Duel in the Jungle
Duel in the Jungle | |
---|---|
Associated British-Pathé (US)Warner Bros. | |
Release date |
|
Running time | 98 minutes |
Country | United Kingdom |
Language | English |
Box office | £205,010 (UK)[1] $1.1 million (US/Canada)[2] |
Duel in the Jungle is a 1954 British
Plot
American
Walters attempts to romance Marian, but she tells him she is engaged to Perry. He decides to return to America but boarding the plane, he sees a newspaper headline that Perry was swept overboard off the SS Nigeria during a storm when the ship was off
During a storm Pitt and Walters are the only passengers well enough to leave their cabin to dine with the ship's captain. Keeping his occupation a secret, Walters infuriates the captain by attempting to question him about Perry's death. Walters's suspicions are further aroused when he discovers that the only witnesses to Perry's death were employees of his firm, which also owned the SS Nigeria. The next day Walters finds a secret compartment on the ship and finds a cigarette butt on the compartment's floor bearing the markings of Perry's bespoke cigarettes. Walters also discovers Marian is a passenger aboard. Marian informs the captain that she does not want Walters to bother her.
During a storm the next night, Pitt borrows Walters's trench coat to go outside. One of the crew
Walters pursues Marian to discover the truth about Perry's whereabouts, with Marian being increasingly attracted to him. Walters and Marian find Perry and discover he has faked his death to get the insurance money. Perry tries to kill Walters by giving him a rifle with the firing pin removed so that a lion will kill him. Vincent, Perry's native right-hand man kills the lion further inflaming the situation. They have to flee, taking Vincent with them. They are pursue by Perry and his African helpers. The fugitives are in danger of death by water, gunshot and wild beasts (the cliche of snakes, lions and leopards) but are rescued in the nick of time by the police superintendent. Perry fights with Walters and then flees in a boat down the rapids. He capsizes and Walters saves him. Perry is arrested. The film ends with Walters and Marian embracing.
Cast
- Dana Andrews as Scott Walters
- Jeanne Crain as Marian Taylor
- David Farrar as Perry Henderson / Arthur Henderson
- Patrick Barr as Superintendent Roberts
- George Coulouris as Captain Malburn
- Charles Goldner as Martell
- Wilfrid Hyde-White as Pitt
- Mary Merrall as Mrs Henderson
- Heather Thatcher as Lady on the Niagara
- Michael Mataka as Vincent
- Paul Carpenter as Clerk
- Irene Handl as Mary Taylor
- Delphi Lawrence as Pan American Girl
- Mary Mackenzie as Junior Secretary
- Bee Duffell as Irish Landlady
- Alec Finter as Waiter
- Patrick Parnell as Wireless Operator
- John Salew as Clerk - Henderson's Office
- Walter Gotell as Jim
- Bill Fraser as Smith - Hotel Clerk
- Lionel Ngakane as Servant
- Robert Sansom as Steward
- Larry Taylor as Seaman
- Simone Silva as Redhead
Production notes
In September 1952, the film was going to be made with Yvonne De Carlo and Joseph Cotten.[5] In April 1953, Sam Marx was trying to set it up in London with Cotten and Gene Tierney.[6] In May, Kurt and Marcel Hellman, producers, were discussing shooting footage of the film in South Africa later that year.[7]
By June, the leads were confirmed as Dana Andrewas and Jeanne Crain. It was the first production from Todon, a company of
Although the copyright states that the screenplay was based on an original story by S. K. Kennedy, a July 1953 Variety article reports that screenwriters Samuel Marx and Tommy Morrison used a German novel originally published in 1942 as its source.
