Africa Screams only time that Shemp Howard and Joe Besser appeared together in a film; Besser would replace Howard as one of the Three Stooges following the latter's death in 1955. The main character's name Stanley Livington is suggestive of the surnames of British explorers Henry Morton Stanley and David Livingstone who had a famous meeting in 1871. It is not known whether the change from Livingstone to Livington is the result of a typist's error or a deliberate obfuscation. As this film is in the public domain in the United States, there have been a variety of DVD releases from multiple
Stanley and Livingstone speech, it is clear to Stanley that too few of the members believe him. As he is leaving the hall, a messenger arrives with news that another expedition has recovered Livingstone's body, as well as the man's last written message, in which he talks glowingly of Stanley. Vindicated, Stanley decides to return to Africa to carry on the great man's work. According to Philip Dunne, the film was originally envisioned as a vehicle for Tyrone Power as Stanley and a script was prepared accordingly. Darryl F. Zanuck, head of production at 20th Century Fox was sent a memo suggesting the