SAFARI DRUMS

SAFARI DRUMS (1953). Writer/producer/director: Ford Beebe.

A movie company has invaded Bomba's (Johnny Sheffield) turf and hope to get him to help them get some real animal action for the cameras. The director, Larry Conrad (Emory Parnell), wants some real "dramatic footage" from his cameraman, Steve (Paul Marion of The Lost Tribe). Peg (Barbara Bestar) is the secretary for the company, and they've hired a guide named Brad (Douglas Kennedy of The Amazing Transparent Man). When a geologist in the area is robbed of a map that may lead to diamonds, and murdered, Bomba realizes that one of those three men must have been the killer -- but which one? At least this is one jungle movie that admits there are no wild tigers in Africa, so Conrad brings a tiger with him so he can film an exciting scene pitting tiger against lion. Leonard Mudie and Smoki Whitfield appear, respectively, as Andy and Eli.

Verdict: This is an acceptable Bomba adventure, mostly for fans. **1/2.

THE LOST TRIBE

THE LOST TRIBE (1949). Director: William Berke.

In the second "Jungle Jim" feature after Jungle Jim, our hero (Johnny Weissmuller) learns of the hidden city of Zarn. Li Wanna (Elena Verdugo of The Frozen Ghost) comes from Zarn, and her brother Chot (Paul Marion) has given away the secret of the city's location out of lust for the hard-boiled Norina (Myrna Dell of Why Men Leave Home). Now Norina's associates, including her supposed uncle, Calhoun (Joseph Vitale), are after the diamonds of Zarn. To appease the crooks, Li Wanna's father, Zoron (Nelson Leigh of World Without End) asks JJ to bring them a peace offering, although the big guy realizes one little pouch of diamonds won't be enough for them ... The Lost Tribe seems to have a plot built around stock footage, but it's still somewhat entertaining. There's one great shot of the treacherous entrance to Zarn on a narrow plateau many miles above the valley, and JJ has a well-edited battle with a crocodile, and later saves a pearl diver from a voracious shark. JJ's animal friends include Skip the dog; Simba, the gorilla (a man in an ape suit); as well as a frequently-seen crow; and a raccoon. In one scene Simba, with a baby chimp [!] in her arms, battles a lion, and a whole bunch of gorillas go ape shit at the end when they attack the bad guys who are looting Zarn. This has everything but the kitchen sink and the score (uncredited) helps a lot. Jungle Jim simply comes off like an older version of Tarzan who speaks in slightly longer sentences. At one point Li Wanna calls him "Mr. Jim" as if Jim were his last name. It all moves quite swiftly.

Verdict: Fun if you like minor Jungle epics. **1/2.