't defend himself so maybe there was a reason -- I have only one PHC story.

In 1978 the NRA convention was in San Antonio Tx. Outside the exibit hall there were set up a lot of booths selling books and such. Stuck way off down at the far end was a deal table, a couple of zebra skins and PHC with a pile of books. He was getting absolutely no play at all. Death in the Long Grass had just come out and nobody had ever heard of him.

I sat down with him, bought his book and he autographed it for me. We had about a thirty minute chat. Nice fellow.

Later that day my wife and I were walking back to the hotel, we were staying at the Menger, and ran into PHC on the street. He was at the Menger too. Upshot was we took or he went with us to supper. Lots of conversation, wife bored to tears, I paid the tab.

He could spin a real good tale.

Fast forward some years. Shot Show in Dallas. PHC is there after he became rich and famous. He is putting out the reprints of classic Africa.

He had some girls shilling for him. I knew one of them as she had also shilled for us at our Quail Unlimited banquet. Stopped to talk to Alice a minute and then talked to PHC. He remembered me from San Antone or at least acted like he sure did and mentioned things that happened at supper that made me think he did.

I had bought his books over the years as they came out. I asked him if I sent them to him post paid and return post included would he autograph them for me.


NO not only NO but HELL NO. Insisted I had to buy all new books.

I said thank you kindly, good day and that was the last time I ever saw him alive.

He changed some after he got rich and famous.


BCR

"Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs even though checkered by failure, than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much because they live in the gray twilight that know neither victory nor defeat"

IMO, although the above came from T.R., any of three included in this discussion would have whole heartedly agreed. I throw no stones at these sportsman, just my own impression of the Capstick being 'different' that what I'd pictured. Still looking for input on opinions of the videos Capstick made. Thanks

Boggy
Sorry to hear your story. There's never an excuse for boorish behavior. I saw him at one of the later conventions and he was acting like such a -I don't know how to describe it- that I didn't even say hello. I've never seen any of his videos. Don't plan to.

If you're a nut and love all African videos, then I'd say check them out. If you expect a 30 year old PHC tracking wounded leopards and shooting them as they spring from an overhead limb, it's not there.

Since I had made PHC's acquaintance, I am a bit biased in his favor. I have the tapes. They are not the heart thumping videos a la Nitro Express and their 'Death By Provocation' and the like.

Peter's writing was better than the videos.

Ruark hands down. I have most all of their collective works. Roberts is better than Hemmingway and Capstick is just a student.