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Perils of the Jungle (1953)


Cast:

Clyde Beatty is Clyde Beatty
Stanley Farrar is Grant
Phyllis "I don't believe that mild mannered Clark Kent is Superman..." Coates is Jo Carter
John Doucette is Gorman
Leonard Mudie is Grubbs


What the box says:

A group of well-to-do safari socialites decides to capture an adult gorilla. All seems to go according to the plan until the laws of the jungle turn against them. From deadly insects to dangerous native tribes, will the group survive the Perils of the Jungle?


Plot:


"...World's Greatest animal trainer..." that isn't a big promise...

Somewhere, in the depths of Mrs. Johnson's English class lurks the dangerous

With plenty of stock footage in the jungle, Uncle Grant shows some jungle movies to his niece and nephews. The narrator explains about the mysteries of Africa. Grant and his friend, wild animal trainer, Clyde are searching for a lion. They run into Jo Carter, the animal trapper.

While Jo shows them around her place, a native accidentally starts a fire that burns most of Jo's estate. Gorman, Jo dad's father partner, stops by for a visit and to pay his respects for her bad luck losing the animals she's caught. Grant and Clyde offer to help Jo. They decide to go after a gorilla, that's where the big money is.

On the safari, our heroes realize that Gorman is tracking them. They find gorilla tracks and set a pit to catch the gorilla. Gorman catches up before the gorilla gets trapped. Lifting it out of the net, the gorilla attacks Gorman but is rescued.

Later, Gorman tells Clyde where there might be some lions. Clyde and Grant track off for the lions. They meet with the commissioner who warns them about approaching the grounds of some tribes and to beware of the tsetse fly.

On safari, the stock footage of more animal ensues. Spotting a pride of lion, they catch a lion. Grant is getting sick and gotten sleeping sickness. Clyde decides the best bet is going through the tribal lands. They run into Grubbs, a trapper who saved the chief's son and is now imprisoned by the tribe. Clyde decides to leave Grubbs behind but find his hidden boat.

Cutting to the "TOO DARK TO SEE" scene, some shouting and screaming ensues. Clyde and Grant use Grubbs and Tribe's king as hostage to escape.

Later, Grant is about to leave but gets a call from Clyde who has tip on where he can get some black panthers. Grant and Clyde jump off into adventure again....


What I say:

Suggested Soundtrack Song: Ray Stevens's Harry the Hairy Ape

Not another monkey movie, you are probably having a collective sigh of relief about me not doing another 1950s teenager movie which should be some of gratitude to my Ten of Fans. Jungle adventure movies have probably fallen worse than Westerns have. Anything besides Tarzan or Jungle Jim is forgotten in the realm of the cruel jungle.

Apes in movies have gone from Kung Fu gorillas in Bruce Lee the Invincible to the 1940s science horror movies from Boris Karloff's Ape to Bela Lugosi's Apeman. Through the Tarzan movies and the typical jungle adventure movies must have gorillas be they Son of Ingagi to the dreaded White Pongo.

Phyllis Coates may be better known for playing Lois Lane on the first season of the 1950s Superman TV show. This may be the only movie where the leading lady doesn't get married to the ruggedly adventurly handsome Clyde...She only popped up and pretty much disappeared after the gorilla hunt.

Lets just take a number of stock footage bits and just string them along together enough to to make the typical "b" jungle adventure roll. Think the ghost lion taming in 13 Ghosts was better than the lion taming in this jungle movie. Even with the one safari for a gorilla, just a group trying to catch an animal is most of the entire movie.

The one movie thing that is lower than a movie that is totally boring is one that is so dark you can't see what's going on. The last 10 minutes of Perils of the Jungle may be the worst "TOO DARK TO SEE" scene outside of Alien Vs Predator. Stevie Wonder could have an easier time watching the action than most people.



1 1/2 NINJAS

Quotable Dialogue

"Africa...adventure, 2 words..."
"Gorillas are a very curious animal."
"Blast the luck!! I was hoping he'd get lost."
"Bounder is the name, Mr. Cunningham."
"Self-Preservation, if you know what I mean."


Morals of the Story

Any person with a name that sounds like woman's name must be a woman.
Socialites on safari must ride elephants.
Schoolkids are desperate for extra-credit.
Judges must wear face masks.


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