A poverty row jungle adventure, White Pongo fails to live up to the sensational poster, which promises ferocious battling monsters and a sexy maiden in torn clothing cowering in terror. What the film actually delivers is stock characters (a bland hero, Cockney comic relief, a loathesome lovestruck traitor, and a bit of posh crumpet), tepid thrills, some mild racism (the native head porter is called Mumbo Jumbo) and some of the most laughable men in manky ape suits imaginable. It's fun for a while, but ultimately outstays its welcome, even at an economical running time of just 71 minutes.
The plot follows a scientific expedition into the heart of the dark continent in search of White Pongo, an albino gorilla that the boffins believe might be the missing link, thereby proving Darwin's theory of evolution. Also along for the trip are Pam (Maris Wrixon), spunky daughter of head scientist Sir Harry (Gordon Richards), Pam's slimy suitor Clive (Michael Dyne), brave rifleman Bishop (Richard Fraser), and untrustworthy Hans Kroegert (Al Eben) and his men, who have their own reasons for joining the party.
The action consists of lots of paddling up a river in canoes, the building of a stockade (complete with windows, furniture, and a comfy bed for the heroine), lots of shots of Pongo and his ape pals lurking in the undergrowth, a bit of silly light relief involving the testing of a gorilla trap, the good guys tied up by the traitors, and a less than exciting finale in which Pongo makes off with Pam over his shoulder, explorers in hot pursuit. Directed with zero energy or verve by prolific B-movie hack Sam Newfield, Adventure Unlimited (the alternative title for the film) is actually frustratingly limited in the adventure stakes.
The plot follows a scientific expedition into the heart of the dark continent in search of White Pongo, an albino gorilla that the boffins believe might be the missing link, thereby proving Darwin's theory of evolution. Also along for the trip are Pam (Maris Wrixon), spunky daughter of head scientist Sir Harry (Gordon Richards), Pam's slimy suitor Clive (Michael Dyne), brave rifleman Bishop (Richard Fraser), and untrustworthy Hans Kroegert (Al Eben) and his men, who have their own reasons for joining the party.
The action consists of lots of paddling up a river in canoes, the building of a stockade (complete with windows, furniture, and a comfy bed for the heroine), lots of shots of Pongo and his ape pals lurking in the undergrowth, a bit of silly light relief involving the testing of a gorilla trap, the good guys tied up by the traitors, and a less than exciting finale in which Pongo makes off with Pam over his shoulder, explorers in hot pursuit. Directed with zero energy or verve by prolific B-movie hack Sam Newfield, Adventure Unlimited (the alternative title for the film) is actually frustratingly limited in the adventure stakes.