Jungle Jim (1948)

Director:

William Berke

Writers:

Carroll Young (story)
Alex Raymond (comic strip)

Release Date:

15 December 1948 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure

Tagline:

ADVENTURE IDOL OF MILLIONS...on the screen at last!

Plot:

Lady scientist, Hilary Parker is searching for a rare drug to help combat polio. Opportunist Bruce Edwards...

Plot Keywords:

Polio | Jungle | Treasure | Scientist | Gold

Cast

Johnny Weissmuller	...	Jungle Jim
Virginia Grey	...	Dr. Hilary Parker
George Reeves	...	Bruce Edwards
Lita Baron	...	Zia
Rick Vallin	...	Kolu - Chief of the Masai
Holmes Herbert	...	Commissioner Geoffrey Marsden
Tex Mooney	...	Chief Devil Doctor

Runtime:

71 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:Approved | USA:Passed (National Board of Review) | Finland:K-12 | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Corriganville, Ray Corrigan Ranch, Simi Valley, California, USA

Company:

Esskay Pictures Corporation

Movie Connections:

Followed by The Lost Tribe (1949)

Only For the Camp Value

Jungle Jim was Johnny Weismuller's vehicle after he became too old to play Tarzan, and passed the mantle to younger actors. As Jungle Jim, he stays in his African milieu, dons safari clothes and has a series of numbskull adventures mostly saving ladies in distress. This is the first of the series, in which Jungle Jim helps a lady scientist discover a cure for polio (remember that Jungle Jim is made in 1948 before the discovery of the Salk vaccine). In this, it may be ahead of its time; first having a smart female character, and second, finding cures to disease in tropical plants. The villain is played by the pre-Superman George Reeves.

Where Jungle Jim is behind the times is its portrayal of Africans, in this case Masai, who look like white people, and the idiotic portrayal of wildlife. Nonetheless, it's a laugh. But if you're looking for something serious pass it by.