Bomba, der Erbe Tarzans

The Killer Leopard is one of the later Bomba movies Johnny Sheffield appeared in. He was in his twenties when he starred in this.

In this one he helps a movie star, played by Beverley Garland (It Conquered the World), to look for her husband in the jungle. He is on the run after committing several crimes in Britain. The search though is hampered by a rather unfriendly black leopard which seems to enjoy killing people. Bomba does kill it at the end though and the movie star successfully finds her husband, after some of his party are killed.

I was lucky to obtain a copy of this movie as it is quite rare to get hold of, as are all of the Bomba movies.

Watch this if you get the chance. I quite enjoyed it.

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars.

What can you say about a jungle adventure wherein the best performance is given by a leopard via stock footage? Johnny Sheffield's penultimate "Bomba" vehicle has the teen Tarzan tracking a bloodthirsty black leopard through the African wilds while an American movie actress needs Bomba's help in finding her embezzler husband (in the country to illegally acquire some hot diamonds). Sheffield, his loincloth hiked-up to cover his navel, tussles with the titular beast but otherwise doesn't get any exciting scenes here. Cheapie is typically over-saturated with stock footage and stock villains. Pretty Beverly Garland brings the picture some class, though she isn't allowed any personality and literally treads water while following Sheffield's lead. *1/2 from ****

Beautiful blonde movie star Beverly Garland (as Linda Winters) is in Africa, looking for her handsome wayward husband, Donald Murphy (as Fred Winters). After embezzling some money, he wants to pilfer an African diamond mine. Her marriage may be "on the rocks," and Ms. Garland wonders whether or not she is still "in love." Bomba (Johnny Sheffield) meets Garland and becomes her guide during the search. A nasty black, cross-eyed "Killer Leopard" wanders around, causing extra danger for the cast. This penultimate episode of "Bomba the Jungle Boy" certainly reveals the series to be long in the saber-tooth (unless, like most, you knew that already). Mr. Sheffield appears more miscast than ever, reciting boyish dialogue to Garland after they take a swim. Garland wears a modest one-piece and she is the film's highlight.

** Killer Leopard (1954-08-22) Ford Beebe ~ Johnny Sheffield, Beverly Garland, Donald Murphy, Barry Bernard

The penultimate Bomba movie starring Johnny Sheffield has our hero helping a movie star (Beverly Garland) trying to find her embezzler husband. But look out, Bomba, there's a killer leopard on the loose! At this point in the series it's becoming increasingly hard to care what Bomba is up to and why. Sheffield tries but it's all just so talky and dull, battle with the leopard notwithstanding. Pretty Beverly Garland is nice in this early role. Her in a bathing suit is one of the movie's only highlights. She would go on to much bigger things than most who guest-starred in this series. Regulars Smoki Whitfield and Leonard Mudie offer decent support. There's an unintentionally funny bit from actor Bill Walker as a native who, when we first meet him, is lying on the ground screaming "Bomba help!" in the most unconvincing manner possible. Picture the little old lady from the commercials shouting "I've fallen and I can't get up" and you'll get the idea.

Despite being jungle adventure films aimed mostly at kids, the Bomba series was more often than not pretty unexciting stuff. This is especially true of the later movies. This one drags even thought it's just 70 minutes long. The only real excitement comes from stock footage of animals and a fight scene between Bomba and a leopard that looks suspiciously like one from a previous Bomba movie. Fans will perhaps be amused by Bomba becoming involved with the marital problems between the movie star and her crook husband. Everybody else might want to find another to kill an hour.

"Killer Leopard" is a pretty forgettable movie. The only thing it has going for it is a dreamy Beverly Garland. Garland is a sight to behold. I couldn't take my eyes off her. The rest of the cast is fine. The weakest member is actually Bomba himself, Johnny Sheffield (with his too short bathing suit/loin cloth). But for me, this movie is all about Beverly Garland. I know I'll end up watching this movie again because of her.