Law of the Jungle (1942) User Reviews

Mantan maintains movie

[bkoganbing · 4/10 · 19 February 2014]

For a Monogram Picture that was obviously rushed out into production post Pearl Harbor, Law Of The Jungle does have some amusing moments in it, mostly provided by Mantan Moreland. Moreland plays a Rochester like character who is accompanying paleontologist Dusty King on a scientific expedition in Africa. Both of them get involved with Arline Judge, a stranded Maisie like showgirl and all of them get involved with some Nazi agents who are trying to foment trouble among the African tribes.

As it is a Monogram it also has some extreme plot holes no doubt due to some injudicious editing by Sam Katzman's cutters. Just why is Judge's passport worth stealing so she can't leave Africa by our villains is really never explained. Unless of course they had other obvious designs upon her.

Moreland has some funny moments however, but his Rochester like character is playing against Dusty King who is as stiff as those plywood jungle trees that Monogram was using as a set. No Jack Benny is movie cowboy Dusty King who is not as much home in the jungle as he is home on the range.

Mantan Moreland is the reason to see this film.

Mantan Moreland's acting is what makes this film.

[ChuckStraub · 5/10 · 2 April 2006]

The main plot of the movie is espionage and adventure in the African Jungle. Nazi agents try to incite a native uprising against the British. This is drama and adventure with a healthy dose of comedy by Mantan Moreland. This film was made in 1942 and is certainly dated. You have to watch this film in the context of the times. Today this film will be looked upon as politically incorrect and demeaning to blacks. Mantan Moreland had what was considered a supporting role in Law of the Jungle but today he should be seen for what he is. This man is a good actor and a great comedian. Mantan Moreland playing Jefferson "Jeff" Jones is the main reason to watch this movie. Mantan Moreland may be better known to viewers for his roles as Birmingham Brown in the Charlie Chan movies of the mid 40s but he is great in law of the Jungle. Moreland is so good, he is even used as the main attraction on the cover art of the DVD. His acting is what takes Law of the Jungle a notch above being a blah boring movie.

Cannons to the right of me! Cannons to the left of me! And I ain't got no health insurance!

[sol-kay · 5/10 · 4 December 2005]

(Some Spoilers) Being stuck in the African jungle at this dive "The Traders Hole & Cafe" Brooklyn band singer Nora Brooks, Arline Judge,has been waiting for her passport so she can get back to civilization back in Brooklyn. But as you would expect the Post Office, even in the wilds of darkest Africa,is as slow as molasses in it's mail delivery. It turns out that it's not the Post Office fault but Nora's boss Simmons, Arthur O'Connell who been keeping her passport from getting to her, after first stealing it, in order to keep Nora at his joint to entertain the customers.

Simmons is also in the pay of the Nazis who's agents Grozman & Belts,Victor Kendall & Feodor Chaliapan, who are trying to stir up the natives against their British Colonial rulers and become unwitting pawns in helping Germany in winning the war against the allies. It's when British government agent Tony Hobson, Robert Strange, shows up to see just what's going on that things really start to unravel for everyone involved. Having a drink and watching Nora's stage act the lights go out and when their turned back on again Hobon is dead. Stabbed to death and the secret document that he has on him about the Nazis intentions, as well as Nora are both gone. Hobson's killer in a panic put the document in Nora's jacket.

On the run from the police thinking she's to be arrested for agent Hobson's murder Nora runs into in this camp in the middle of the jungle of what's we would call a digger upper, archaeologist Larry Mason, John "Dusty" King. Being a woman the natives on Mason's expiation are nervous since they tell him, through their head boss man Bongo(Martin Wilkins),that she's brought a Ju-Ju, an evil spirit, along with her and they want no part of it.

Not being able to throw Nora out into the jungle Mason agrees to take her along which has the two Nazi agents to get the local native tribe headed by their Oxford educated and Harlem born Chief Mojobo, Lawrence Criner. They want Chief Mojobo to attack and capture Nora and Mason and also his Harlem born & bread sidekick Jefferson "Jeff" Jones, Martan Moreland.

Funny only because of Martan Moreland being in the film who, as you would expect, steals every scene that he's in with the rest of the cast coming across like a bunch of wooden cigar store Indians.The Nazis are so inept that they can't even finish off Simmons, with a handgun and rifle at point-blank range. Simmons gives them up to the British because the Nazis were too cheap to pay him the 100 British Pounds that they promised him.

