Lord of the Jungle

LORD OF THE JUNGLE (Allied Artists, 1955), Written, produced and directed by Ford Beebe, might have been a more fitting title for any one of the "Tarzan" adventures starring Johnny Weissmuller a decade or so ago. Instead, the title is used for what's not only become the twelfth and final installment to the "Bomba, the Jungle Boy" movie series, but the final screen appearance to its originator, Johnny Sheffield (1931-2010). After many years in jungle adventures starting with his debut role of Boy in TARZAN FINDS A SON (MGM, 1939) starring "lord of the jungle" Johnny Weissmuller at his fourth go-round in his signature role, it was rather fitting that after growing out of playing Boy 1947, that the teen-age Sheffield was offered another jungle character portrayal. As often credited, "based on the character created by Roy Rockwell in the "Bomba" books," who else but Sheffield could play the part of a teenage Tarzan named Bomba? Debuting in the part in BOMBA THE JUNGLE BOY (Monogram, 1949), unlike the long-running Tarzan franchise, nobody but Sheffield was Bomba. It would be a matter of time before Sheffield outgrew his teen character considering by this time he was already approaching his mid-twenties. Whether it was the intent to end the series here or not, at least it didn't conclude with an unwatchable or unbearable item as with some series finales.

Following its fade in as the camera tracking through the jungle, Bomba is immediately viewed swinging on a vine. Next scene introduces new assortment of characters, that of Mona Andrews (Nancy Hale) and her fiancé, Paul Gavin (Paul Picerni) in a private airplane. It is later revealed that Gavin intends on moving to Africa to work as a missionary doctor, something Mona would rather he not do. Mona in turn happens to be the niece of Bomba's closest friend, Deputy Commissioner Andy Barnes (Leonard Mudie). Enter Jeff Wood (Wayne Morris), a hunter hired by the government to shoot a herd of rogue elephants destroying villages and killing natives. Bomba prevents Wood from doing so, and intends on proving his theory of only one bad elephant being the responsible one and the one to be shot and killed, not the entire herd. Because Bomba actually owns the property formerly owned by his now deceased parents, the Hastings, does the jungle boy resume his protection of his animal friends from extinction. During the course of the story, Bomba helps with Mona's dilemma and ends up in troubles of his own when later tied and bound by one of the hunters he had earlier rescued, thus, leaving the helpless Bomba to face an oncoming elephant stampede heading his way.

Somewhat reminiscent to the earlier Weissmuller/Tarzan adventures where jungle lord pits himself against hunters invading his territory and out to eliminate his wildlife friends. There's also some footage capturing some underwater swimming between Bomba and Mona, the sort of scenes commonly depicted by Tarzan and his mate, Jane. Other story extensions as sending messages through drum pounding and lifted stock animal footage of giraffes and elephants roaming about add to its jungle feel, even with obvious rear projection footage noticeable here and there.

For the only time in the series, Sheffield shares equal billing above the title with co-star Wayne Morris. Though the Morris share might have meant something for movie audiences during his brief prime in motion pictures for Warner Brothers (1937-1940), by 1955, ranging from older to a younger generation of theater attendees, Morris was just another name on the motion picture screen. Oddly enough, in spite of their equal status billing, Sheffield and Morris are not constantly together from start to finish as what one may assume. In fact, Sheffield has more screen time with Nancy Hale (quite obvious by the writer's point of view by using her as a female influence on the jungle boy now jungle man). Although Hale gets by with her fine looks, the only setback happens to be on her somewhat amateurish acting in certain scenes. Others featured in the cast are William Phipps (Kenny Balou); series regular Smoki Whitfield (Eli); James Adamson (Elisha); Harry Lauter (The Pilot); Joel Fluellen (Mulu); and Juanita Moore (Mulu's Wife).

Presented on commercial television since the 1960s, better known as my own introduction to the Bomba series when it played part of its weekly Saturday morning line-up of "Jungle Adventure" on WOR-TV, Channel 9, in New York City (1977-1979), LORD OF THE JUNGLE, along with the previous "Bomba" adventures, have turned up on cable television, notably Turner Classic Movies (TCM premiere: March 24, 2012), where the series has been rediscovered by a new generation, or revisited by older ones who grew up watching this series. Mainly geared for the youthful generation when produced, LORD OF THE JUNGLE bids farewell from both Bomba the character and Johnny Sheffield, the jungle boy of many Saturday Matinée second feature presentations. (**1/2).

This is the only Bomba film in which Johnny Sheffield shares top billing with another actor namely chain smoking, overweight, disillusioned Wayne Morris. It is the only one of the series which does not have a human villain. Instead there is a rogue elephant who is leading the rest of the herd to commit mayhem. The crux of the drama is conflict between Bomba who is full of bombast and only wants to shoot the rogue elephant and Wayne Morris who is head of a government licensed group of hunters ordered to shoot the entire herd. The last few of the series injected a sliver of sex by inventing an excuse for the comely heroine,in this case Nancy Hale, to go for a dip with Bomba. They also share a couple of chaste kisses. The budget of this film must have been trimmed more than usual because much of the action is talked about or described rather than seen, but the climax packs a little excitement. Stock footage of wild animals abounds. The rest of the film is padded out with aimless trekking through the jungle in pursuit of the rogue elephant. The script contains gaps in logic and continuity and most of the characters display a lack of common sense. Sheffield fits the role and his loin cloth comfortably. On the strength of Wayne Morris's appearance in this film, the title could have been changed to "Lard of the Jungle". After viewing this effort, it is doubtful if anyone exclaimed, "We could be talking Oscars here!"

Bomba (Johnny Sheffield) is protecting the elephants from the hunters. It turns out that the government has sanctioned the hunt for rampaging elephants destroying neighboring villages. Bomba insists that there is only one rogue elephant and refuses to allow them hunting on his land. Commissioner Andy Barnes' visiting niece Mona Andrews falls for the jungle boy.

This is the 12th and last film in the Bomba series. It is a copy of the Tarzan franchise for the kids. The acting is mostly poor. This story moves pretty slowly although I am following it. It cannot be anything more than a lowly B-movie.

Bomba attempts to stop elephant hunters sent by the government to kill a wild herd, convinced that one rogue pachyderm is responsible for leading the others astray. Johnny Sheffield retired his loincloth and vine rope with this 12th installment in the franchise, which writer-producer-director Ford Beebe began in 1949 via Monogram Pictures (by now transformed into Allied Artists). It was appropriately timed as Sheffield no longer looks like a Jungle Boy, apt to running away from the girls after a chaste kiss. Beebe's method of intercutting wildlife footage from stock with the African-set adventures usually results in a visual hodgepodge; with "Lord", however, the editing is pretty sharp, particularly during the exciting climax. Bomba and a stubborn young woman from London became fast friends (complete with a romantic moonlight smooch), though he ends up aiding her in a reconciliation with her bleeding-heart fiancé and walks away with his standard friendly wave. Amusingly, no female was ever able to topple this lord of the jungle! **1/2 from ****

Lord of the Jungle was the last of the 12 Bomba movies starring Johnny Sheffield as Bomba.

In this last movie, a large group of elephants are on the rampage in the jungle, destroying native villages and killing people. Some hunters go to track them down and kill them. Not if Bomba has anything to do with it. He blames these attacks on just one elephant, the leader of the group. With the help of one of the hunters, he manages to track the leader down and the hunter kills him and the rest of the group disperse.

Like all the Bomba movies I have seen so far, I found Lord of the Jungle enjoyable.

I'm lucky to have a source to get these movies from as they are all hard to get hold of.

Rating: 3 stars out of 5.