Jamie Uys
Encyclopedia
Jacobus Johannes Uys better known as Jamie Uys, was a South Africa
n film director.
. He was later appointed local magistrate and Justice of the Peace "Every Tuesday I crossed the wildest country and swam through rivers to get to the police post where I could hold court".
Uys received the 1981 Grand Prix at the Festival International du Film de Comedy Vevey for The Gods Must Be Crazy
, and in 1974 he received the Hollywood Foreign Press Association award for best documentary for Beautiful People.
The two Beautiful People films were documentaries about the plant and animal life in South Africa
, Namibia
, Botswana
and Zimbabwe
, especially desert creatures. A highlight of the film included a scene with elephants, warthogs, monkeys and other animals staggering around after eating rotten, fermented marula fruit.
Jamie Uys' biggest and best known movie was The Gods Must Be Crazy
. In this movie he featured a bushman
called N!xau
in the lead role. This was a comedy in which a Coke bottle that was thrown out of an aeroplane, fell in the Kalahari Desert
and was found by the San
tribe. As this was the only "modern" object in their world, it led to strife and it was decided that the bottle had to be returned to the Gods, who must have sent it in the first place. The character played by N!xau
was given the task to return it. The movie generated massive word-of-mouth success in America, Japan, Europe, and other territories, with the movie rights initially being sold to 45 countries.It spawned a less successful sequel, The Gods Must Be Crazy II
.
Uys earlier made another movie set substantially in the Kalahari Desert
. This is Lost in the Desert
, and tells the story of 8-year-old Dirkie Hayes' efforts to survive in the desert after surviving a plane crash, whilst his father Anton mounts increasingly desperate efforts to find him. As well as directing the movie, Jamie Uys also played the part of Anton, and his son Wynand Uys played the part of Dirkie. Some early sources and credits name the director and actor of Anton's part as Jamie Hayes, and name Wynand Uys as Dirkie Hayes; but the relatively recent DVD release of the movie is attributed to their real names.
Uys' other well-known movie was Funny People in 1977, which was a comedy in the same genre as Candid Camera
in the U.S.
, putting unsuspecting people in embarrassing positions. These included a talking postbox, with the voice of a man claiming to be trapped inside, who asks a passer-by for help. When the passer-by returns with his friends, the 'talking' postbox is silent, and his friends accuse him of being drunk. The sequel, Funny People II was released in 1983, and features a young Arnold Vosloo
, who has since found fame in Hollywood.
Uys loved the out-doors and to get away from the hubbub of Johannesburg where he lived. He had a very modest 'A' frame dwelling (262, Die Heide Ave) at Paradise Beach, a quiet coastal resort 5 km west of the surfers' paradise Jeffreys Bay
(Eastern Cape
). It was about 300 meters from the sea and for most of the years it had no electricity - only paraffin lamps and (later) gas lights. He at times would slip away to his favourite holiday retreat where he was seen collecting plant specimens as a very keen amateur botanist who had his own herbarium. Uys would ride around on his bicycle to get to interesting spots in the veld. There he would for long hours be occupied in his own little world.
He also was a keen builder of model aeroplanes, on which he spent many hours during his Paradise Beach visits. In the late 1970s/early 1980s he had a luxurious house built on the beach-front, a couple of hundred meters away from his old 'A'-frame.
Uys died of a heart attack in 1996 at the age of 74.
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n film director.
Early life
Prior to his foray into film, Uys was a math teacher in his hometown of Boksburg. He then married Hettie, a fellow math teacher and the couple started farming and opening trading posts along the Palala RiverPalala River
The Palala River is a significant watercourse in the Waterberg area of Limpopo Province, South Africa. This river's catchment basin is a sub-watershed of the Limpopo River. The river drains much of the Lapalala Wilderness area and considerable additional lands that are important habitat for...
. He was later appointed local magistrate and Justice of the Peace "Every Tuesday I crossed the wildest country and swam through rivers to get to the police post where I could hold court".
Career
He made his debut as a film director in 1951 with the Afrikaans-language film Daar doer in die bosveld. He directed 24 films in total.Uys received the 1981 Grand Prix at the Festival International du Film de Comedy Vevey for The Gods Must Be Crazy
The Gods Must Be Crazy
The Gods Must Be Crazy is a 1980 film, written and directed by Jamie Uys. The film is the first in The Gods Must Be Crazy series of films. Set in Botswana and South Africa, it tells the story of Xi, a Sho of the Kalahari Desert whose band has no knowledge of the world beyond...