The lovable and adorable, as well as hilarious, Jeff Jones attracts both a big hairy guerrilla as well as the chief's over endowed and well-fed daughter. Who get's him and his friends Mason & Nora released just before they were to be the main course for Thanksgiving Dinner. The fact that Jeff and Chief Mojobo belonged to the same fraternity back in Harlem didn't hurt their chances to be able to survive intact and not be wolfs-down by the natives either.

Mantan Moreland is the only reason to watch this movie.

[bensonmum2 · 5/10 · 29 November 2008]

I won't even bother with a plot description. The plot isn't the reason anyone today is going to watch Law of the Jungle anyway. The only reason to watch this movie and the only thing its got going for it is Mantan Moreland. As un-PC as it is in today's world, Moreland's brand of comedy is often laugh-out-loud funny. While he's not given material in Law of the Jungle that's as good as he had in some of his other movies (For example, I think he's given better, funnier lines in King of the Zombies.), I still found a laugh or two and always a smile on my face. As for the rest of the movie, it's largely forgettable. From the ridiculous night club in the middle of the jungle to the completely unrealistic man-in-a-gorilla suit to star John "Dusty" King's wooden performance, there's little besides Moreland to recommend. The rating I've give Law of the Jungle (5/10) is based almost entirely on Mantan Moreland.

One final thing, maybe I've missed something, but it seems a bit odd to me that Mantan Moreland's character's name is Jefferson "Jeff" Jones. If you go through his filmography, you'll notice that Moreland often played a character named Jefferson Jones or Jeff Jones or simply Jeff. Is this supposed to be the same person? It has no real bearing on Law of the Jungle, just something I noticed and thought was strange.

Nazis hunt down archaeologist & company in the jungle

[Mike-764 · 4/10 · 8 March 2004]

Nona Brooks is an American singer in a nightclub in the middle of the African jungles, is trying to scrape enough money to get back to the US. When a British intelligence officer is murdered by a pair of Nazi spies in order to get a document that would reveal their identity, Nona escapes from the nightclub, unaware that she is carrying the document. She joins up with Larry Mason, an American archaeologist, and they, along w/ Larry's valet Jeff, try to prevent the spies from capturing them, until they fall into the hands of a cannibalistic tribe. It seems Monogram was trying to cash in on the fun they had with King of the Zombies, but lacks the style that picture due to Yarbrough's listless direction, making this one feel just ho-hum. Not much to rave about from King, Judge, and Moreland, however Criner steals the show as the Oxford educated tribal chief, unfortunately he's only in the last 10 minutes of the movie. Rating, 4.

The Natives Are Restless, And So Is The Audience

[boblipton · 2/10 · 26 February 2021]

Arline Judge is a singer who's manager left her stranded in Duakwa. In reality, that's in Ghana, but in this movie, it's in Rhodesia. She's making do singing for room and board, but because her boss is a spy, she gets accused of murder and leaves town, hooking up with paleontologist John 'Dusty' King and his manservant Mantan Moreland as real and fake police agents trail her.

To say this is dire is an understatement. It's full of badly written lines, King offers a performance that has wood as its main component, and Moreland's efforts at comedy are hampered by a stupid script. There's a lot of wasted talent in the background, like Arthur O'Connell, C. Montaue Shaw, and Blue Washington, but director Jean Yarborough seems to have no interest in overcoming Monogram Pictures' lack of interest and budget.

Come back, Arthur! All is forgiven!

[JohnHowardReid · 4/10 · 3 November 2017]

Arline Judge, John King, Mantan Moreland, Martin Wilkins, Arthur O'Connell, C. Montague Shaw, Guy Kingsford, Victor Kendal, Feodor Chaliapin, Lawrence Criner.

Director: JEAN YARBROUGH. Screenplay: George Brick-er. Additional dialogue: Edmond Kelso. Photography: Mack Stengler. Film editor: Jack Ogilvie. Art director: David Milton. Music director: Edward J. Kay. Production manager: William Strohbach. Sound recording: William Fox: Producer: Lindsley Parsons.

