- Film Review
- Reviewed By David Parkinson
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3 out of 5
Directed by Zoltan Korda, this is a starchy affair in which animal magic, preachy parable and jungle adventure have been loosely combined, missing the wisdom, drama and humour of Rudyard Kipling's classic stories. Sabu stars as Mowgli, the child raised by wolves, whose animal friends Baloo, Hathi and Bagheera protect him as he trails man-eating tiger Shere Khan (here a dog in a striped suit) and faces sundry human villains. Much of it seems rather stilted today, though the Technicolor jungle built in Los Angeles (where a panther mauled a crew member and pythons caused panic) remains a captivating fantasy world. Fans of the Disney cartoon version should certainly take a look at its live-action predecessor: heavy going for all its beauty, but still superior to Disney's own live-action adaptation with Jason Scott Lee.
Plot Summary
Adventure based on the story by Rudyard Kipling, starring Joseph Calleia and Sabu. A young Indian boy, Mowgli, strays into the depths of the jungle where he is found by a pack of wolves who raise him as their own. Later, he returns to his native village where he discovers that his father was killed by the feared tiger Shere Kahn, and sets out to seek revenge.
Cast and crew
Cast
- Mowgli
- Sabu
- Buldeo
- Joseph Calleia
- Barber
- John Qualen
- Pundit
- Frank Puglia
- Messua
- Rosemary DeCamp
- Mahala
- Patricia O'Rourke
- Durga
- Ralph Byrd
- Rao
- John Mather
- English girl
- Faith Brook
- Sikh
- Noble Johnson
Crew
- Director
- Zoltan Korda
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