Jungle Book (1942)

Director:

Zoltan Korda

Writers:

Rudyard Kipling (novel) and
Laurence Stallings (adaptation)

Release Date:

3 April 1942 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Family | Fantasy

Tagline:

I'll show you the mysteries--the wonders of the jungle's savage heart!

Plot:

A boy raised by wolves tries to adapt to human village life; tenuously based on Kipling's stories.

Plot Keywords:

Jungle | Village | Greed | Treasure | India

Awards:

Nominated for 4 Oscars. Another 2 wins

Cast

  (Complete credited cast)

Sabu	...	Mowgli
Joseph Calleia	...	Buldeo
John Qualen	...	The barber
Frank Puglia	...	The pundit
Rosemary DeCamp	...	Messua (as Rosemary De Camp)
Patricia O'Rourke	...	Mahala
Ralph Byrd	...	Durga
John Mather	...	Rao
Faith Brook	...	English girl
Noble Johnson	...	Sikh

Also Known As:

Rudyard Kipling's Jungle Book

Runtime:

108 min | 102 min (restored version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

UK:U | USA:Approved (certificate #7518) | West Germany:6 | Australia:G | Canada:F (Ontario) | Finland:S | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Hollywood Center Studios - 1040 N. Las Palmas Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Alexander Korda Films

Trivia:

The 1942 "Jungle Book" was the first film for which original soundtrack recordings were issued. Previously, when record companies released music from a film, they had insisted on re-recording the music in their own studios with their own equipment. The "Jungle Book" records were taken from the same recordings used for the film's soundtrack, and their commercial success paved the way for more original-soundtrack albums.

Goofs:

Factual errors: Ka states that cats do not like water; therefore, Sheera won't follow Sabu through water. However, tigers do like water, so it should not be surprising that Sheera follows Sabu when he jumps into the water.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Valley Girl (1983)

Memorable Star, Brilliant Art Design--And Incredibly Dire DVDs

Loosely based on the Rudyard Kipling "Mowgli" stories, the 1942 JUNGLE BOOK offered war-weary audiences brilliant Technicolor, elaborate sets, numerous action sequences, exotic animals, lost treasure, and a climatic firestorm--not to mention charismatic Indian-born star Sabu in a persistently and titillating half-naked state. It was easily one of the most popular films of the year, a two-hour respite from some of the darkest days of World War II, and its style was so admired it easily won two Academy Awards for best color cinematography and best art direction.

Seen today, however, JUNGLE BOOK is considerably less enchanting. Much of the film's original appeal arose from audience interest in seeing "jungle beasts" in full color--and while several of the animal sequences (particularly those relating to tiger Shere Khan) are classics of their kind, most modern audiences have seen many such scenes in many later films. Further undercutting the animal-interest is the film's use of several animal "dummies" that seemed realistic in 1942 but which are now very obvious in their artificiality.

What remains, however, are Sabu and the overall design of the film, both of which are quite remarkable. Sabu (1924-1963) was an extremely unlikely star, plucked from complete obscurity in India by the Korda brothers to star in the 1937 ELEPHANT BOY. Fluent in English, unexpectedly charismatic, and with a handsome face and impressive body that the Kordas displayed to great effect, Sabu's greatest success would come with the 1940 Korda brothers' production of THE THIEF OF BAGDAD, and he would remain a popular actor in exotic roles throughout World War II. Although not his best film, JUNGLE BOOK captures Sabu at the very height of his appeal--and that is saying a great deal indeed.

The design of the film is equally notable and provides a perfect backdrop to Sabu's charms. Filmed largely on soundstages where producer Alexander Korda, director Zoltan Korda, and art director Vincent Korda could exercise absolute control over every aspect of the film, JUNGLE BOOK is a study in the art of the Technicolor process and easily ranks among the finest color films of that decade. The sets, particularly the complex jungle and "lost city" scenes, are both remarkably fine and beautifully photographed, and the firestorm that climaxes the film retains considerable power.

Unfortunately, however, there doesn't really seem a single DVD edition of the film that presents the film in its full 1942 glory. JUNGLE BOOK is among a number of famous films that has fallen into public domain--and the result is a host of incredibly dire releases to the home market. I have seen, either in full or in part, at least a half-dozen DVD releases of the film, and in each instance the colors are extremely muddy and the picture very fuzzy, often to a point at which the movie is virtually unwatchable. And sadly, given the obscurity of the film in the wake of the popular Walt Disney animated feature, we are very unlikely to see anything better.

Gary F. Taylor, aka GFT, Amazon Reviewer