Copyright 6 February 1942 by Monogram Pictures Corporation. No New York opening. U.S. release: 6 February 1942. Australian release through British Empire Films: 2 July 1942. 6 reels. 5,824 feet. 64½ minutes.

COMMENT: The most interesting thing about this wartime contribution is Arthur O'Connell's curious performance as a seedy innkeeper.

Unfortunately, the O'Connell character gets himself killed soon after the action begins, leaving us to the mercy of George Bricker's cliché-ridden script — plus the inadequate acting of the rest of the players including Mantan Moreland, up to his usual eye-rolling antics, plus an unfortunate, if needy extra, dressed up in a very obvious monkey suit.

There's more silliness than bamboo in this jungle.

[mark.waltz · 3/10 · 5 June 2019]

Between Arline Judge's monotone performance, Jon "Dusty" King's lathargic performance, a man in a gorilla suit, some nasty Nazis and rumor cannibalism, this Monogram programmer only comes to life every time Mantan Moreland is on-screen, even if a good majority of his part is undignified. He's assistant to King's bone collecting American while Judge is a supposed con artist trying to get out of the jungle to the Bay of Good Hope.

The Nazis are there to create tribe uprisings, and Moreland is trying to escape the advances of amorous native Hattie Noel, sister of chief Lawrence Criner, an Oxford educated native. Moreland has a great way with a self-deprecating line, especially when facing either day gorilla in the cave or the amorouss Noel.

One of the "Gone with the Wind" mammies (auditioning potential Scarlets), Noel was a scene-stealer in the same year's "Lady for a Night", had a brief appearance as the Gordon's maid in "Kings Row", and a few years earlier had danced in the Harlem sequence of "Alice Blue Gown" in the film version of "Irene"., so her out of the blue appearance in this film came as a complete delight. This by all means is a pretty bad film, but there are certainly some moments that stand out, even though overall it is pretty downright tacky.

THIS QUOTE IS WRONG "Cannons to the right of me! Cannons to the left of me! And I ain't got no health insurance!'

[rachel-193-120274 · 7/10 · 2 April 2021]

HE ACTUALLY SAYS CANNIBALS to the right of me! CANNIBALS to the left of me! And I ain't got no health insurance!

CANNIBALS NOT CANNONS!

"She's no lady. She's a singer!

[hwg1957-102-265704 · 5/10 · 8 April 2018]

Singer Nona Brooks gets caught up in a murder at a nightclub in Rhodesia and flees into the jungle, re-encountering Larry Mason. Mason is a shy paleontologist looking for the "'missing link" accompanied by his gentleman's gentleman Jeff (from Brooklyn) and some native bearers. Nona is pursued by some Nazi agents seeking to stir up a rebellion against the British as she accidentally possesses a document that will lay bare their machinations. The police are also in pursuit.

It's a typical low budget wartime jungle tale; walking round the same studio forest, stock footage of exotic animals, the sound of drumming in the background, an actor in a gorilla suit, lots of jabbering natives, wily Germans and heroic Americans. Not even Mantan Moreland, Arline Judge and Arthur O'Connell can bring life to the stilted and unoriginal story. And what the actually law of the jungle being invoked was, it was difficult to say.

Arline Judge does have a lovely voice though with a pleasing Barbara Stanwyck kind of timbre. I noted she married and divorced eight husbands in her life. I hope they appreciated her appealing voice at the very least.

The Natives are Restless and a Lot of Fun

[dbborroughs · 8/10 · 18 July 2004]

Stranded at a jungle outpost a singer tries to make her way home. Through circumstances beyond her control she ends up in the jungle on the run from Nazi's and the police who think she maybe connected to a murder. Reluctantly coming to her aid is a scientist with Mantan Moreland as an aide de camp.

Back lot bound with some twists that must have been put in let the audience know that none of this was to be taken seriously, Law of the Jungle is an imperfect but very funny jungle adventure/comedy.

Our heroine for once seems to be what she claims, a tough broad from Brooklyn way over her head. Her whiskey barrel voice is a nice change from the typical female shriek. Mantan Moreland is, as always, a joy to watch and how he shoots dice has to go down as one of the worst, and funniest scams in B movies.

Is this the greatest movie ever made? No, but its one you will be sorry to see end, especially when you see Moreland and the King interact.

8 out of 10. This is one to look for, especially since its out on cheaply priced DVD.