The Naked Jungle
Moved by lonely letters written to her brother, a widow agrees to marry his brother by proxy, the relationship appears doomed ...until ...
The Story … The Naked Jungle – 1954 – Charlton Heston
In 1901, Joanna arrives from New Orleans at a South American cocoa plantation to meet her new husband (whom she married by proxy), 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 mutual softening, he still decides to send her back to the US. 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 (marabunta), 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 …
Credits :
Directed by : Byron Haskin
Screenplay by : Ranald MacDougall, Ben Maddow and Philip Yordan
Based on : Leiningen Versus the Ants by Carl Stephenson
Produced by : George Pal
Cinematography : Ernest Laszlo
Edited by : Everett Douglas
Music by : Daniele Amfitheatrof
Colour Process : Technicolor
Production Company : Paramount Pictures
Distributed by : Paramount Pictures
Release Date : March 3, 1954
Genre : #romance – #adventure – #love
Cast :
Eleanor Parker as Joanna Leiningen (Selby)
Charlton Heston as Christopher Leiningen
Abraham Sofaer as Incacha
William Conrad as Commissioner
Romo Vincent as Boat Captain
Douglas Fowley as Medicine Man
John Dierkes as Gruber
Leonard Strong as Kutina
Norma Calderón as Zala
Pilar Del Rey as Indian Wife
Bernie Gozier as Gruber’s Indian
Jerry Groves as Gruber’s Indian
Leon Lontoc as Indian
John Mansfield as Foreman
Ronald Alan Numkena as Indian Boy
Rodd Redwing as Indian
Jack Reitzen as Fat Man
Carlos Rivero as Indian Husband
Film Information Source :
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