The Jungle Book (1994)

An adaptation of Rudyard Kipling's classic tale of Mowgli the jungle boy who is raised by wolves after being lost when a tiger attacked an encampment and killed his father. Years later he ... See full summary »

Director:

Stephen Sommers

Writers:

Rudyard Kipling (characters from novel "The Jungle Book"), Ron Yanover (story),

Stars:

Jason Scott Lee, Cary Elwes, Lena Headey

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jason Scott Lee	...	Mowgli
Cary Elwes	...	Captain William Boone
Lena Headey	...	Katherine 'Kitty' Brydon
Sam Neill	...	Colonel Geofferey Brydon
John Cleese	...	Dr. Julien Plumford
Jason Flemyng	...	Lt. John Wilkins
Stefan Kalipha	...	Buldeo
Ron Donachie	...	Sgt. Harley
Anirudh Agarwal	...	Tabaqui (as Anirudh Agrawal)
Faran Tahir	...	Nathoo
Sean Naegeli	...	Mowgli, age 5
Joanna Wolff	...	Kitty Brydon, age 5
Liza Walker	...	Alice
Rachel Robertson	...	Rose
Natalie Morse	...	Margaret

Storyline

An adaptation of Rudyard Kipling's classic tale of Mowgli the jungle boy who is raised by wolves after being lost when a tiger attacked an encampment and killed his father. Years later he finds himself re-united with his childhood love Kitty and back in the "civilization" of Colonial India which he finds far less civilized then his jungle haunts. The search for a lost treasure shows who the truly civilized members of society are.

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Plot Keywords:

jungle | treasure | tiger | shootout | knife | 

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Taglines:

Born of men. Raised by animals. Destined for adventure.

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Genres:

Adventure | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for action/violence and some mild language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 December 1994 (USA)

Also Known As:

Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book

Filming Locations:

Beaufort, South Carolina, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$27,000,000 (estimated)

Gross:

$44,342,956 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Vegahom Europe, Walt Disney Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

111 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film required the use of over 200 trained animals, including 50 Tigers.

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Goofs

After Boone sets the temple ledges on fire, people cast distinct shadows on the walls, even though the light source is all around them.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Colonel Brydon: Life is a spinning wheel, it has been said. With each spoke, a tale to be told. So keep silence along the banks, and I will tell you one of these tales; a story as enchanting as the jungle itself. It is about pride, and power, and treasure... and about fangs, and claws, and talons... but mostly, it is about love...

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Connections

Version of Jungle Book (1942)

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Soundtracks

"Two Different Worlds"
(International Release of the Movie) (Uncredited)
Written by Richard Page, Marc Jordan and Spencer Proffer
Performed by Kenny Loggins
Produced and arranged by Kenny Loggins and Stephen Croes

User Reviews

Fine performances and direction in the spirit of Kipling.

The switch here, and Jason Scott Lee does it with skill and heart of genius, is that Mowgli talks to the animals in their languages. We do not hear the animal speaking English. But from the moment Bagheera offers his tail to the tiny Mowgli and Mowgli grasps that tail, we are in intimate communication with the animals. Mowgli, his pet wolfcub and the rescued bearcub Balu follow the panther through the jungle and I went with them. Every actor modulates his or her performance to make the story happen, to balance the telling. Kitty, Mowgli's childhood friend, does not let one drop of saccharine spoil her natural young woman. Cary Elwes as a villain is frighteningly archetypal (just as he is a beautiful hero in other films). . . But the animal actors are what compel me to fork over dollars for my own copy of the video. Since they are surrounded by masterful cinema storytelling and heartfelt human performances, their work carries the main theme of this film. We know now how fragile the jungle and its inhabitants are as man approaches with guns and bulldozers. The delicate balance of man and animal, the diplomacy of Mowgli at times, the essence of courage and loyalty -- all this is portrayed. If you know the original Jungle Book and the moral spirit of its author, you recognize that the character of the jungle inhabitants is respected. In this film, while we are given an adventure extrapolated from the original literary situation, the Law of the Jungle is kept. For sophisticated Kipling see the Michael Caine/Sean Connery film "The Man Who Would Be King".