As a kid in a small mountain town some 70-years ago, I tried never to miss a Sabu movie whenever the family visited Denver. Now I again know why. The sheer cinematic majesty of a Jungle Book (1942) remains a near equal to the alpine majesty of my youth. Thanks be to whoever remastered the original whose colors now shine through like a Technicolor kaleidoscope. Whether it's the spectacle of the exotic jungle, or the creatures roaming and roaring, or Sabu communing with his adopted surroundings, the eye entertainment never lets up.
There is, however, more to the plot than meets the eye. On the surface it's about three greedy settler types who lust after a fortune of gold coins, jewels, and a ruby adorned sceptre, all hidden in a decaying marble temple deep in the jungle. They're quite willing to sacrifice anybody or anything to escape the with the riches. Blocking them is Sabu who's been reared by a jungle wolfpack, speaks animal language, and identifies with the sanctity of its creatures. Whether with alligators, panthers, or cobras as pardners, he is one with the primitive ecosystem and will not let the thieves undermine the harmonious balance. After all, what's to prevent the thieves from returning with others for even more still-hidden riches. Given these elements, it's not too difficult to construe a contemporary allegory in the stuggle between extractive corporations and the natural environment that dominates much of the news. I particularly liked Sabu's natural amazement that artificial creations like gold coins would possess more value in the eyes of the thieves than even food itself, amounting to a kind of Back to Basics point of view. And catch that grabber unHollywood ending, in both storyline and visuals.
At the same time, I'm amazed that the entire production never left the LA area (IMDB). All in all, that's a real tribute to Hollywood magic well before the advent of digital technology. Then too, the only evidence of Hollywood celebrity is dark-eyed Sabu's alleged mother blue-eyed Rosemary De Camp, best kown for the long-running TV serries, The Bob Cumming Show (1955-59). Also, and most importantly, Sabu shines as the 'wolf pack' boy, bringing a naturalness and energy perfectly suited to his role. I hope he was paid double for all that running, jumping and swimming, or at least given an Olympics tryout.
Anyway, I hope this hidden gem gets the kind of ballyhoo it richly deserves, for both it's spectacle and message should resonate with contemporary audiences.
There is, however, more to the plot than meets the eye. On the surface it's about three greedy settler types who lust after a fortune of gold coins, jewels, and a ruby adorned sceptre, all hidden in a decaying marble temple deep in the jungle. They're quite willing to sacrifice anybody or anything to escape the with the riches. Blocking them is Sabu who's been reared by a jungle wolfpack, speaks animal language, and identifies with the sanctity of its creatures. Whether with alligators, panthers, or cobras as pardners, he is one with the primitive ecosystem and will not let the thieves undermine the harmonious balance. After all, what's to prevent the thieves from returning with others for even more still-hidden riches. Given these elements, it's not too difficult to construe a contemporary allegory in the stuggle between extractive corporations and the natural environment that dominates much of the news. I particularly liked Sabu's natural amazement that artificial creations like gold coins would possess more value in the eyes of the thieves than even food itself, amounting to a kind of Back to Basics point of view. And catch that grabber unHollywood ending, in both storyline and visuals.
At the same time, I'm amazed that the entire production never left the LA area (IMDB). All in all, that's a real tribute to Hollywood magic well before the advent of digital technology. Then too, the only evidence of Hollywood celebrity is dark-eyed Sabu's alleged mother blue-eyed Rosemary De Camp, best kown for the long-running TV serries, The Bob Cumming Show (1955-59). Also, and most importantly, Sabu shines as the 'wolf pack' boy, bringing a naturalness and energy perfectly suited to his role. I hope he was paid double for all that running, jumping and swimming, or at least given an Olympics tryout.
Anyway, I hope this hidden gem gets the kind of ballyhoo it richly deserves, for both it's spectacle and message should resonate with contemporary audiences.