Lively, entertaining reviews of, and essays on, old and newer films and everything relating to them, written by professional author William Schoell.

Thursday, February 23, 2017

SAVAGE MUTINY

SAVAGE MUTINY (1953). Director: Spencer Gordon Bennet.

Jungle Jim (Johnny Weissmuller) is apprised of a government operation "X" that will take place on the island of Talunga. The natives of the island are to be temporarily relocated so that -- get this! -- atomic tests can be conducted to see how they affect the plant life. One supposes that the natives will be protected from dangerous radiation by inoculations given to them by the very pretty Joan Harris (Angela Stevens), who wears a tight skirt in the jungle and almost loses the serum she needs when some animals engage in warfare. Meanwhile some nefarious characters are hoping to maneuver the natives back to the island so they can be destroyed when the bomb drops and the U. S. government will be blamed. Savage Mutiny is gleefully clueless about atomic fall-out as people were back in those days, but it wouldn't be long before radiation would be blamed for everything from mutants to giant grasshoppers. The attractive and competent Angela Stevens mostly appeared in TV shows. Timba the chimp is as funny as ever, but Weissmuller is beginning to look a little weather-beaten despite his only being forty-nine.

Verdict: One of the duller Jungle Jim movies. *1/2.

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