VALLEY OF HEAD HUNTERS

(director: William Berke; screenwriter: Samuel Newman; cinematographer: William Whitley; editor: Gene Havlick; music: Mischa Bakaleinikoff; cast: Johnny Weissmuller (Jungle Jim), Robert C. Foulk (Arco), Christine Larson (Ellen Shaw), Steven Ritch (Lt. Barry), Nelson Leigh (Mr. Bradley), Joseph Allen Jr. (Pico Church), Tamba (Chimp); Runtime: 67; MPAA Rating: NR; producer: Sam Katzman; Columbia Pictures; 1953)

“A typical Jungle Jim B film adventure story.”

Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz

William Berke (“The Lost Missille”/”Rolling Home”) helms a typical Jungle Jim B film adventure story. Again Johnny Weissmuller is cast in the hero’s role. The screenplay is by Samuel Newman. Columbia Pictures replaced Universal and produced a series of 16 Jungle Jim movies from 1948 to 1956 that starred Weissmuller. Universal started the franchise in 1937, producing 12 Jungle Jims that starred Grant Withers. This was Columbia’s 11th in the series.

Jungle Jim is assigned to accompany a government agent deep into the African jungle to get the tribal native’s approval for copper mining. But Jim is unaware that the diamond smuggler, Arco(Robert C. Foulk), wants all the mineral rights. The villain Arco and his cronies bribe the villagers to pose as headhunters and frame the village raids on Jungle Jim. The series began as a cartoon in American newspapers in 1933, depicting Jim Bradley living a life of adventure in the Asian jungles. The fearless character was nicknamed Jungle Jim.

The Adventures of Jungle Jim radio series premiered November 2, 1935.

REVIEWED ON 6/6/2016 GRADE: B-