, and in 1974 he received the Hollywood Foreign Press Association award for best documentary for Beautiful People.
The two Beautiful People films were documentaries about the plant and animal life in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, Namibia
Namibia
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...
, Botswana
Botswana
Botswana, officially the Republic of Botswana , is a landlocked country located in Southern Africa. The citizens are referred to as "Batswana" . Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name after becoming independent within the Commonwealth on 30 September 1966...
and Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
, especially desert creatures. A highlight of the film included a scene with elephants, warthogs, monkeys and other animals staggering around after eating rotten, fermented marula fruit.
Jamie Uys' biggest and best known movie was The Gods Must Be Crazy
The Gods Must Be Crazy
The Gods Must Be Crazy is a 1980 film, written and directed by Jamie Uys. The film is the first in The Gods Must Be Crazy series of films. Set in Botswana and South Africa, it tells the story of Xi, a Sho of the Kalahari Desert whose band has no knowledge of the world beyond...
. In this movie he featured a bushman
Bushmen
The indigenous people of Southern Africa, whose territory spans most areas of South Africa, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Mozambique, Swaziland, Botswana, Namibia, and Angola, are variously referred to as Bushmen, San, Sho, Barwa, Kung, or Khwe...
called N!xau
N!xau
Nǃxau ǂToma was a Namibian bush farmer and actor who was made famous by his roles in the 1980 movie The Gods Must Be Crazy and its sequels, in which he played the Kalahari Bushman Xixo...
in the lead role. This was a comedy in which a Coke bottle that was thrown out of an aeroplane, fell in the Kalahari Desert
Kalahari Desert
The Kalahari Desert is a large semi-arid sandy savannah in Southern Africa extending , covering much of Botswana and parts of Namibia and South Africa, as semi-desert, with huge tracts of excellent grazing after good rains. The Kalahari supports more animals and plants than a true desert...
and was found by the San
Bushmen
The indigenous people of Southern Africa, whose territory spans most areas of South Africa, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Mozambique, Swaziland, Botswana, Namibia, and Angola, are variously referred to as Bushmen, San, Sho, Barwa, Kung, or Khwe...
tribe. As this was the only "modern" object in their world, it led to strife and it was decided that the bottle had to be returned to the Gods, who must have sent it in the first place. The character played by N!xau
N!xau
Nǃxau ǂToma was a Namibian bush farmer and actor who was made famous by his roles in the 1980 movie The Gods Must Be Crazy and its sequels, in which he played the Kalahari Bushman Xixo...
was given the task to return it. The movie generated massive word-of-mouth success in America, Japan, Europe, and other territories, with the movie rights initially being sold to 45 countries.It spawned a less successful sequel, The Gods Must Be Crazy II
The Gods Must Be Crazy II
The Gods Must Be Crazy II is a sequel to Jamie Uys' 1980 comedy film, The Gods Must Be Crazy, and it is the second film in The Gods Must Be Crazy film series. It was made by Weintraub Entertainment Group and released by Columbia Pictures in the U.S. and released in the rest of the world by 20th...
.
Uys earlier made another movie set substantially in the Kalahari Desert
Kalahari Desert
The Kalahari Desert is a large semi-arid sandy savannah in Southern Africa extending , covering much of Botswana and parts of Namibia and South Africa, as semi-desert, with huge tracts of excellent grazing after good rains. The Kalahari supports more animals and plants than a true desert...
. This is Lost in the Desert
Lost in the Desert
Lost in the Desert is a South African film from 1969/1970, written and directed by Jamie Uys, who also directed the better-known The Gods Must Be Crazy. Prominent roles were played by Wynand Uys as Dirkie Hayes , Jamie Uys as Anton Hayes , and Pieter Hauptfleisch as Uncle Pete...
, and tells the story of 8-year-old Dirkie Hayes' efforts to survive in the desert after surviving a plane crash, whilst his father Anton mounts increasingly desperate efforts to find him. As well as directing the movie, Jamie Uys also played the part of Anton, and his son Wynand Uys played the part of Dirkie. Some early sources and credits name the director and actor of Anton's part as Jamie Hayes, and name Wynand Uys as Dirkie Hayes; but the relatively recent DVD release of the movie is attributed to their real names.
