The Naked Jungle

Director: Byron Haskin Byron Haskin

Overview

It doesn't take long for old-time-radio fans to figure out that The Naked Jungle is a film version of the classic Carl Stephenson nailbiter Leiningen Versus the Ants. Charlton Heston plays South American plantation owner Christopher Leiningen, who spends most of the film preparing for the hellish onslaught of deadly soldier ants. The original story concentrated solely on Leiningen; the film version hokes things up a bit by bestowing upon the hero a gorgeous mail-order bride, played by Eleanor Parker. No matter: the climactic insect invasion is well worth the wait, utilizing the Paramount Pictures optical-effects department to the nth degree. The Naked Jungle also offers excellent supporting work from Abraham Sofaer, Douglas Fowley, and William Conrad, who also acted in several of the radio adaptations of the Carl Stephenson yarn.

Product Details

Release Date:	12/01/2020
UPC:	0032429352439
Original Release:	1954
Rating:	NR
Source:	ALLIED VAUGHN
Language:	English
Time:	1:35:00
Sales rank:	18,727

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Charlton Heston	Christopher Leiningen
Eleanor Parker	Joanna Leiningen
William Conrad	Commissioner
Abraham Sofaer	Incacha
Romo Vincent	Boat Captain
Douglas Fowley	Médecin
John Dierkes	Gruber
Leonard Strong	Kutina
Norma Calderon	Zala
John Mansfield	Foreman
Ronald Numkena	Actor
Bernie Gozier	Actor
Jack Reitzen	Actor
Rodd Redwing	Actor
Ronald Alan Numkena	Actor
Pilar del Rey	Actor
John E. Wood	Actor
Jerry Groves	Actor
Leon Lontoc	Actor
Carlos Rivero	Actor
Daniele Amfitheatrof	Composer

Technical Credits

Ranald MacDougall

Philip Yordan

Ben Maddow

Farciot Edouart	Special Effects
John P. Fulton	Special Effects
Byron Haskin	Director
George Pal	Producer
Ranald MacDougall	Screenwriter
Philip Yordan	Screenwriter
Ben Maddow	Screenwriter
Gene Garvin	Sound Effects

Editorial Reviews

The last half of The Naked Jungle is an exciting adventure flick, a man vs. nature story that is hard to resist. Unfortunately, the first half is padded out with a rather soapy romance story that, while it serves to tell the audience a great deal about the character of Christopher Leiningen, simply isn't very interesting. This schizophrenic halving of the film is unfortunate, for if all of Naked was as well done as its climactic invasion sequence, it would have been quite memorable. It would also have been a better film if the romance story had been a bit fresher, or if the first half (and, it must be admitted, the film as a whole) had contained decent dialogue. Modern viewers will also be turned off by the manner (in both halves of the film) in which the natives are portrayed, as well as by the egotism of Leiningen. But Naked does boast one of Charlton Heston's better, less mannered performances, as well as a dandy one from the lovely Eleanor Parker, who knows how to make a strong impression even in a film in which a swarm of ants is the real star. And by the last half, when the crisis becomes known and Heston and Parker swing into action, the film does become engrossing, with a number of nail-biting moments. Though clearly produced on a budget, the special effects are quite impressive, and director Byron Haskin knows exactly what he's doing from the time the focus switches from romantic troubles to a physical crisis. Though the lack of buildup may mute its impact somewhat, The Naked Jungle is probably a better film that's better if you catch it halfway through.

All Movie Guide - Craig Butler