Duel in the Jungle (1954)

In Rhodesia, the accidental death of a diamond broker raises suspicions with his American insurer which sends a claims investigator to clarify the matter.

Director:

George Marshall

Writers:

Samuel Marx (screenplay) (as Sam Marx), T.J. Morrison (screenplay) (as T.J.Morrison)

Stars:

Dana Andrews, Jeanne Crain, David Farrar

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Dana Andrews	...	Scott Walters
Jeanne Crain	...	Marian Taylor
David Farrar	...	Perry Henderson / Arthur Henderson
Patrick Barr	...	Superintendent Roberts
George Coulouris	...	Captain Malburn
Charles Goldner	...	Martell
Wilfrid Hyde-White	...	Pitt (as Wilfrid Hyde White)
Mary Merrall	...	Mrs. Henderson
Heather Thatcher	...	A Lady on S.S. Nigeria
Michael Mataka	...	Vincent
Paul Carpenter	...	Pan American Airways Clerk
Delphi Lawrence	...	Pan American Girl
Mary Mackenzie	...	Junior Secretary
Bee Duffell	...	Irish Landlady
Alec Finter	...	Waiter

Storyline

An American insurance investigator is sent to Rhodesia to investigate the mysterious death of a diamond broker who drowned whilst diving off the coast. The broker was insured for $1 million so the insurerers are suspicious.

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Plot Keywords:

rhodesia | insurance investigator | diamond | crocodile | canoe | 

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Taglines:

"The story it took 3 separate safaris to film!"

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Genres:

Adventure

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Did You Know?

Trivia

Assistant director Tony Kelly disappeared whilst shooting second-unit footage along the Zambesi River in Rhodesia. When the crew's boat overturned, the other two crewmen were able to swim to safety, but Kelly, although the strongest swimmer of them all, disappeared in the water. It is thought he was trying to save the camera equipment and many theories were offered for the disappearance, the most fearful being that he had been taken by crocodiles. No body was ever found.

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Goofs

The same shot of a lion approaching is used when Scott is lion hunting and when Marian is threatened by one in the jungle.

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Connections

Featured in Trailer Cinema (1992)

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Soundtracks

The Night Belongs To Me
Music by Mischa Spoliansky (uncredited)
Lyric by Norman Newell
Sung by Michael Mataka (uncredited)

User Reviews

Up the Zambezi

Dana Andrews stars in this B-grade jungle adventure as an insurance investigator who teams up with the widow (Crain) of a diamond merchant (Farrar) who has apparently drowned after falling from a boat. Cautioned by native guide Vincent (Mataka) that his presence won't be welcome when they reach the village, Andrews persists in his doggedness to uncover the truth about Farrar's disappearance, and in his attempts to seduce the now nubile widow.

Assistant director Tony Kelly died making this picture, so it's of some comfort to know that it isn't a bad little pot-boiler, building some reasonable tension and punctuated with occasional light humour (the scene in which the chimp empties their luggage from the jeep is worth a chuckle). George Montgomery's look-a-like brother Dana Andrews is sturdy without being marvellous, and Farrar plays the obnoxious British git with aplomb.

Superimposing the actors over the white-water rapids backdrop, or in a confrontation with a menacing lion often looks clumsy, but this B-picture isn't staking any grand claims, just mild entertainment for afternoon channel-surfing.

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 August 1954 (USA)

Also Known As:

Duel dans la jungle

Filming Locations:

South Africa

Company Credits

Production Co:

Associated British Picture Corporation (ABPC), Marcel Hellman Productions, Moulin Productions Inc.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Recording)

Color:

Color (Colour by) (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1