Shooting
Principal photography occurred between 24 August and early December 1953. Portions of the film were shot in South Africa at
On 25 September 1953, British assistant director Anthony Kelly, aged 32, died when he was thrown from his overturned canoe into a whirlpool on the Zambesi River; they were near Livingstone, Zambia, towards Palm Island.[14] He was in a boat with two hunters and an African guide.[15] The other three got to safety but not Kelly.[16]
The Hollywood Reporter stated that after audiences at a 29 July 1954 Los Angeles preview jeered at the film's ending, Warner Bros. re-edited the final scenes. The Variety review lists the running time of the British release as 105 minutes; reviews of the American version list the running time as 98 minutes.
Michael Mataka who sings the song "The Night Belongs to Me" became the first person of African descent to become commissioner of the Zambian Police.
Reception
According to Owen, the film made $3 million. It launched Todon on a series of films set in Africa with two American leads.[8]
In 1954, it was expected the film would earn $2 million in the US, returning $1.2 million to Britain.[17] According to Kinematograph Weekly the film was a "money maker" at the British box office in 1954.[18]
Soundtrack
The Night Belongs To Me
Music by Mischa Spoliansky
Lyrics by Norman Newell
Sung by Michael Mataka
References
- ^ Vincent Porter, 'The Robert Clark Account', Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television, Vol 20 No 4, 2000 p504
- ^ "1954 Box Office Champs". Variety Weekly. 5 January 1955. p. 59. - figures are rentals in the US and Canada
- ^ "Duel in the Jungle (1954)". BFI. Archived from the original on 14 January 2009. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
- ^ "Duel in the Jungle (1954) - Overview - TCM.com". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
- ^ Farouk-Type Narrative Proposed: Jungle Story Reported for De Carlo Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times (1923-1995); Los Angeles, Calif. [Los Angeles, Calif]09 Sep 1952: A7.
- ^ Looking at Hollywood: Hollywood Producer to Do 'Duel in Jungle' in London Hopper, Hedda. Chicago Daily Tribune (1923-1963); Chicago, Ill. [Chicago, Ill]07 Apr 1953: a4.
- ^ Singer Finally Enacts Role in Civilian Garb Los Angeles Times (1923-1995); Los Angeles, Calif. [Los Angeles, Calif]29 May 1953: 11.
- ^ a b A TOWN CALLED HOLLYWOOD: Studio Has 4 McGowans, Not to Mention a Megowan Scheuer, Philip K. Los Angeles Times 26 August 1956: D2.
- ^ Looking at Hollywood: Jungle Film Gets the Works: Wide Screen, 3-D, and Color HEDDA HOPPER'S STAFF. Chicago Daily Tribune 17 June 1953: a3.
- ^ Crain, Andrews African Duo; Douglas, Kennedy, McLaglen Deals Develop Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times 17 July 1953: 19.
- ^ U.S. GROUP TO LEAVE FOR FILM IN AFRICA: Jeanne Crain, Dana Andrews Will Make 'Duel in Jungle' in Kruger National Park Special to THE NEW YORK TIMES 8 July 1953: 6.
- ^ Lewis Comedy By THOMAS M. PRYORSpecial to THE NEW YORK TIMES. 5 Aug 1953: 19.
- ^ Jeanne Crain s AFRICAN ADVENTURE Hopper, Hedda. Chicago Daily Tribune 28 Feb 1954: f24.
- ^ DROWNED ON LOCATION: Film Director s Canoe Overturns The Manchester Guardian 26 Sep 1953: 5.
- ^ FILM DIRECTOR DIES AS BOAT UPSETS IN RIVER IN RHODESIA Chicago Daily Tribune 26 Sep 1953: a7.
- ^ FILM DIRECTOR DROWNED I I: Anthony Kelly of Britain Was Making Movie in Africa I New York Times 26 Sep 1953: 17.
- ^ "Gear to US Market". Variety. 17 November 1954. p. 20.
- ^ Billings, Josh (16 December 1954). "Other monkey makers". Kinematograph Weekly. p. 9.
External links
- Duel in the Jungle at IMDb
- Duel in the Jungle at Letterbox DVD
- Duel in the Jungle at BFI