The Naked Jungle
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Movie Reviews of The Naked Jungle
Movie Review: Remember when
Summary: 4 Stars
If you remember when movie stars were actually people with talent, people who could actually act, people who could make a movie with romance and adventure without blatant sex, drugs, and excessive violence... then this is one for you. I remember seeing it many years ago and as a fan of Charlton Heston could not wait to see it again. Truly a movie classic of an era when men were men and women were women and you could tell the difference. More often than not these day, oldies are truly the best.Movie Review: The Naked Jungle (aka Lanigen's Ants)
Summary: 4 Stars
Charleton Heston and Eleanor Parker star in this movie about love and army ants. I believe it was originally released as "Lanigen's Ants". Heston plays a wealthy land owner with very definite ideas of love and marriage. Eleanor Parker is his mail order bride who enlightens him to what love and marriage should really be. The army ants are there to wreak havoc with his hard earned dynasty and to threaten their blossoming relationship. As a Charleton Heston fan, I really enjoyed this movie.Movie Review: Survivor--50s Style.
Summary: 3 Stars
What was that line from the old serials ? " Jungle no place for woman " ? ! Released in 1954, "The Naked Jungle " seems like two movies in one. The first half is a rather tedious soap-opera--the second half a genuinely exciting thriller that may have you itching and scratching by the time it's over !
Charlton Heston plays Christopher Leiningen, owner of a South American cocoa plantation in 1901, who has decided that it's time to take a wife, and start producing heirs for the estate.
His "mail-order bride" arrives, and it's gorgeous Eleanor Parker, dressed to kill and ready for life in the jungle with Mr. Heston. Unfortunately he knows nothing about women, and proceeds to treat her abominably. Maybe he needs glasses ? anger management courses ? A voluptuous, stunning redhead wants to settle down with him, and his attitude is rude and insulting.
Why Ms. Parker doesn't take the next boat home will puzzle more than a few viewers !
Luckily for all of us--except Mr. Heston--there is big trouble brewing in the jungle--a vast army of soldier ants, 20 miles long and 2 miles wide. Guess who owns the plantation right in their path ? Will Charlton cut and run ? Will a strong-willed woman abandon her man, even after he has treated her like dirt ?
I think you know both answers ! Special effects are a bit primitive, but there are enough close-ups of the marauding ants to give you some idea of this extraordinary enemy. The final showdown between the ants and Mr. Heston is "worth the price of admission"--and many thought that his "disaster film period" was in the 70s ! By the way, ants were popular "villains" in 1954--"Them" came out the same year !
I have to say that I had a problem with the sudden change in our hero's personality--at a certain point in the film, his attitude to Ms. Parker switches so suddenly and completely that it strains credulity--but don't blame Mr. Heston--he had a script to follow and , unlike many of his films, less than two hours to tell the story. I thought that Ms. Parker was excellent, although her character takes that "stand by your man" philosophy to a whole new level ! William Conrad--much slimmer than in his later "Cannon" role on television--gives able support as the local Commissioner, wondering why Charlton doesn't immediately thank his lucky stars for this goddess who wants to be with him.
The full-screen, colour picture is vivid and beautiful--the sound--mono--the extras--zero.
Again--an interesting, colourful relic from the 50s--but you have to be patient before the big-payoff.
A very sad footnote, dated 6 April, 2008--Mr. Charlton Heston has passed away--he had been ill for some time. While he played many types of roles during a long career in movies, he will likely be best remembered for the spectacles like "Ben Hur" and "El Cid", where even a "cast of thousands" could not detract from Mr. Heston's formidable presence.
Movie Review: Strong Characters, Strong Acting, Weak Movie
Summary: 3 Stars
Charlton Heston plays a strong willed rancher in South America who carved out an empire through shear force of will. Eleanor Parker plays a mail order bride ordered by Heston to share his life with him. Things do not turn out as either expect. He is disappointed that she has been married previously. He cannot stand the idea of following someone else. Even so, he is an honorable person by his own standards. He wishes her no ill but, being socially inept, comes across as an ogre. He has his problems but is not as bad as he seems.
She, on the other hand, really wants the relationship to succeed. She is willing to put up with a lot but she does have her limits and her own conception of honor as well as right and wrong. Finally, when she thinks she can stand him no more, he decides to send her back. He is attracted to her but can't get over her past.
The relationship begins to change when they head upriver to investigate some strange happenings. Heston takes her along because he figures he can arrange return passage for her. It never happens. They find the source of the strange reports and it turns out that an army of ants is on the march. Parker's courage in the face of the natural disaster brings to two of them together. His stalwart defense doesn't hurt either.
The story is a credible if overblown dramatization of the fury of certain insects in South America. It does not rely on any "science fiction" gimmicks. The characterizations are creditable as well. That being the case, its hard to identify why this film is not better than it is. I suppose that this was one of Heston's earlier films. His intensity is almost overbearing. Still, it is worth seeing. There are better films out there but there are also many much worse.
Movie Review: Not Even a Trailer
Summary: 3 Stars
This film kind of disappointed me. I was expecting a full-blooded adventure story involving killer ants instead the first two-thirds of the film involve the tensions between a South American plantation owner(Charlton Heston) and his mail-order bride(Eleanor Parker). This is kind of a one-sided battle in my mind because young Heston's performance here borders on the stiff whereas Parker, a more seasoned pro at this juncture of her career, gives a full-bodied performance. And she looks lovely in her Edith Head creations. The film does kick it into the next gear once the soldier ants arrive to save the day.The Technicolor jungle photography is great to look at. Lastly, William Conrad a.k.a TV's "Cannon" does a colorful turn as a local magistrate.