Uys' other well-known movie was Funny People in 1977, which was a comedy in the same genre as Candid Camera
Candid Camera
Candid Camera is a hidden camera/practical joke reality television series created and produced by Allen Funt, which initially began on radio as Candid Microphone June 28, 1947...
in the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, putting unsuspecting people in embarrassing positions. These included a talking postbox, with the voice of a man claiming to be trapped inside, who asks a passer-by for help. When the passer-by returns with his friends, the 'talking' postbox is silent, and his friends accuse him of being drunk. The sequel, Funny People II was released in 1983, and features a young Arnold Vosloo
Arnold Vosloo
Arnold Vosloo is a South African American actor, best-known for playing Imhotep in The Mummy and its 2001 sequel The Mummy Returns, as well as the role of the superhero Darkman in the sequel Darkman II: The Return of Durant and its 1996 sequel, Darkman III: Die Darkman Die...
, who has since found fame in Hollywood.
Uys loved the out-doors and to get away from the hubbub of Johannesburg where he lived. He had a very modest 'A' frame dwelling (262, Die Heide Ave) at Paradise Beach, a quiet coastal resort 5 km west of the surfers' paradise Jeffreys Bay
Jeffreys Bay
Jeffreys Bay is a town located in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. The town is situated just off the N2 Highway, about an hour's drive southwest of Port Elizabeth.- History :...
(Eastern Cape
Eastern Cape
The Eastern Cape is a province of South Africa. Its capital is Bhisho, but its two largest cities are Port Elizabeth and East London. It was formed in 1994 out of the "independent" Xhosa homelands of Transkei and Ciskei, together with the eastern portion of the Cape Province...
). It was about 300 meters from the sea and for most of the years it had no electricity - only paraffin lamps and (later) gas lights. He at times would slip away to his favourite holiday retreat where he was seen collecting plant specimens as a very keen amateur botanist who had his own herbarium. Uys would ride around on his bicycle to get to interesting spots in the veld. There he would for long hours be occupied in his own little world.
He also was a keen builder of model aeroplanes, on which he spent many hours during his Paradise Beach visits. In the late 1970s/early 1980s he had a luxurious house built on the beach-front, a couple of hundred meters away from his old 'A'-frame.
Uys died of a heart attack in 1996 at the age of 74.
Selected filmography
- All the Way to ParisAll the Way to ParisAll the Way to Paris is a 1965 South African comedy film directed by Jamie Uys and starring Uys, Bob Courtney and Reinet Maasdorf. International diplomats take part in a walking competition, heading towards a major conference in Paris.-Cast:...
(1965) - DingakaDingakaDingaka is a 1965 film by South African director Jamie Uys with the soundtrack by Bertha Egnos, Eddie Domingo and Basil Gray.-Synopsis:Dingaka tells the story of a tribesman, Ntuku Makwena, who avenges the murder of his daughter according to custom tribal laws...
(1965) - After You, Comrade (1967)
- Lost in the DesertLost in the DesertLost in the Desert is a South African film from 1969/1970, written and directed by Jamie Uys, who also directed the better-known The Gods Must Be Crazy. Prominent roles were played by Wynand Uys as Dirkie Hayes , Jamie Uys as Anton Hayes , and Pieter Hauptfleisch as Uncle Pete...
(AfrikaansAfrikaansAfrikaans is a West Germanic language, spoken natively in South Africa and Namibia. It is a daughter language of Dutch, originating in its 17th century dialects, collectively referred to as Cape Dutch .Afrikaans is a daughter language of Dutch; see , , , , , .Afrikaans was historically called Cape...
version as "Dirkie": 1969; EnglishEnglish languageEnglish is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
version as "Dirkie Lost in the Desert" / "Lost in the Desert": 1969/1970) - Animals Are Beautiful PeopleAnimals Are Beautiful PeopleAnimals Are Beautiful People is a 1974 nature documentary about the wildlife in Southern Africa. It was filmed in the Namib Desert, the Kalahari Desert and the Okavango River and Okavango Delta...
(1974) - The Gods Must Be CrazyThe Gods Must Be CrazyThe Gods Must Be Crazy is a 1980 film, written and directed by Jamie Uys. The film is the first in The Gods Must Be Crazy series of films. Set in Botswana and South Africa, it tells the story of Xi, a Sho of the Kalahari Desert whose band has no knowledge of the world beyond...
(1980) - Funny People II (1983)
- The Gods Must Be Crazy IIThe Gods Must Be Crazy IIThe Gods Must Be Crazy II is a sequel to Jamie Uys' 1980 comedy film, The Gods Must Be Crazy, and it is the second film in The Gods Must Be Crazy film series. It was made by Weintraub Entertainment Group and released by Columbia Pictures in the U.S. and released in the rest of the world by 20th...
(1989)