The Naked Jungle

The Naked Jungle is a 1954 American adventure film directed by Byron Haskin, and starring Charlton Heston and Eleanor Parker. Telling the story of an attack of army ants on a Brazilian cocoa plantation, it was based on the 1937 short story "Leiningen Versus the Ants" by Carl Stephenson.[2]

Not to be confused with the TV programme Naked Jungle.
The Naked Jungle
Promotional film poster
Directed byByron Haskin
Produced byGeorge Pal
Screenplay byRanald MacDougall
Ben Maddow
Philip Yordan
Based on"Leiningen Versus the Ants"
by Carl Stephenson
StarringEleanor Parker
Charlton Heston
Abraham Sofaer
William Conrad
Music byDaniele Amfitheatrof
CinematographyErnest Laszlo
Edited byEverett Douglas
Color processTechnicolor
Distributed byParamount Pictures
Release date
  • March 3, 1954 (1954-03-03)
Running time
95 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$2.3 million (US)[1]

It is noteworthy for its use of special effects, especially the time-lapse photography, which was a hallmark of George Pal, and is often said to have been overlooked that year in the Oscar for Special Effects. However, the film is largely an unconventional romance, while the special effects, though impressive, are confined to the final scenes of the film.[3]

Plot

Set in 1901, Joanna arrives from New Orleans at a South American cocoa plantation to meet her new husband, plantation owner Christopher Leiningen. This has been arranged by his brother in New Orleans. Leiningen is upset that she is a widow, as he wished to marry a virgin. She tells him a piano plays better if it has already been played.

Leiningen is cold and remote to her, rebuffing all her attempts to make friends with him. She is beautiful, independent, and arrives ready to be his stalwart helpmate. There is a strong sexual tension, which appears hard to resolve. Although there is a mutual softening he resolves to send her back to America. Leiningen decides to advance this plan by a month when he hears from the local commissioner of a potential attack by an army of ants, as he does not wish her to be harmed.

As she awaits the boat to take her back to the United States, they learn that legions of army ants - the "marabunta" - will strike in a few days' time. Leiningen refuses to give up the home he fought so hard to create. Instead of evacuating, he resolves to make a stand against this indomitable natural predator. The ants take several days to arrive and during that time their joint effort brings them closer and love begins to blossom. Joanna joins the fight to save the plantation.

Leiningen's most drastic action is blowing up a timber dam to flood his own estate, washing the ants away.

Cast

Production

In November 1952 George Pal announced he would make a film from the story "Lenigan versus the Ants" with Philip Yordan to do the screenplay.[4][5]

In March 1953 Charlton Heston was announced as the male lead.[6] In May 1953 Teddi Sherman was reportedly working on the script.[7]

The screenplay was co-written by Ranald MacDougall and the blacklisted writer Ben Maddow.

William Conrad, who had starred as Leiningen in adaptations of Stephenson's story for the radio programs Escape and Suspense, appears in the film as a district commissioner.[8] (This was announced in July 1953.[9])

The unique "sound" of the ants devouring everything in their path was created by swirling a straw in a glass of water with crushed ice, which was then amplified. Much of the Rio Negro (Amazon) jungle riverscape, as well as the bridge dynamiting and sluice scenes, are second-unit stock footage shot in Florahome, Florida, according to IMDb .

Impact

The film was adapted for radio on the June 7, 1954 broadcast of the Lux Radio Theatre; Charlton Heston reprised his role as "Leiningen" and Donna Reed played "Joanna".

A scene from the film was used in the 1971 film The Hellstrom Chronicle.

The film strongly influenced the 1985 MacGyver episode "Trumbo's World", which also featured clips from the film.

In 1978 Martin Scorsese listed the film as among his "100 Random Pleasures" in a section of films which "are not good. They're guilty. But there are things in them that make you like them, that make them worthwhile."[10]

Trivia

In 1970, it aired on WVUE-TV in New Orleans, Louisiana, as part of its highly publicized switch of channel positions with that city's PBS member station, WYES-TV.[11]

References
  1. "1954 Boxoffice Champs". Variety. January 5, 1955. p. 59. Retrieved June 28, 2019 – via Archive.org.
  2. Crowther, Bosley (3 April 1954). "Bosley Crowther review". nytimes.com. The New York Times Company. Archived from the original on 7 July 2013. Retrieved August 8, 2013.
  3. http://nzpetesmatteshot.blogspot.com/2010/06/george-pals-naked-jungle-more-ants-than.html
  4. Looking at Hollywood: George Pal fo Make Weird, Jungle Story Picture Hopper, Hedda. Chicago Daily Tribune 17 Nov 1952: b3.
  5. COLUMBIA RAISES '53 OUTPUT TOTAL: New York Times 17 Nov 1952: 21.
  6. Heston Will Battle Ant Horde in Film Hopper, Hedda. Los Angeles Times (1923-1995); Los Angeles, Calif. [Los Angeles, Calif]20 Mar 1953: A6.
  7. MOVIELAND BRIEFS Los Angeles Times 13 May 1953: 19.
  8. "Escape-Leiningen Versus the Ants". escape-suspense.com. 22 April 2017. Archived from the original on 11 November 2012. Retrieved August 8, 2013.
  9. Traven Story Shaping for Sheridan; 'Spring Song' New Film Buy Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times 6 July 1953: B9.
  10. Martin Scorsese's Guilty Pleasures Scorsese, Martin. Film Comment; New York Vol. 14, Iss. 5, (Sep/Oct 1978): 63-66.
  11. "WVUE Channel 8 News Collection". Earl K. Long Library. University of New Orleans. June 2005. Archived from the original on 2 March 2016. Retrieved 22 February 2016.

Streaming audio

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