My goodness! How do they get away with showing this one in the current climate of super-sensitivity and protest? This film ticks every box regarding colonialism, racism, male chauvinism, exploitation and blood sports.
In 1950s Rhodesia, insurance investigator Scott Walters (Dana Andrews) is looking into the presumed death of Perry Henderson who recently took out policy worth 2 million dollars. Since Henderson is played by regular 50s bad guy David Farrar, you know it's dodgy. Henderson's fiancee Marian Taylor (Jeanne Crain) answers a summons to Africa, pursued enthusiastically by Walters who, in all honesty, is harassing her. Despite having to slog through the jungle Ms Taylor takes with her a complete collection of Parisian haute couture, borne by local natives who just materialise out of the forest when summoned. Naturally Henderson proves to be alive and is a real nasty piece of work , not hesitating to flog a native who disobeys him. He also tries to do away with Walters by tampering with his gun on a lion hunt. Marion realises he's a wrong 'un and she and Walters flee down the river with Henderson in hot pursuit. Back on dry land Marion is threatened by a lion which is killed (really) by the area British Police Inspector played by Patrick Barr and Henderson is apprehended, leaving Walters and Marian to walk off into the African sunset.
This movie is typical of a number of "jungle" films of the fifties. Filmed in glorious technicolor and featuring extensive scenes of wild animals crossing the plains, crocodiles scurrying into rivers, snakes posing threateningly in trees and monkeys behaving badly. The locals are portrayed patronisingly, often as live tableaux, dancing or in tribal dress and being ordered about by white men who are addressed as Bwana. Along with Mogambo, Safari and most of the Tarzan output, this one should be quietly laid to rest.
Review of Duel in the Jungle
