Bomba, the Jungle Boy (1949)

FOLLOWING THE ABRUPT ending of his run as Boy in the MGM and Sol Lesser-RKO Series of Tarzan Pictures, young Johnny Sheffield swung, not to a new career path, but to the next tree in the vast Hollywood Backlot "Jungle". Beginning a new role as the title character in BOMBA,THE JUNGLE BOY (Monogram, 1949).* THE COMBINATION OF good looks, a fine athletic physique and all of the previously generated publicity from all of those Tarzan movies, all joined together to make him perfect for the Bomba movies. The quite accidental combination of factors made for an ideal package of characteristics, both on screen and in the promotions department of Monogram.AS FOR THE above mentioned Monogram Studios, it was a mark of a great step down from the Tarzans at MGM and RKO. Monogram (which was increasingly using its newly formulated moniker of Allied Artists)was truly a resident of what is known as "Poverty Row" in Hollywood. It was not only a member of this dubious fraternity, but it could well be said to be the preeminent low budget company.** AS ONE WOULD suspect, BOMBA, THE JUNGLE BOY, being a cheapie production, makes plenty of use of stock footage, back lot scrub woods (with the occasional placement of potted palm trees, dwarf banana trees and lush plantings of the Castor Bean plant***)and black men as extras; portraying safari porters.THE STORYLINE, ALTHOUGH admittedly somewhat thinner than most "A" Picture Jungle Epics, is adequate and told in a straight forward manner. however, regardless of narrative method, whether or not that it would spawn a sequel and a series, would rely on Box Office $ucce$$ with the Saturday Afternoon Matinée crowd. Needless to say, the combination of frugality and comic book-like appeal to the juvenile market equaled an A-OK for a series.WE HAVE ALREADY dealt with Johnny Sheffield's casting; which can only be classified as a proverbial no brainer. Hence, we won't discuss him any more.IN THE CAST we have the presence of Onslow Stevens, who anchors an otherwise nondescript company of supporting players. Mr. Stevens' characterization represents the intrusion of the Modern, Western Civilization into the wilds of the Dark Continent. Alrhough it is obvious that it is much more technologically advanced, it's no match for Nature and the primitives who inhabit its savannas, jungles and rain forests.THE INCLUSION OF Peggy Anns Garner is both a plus and a sort of a shock; for just a few years earlier she was praised for her portrayal in A TREE GROWS IN BROOKLYN. Working a Monogram would seem to indicate some degree of slipping to her career.SHE DOES, HOWEVER, make for a most lovely "Jungle Girl" and female interest as a potential love interest for the virginal Bomba. The two together make for a truly sensual and even sexy pair; particularly while stretched out and resting during the trek through the wilds.NOTE: * BOMBA is just one of many Tarzan knock-offs (and most successful one)that had appeared over the years and were adapted to the screen. Starting with KING OF THE JUNGLE (Paramount, 1933) with Buster Crabbe as 'Kaspa the Lion Man', Herman Brix (Bruce Bennett) as Kioga (a sort of Temperate Zone Tarzan), HAWK OF THE WILDERNESS (Republic, 1938) and KING OF THE CONGO (Columbia, 1952) with Buster Crabbe as 'Thunda', are all fine examples. In the World of the Comics Magazines, we also had Kazar: whose origin was in Pulp Magazines of the same publisher of Timley/Atlas/Maevel Comics. Congo Bill, long time back-up feature in DC Comics' Action Comics (and adaptation to the serial, CONGO BILL (Columbia, 1948), later acquired a Tarzan-like protégé in one Janu the Jungle Boy. Neither Kazar nor Janu ever got to the point of having any celluloid counterpart. NOTE ** Along with Monogram, Poverty Row members included Republic, PRC (Producers' Releasing Corporation), American International, Grand National, Lippert and Columbia; which graduated to the upper echelon very early in the game.NOTE: *** The Castor Bean is a commonly grown garden flower plant. It is tall with red stems and exotic & tropical looking foliage. The seeds of the annual are poisonous to humans.

In 1949,Monogram Pictures(also known as Allied Artists)released the first of 12 Bomba movies starring Johnny Sheffield,who played the character of "Boy" opposite Johnny Weissmuller and also Maureen O'Sullivan in eight "Tarzan" films, was chosen under Producer Walter Mirisch to star as Bomba. At the time this movie came out,Johnny Weissmuller was gone as "Tarzan",after 12 films to star in the "Jungle Jim" movies for Columbia Pictures,while newcomer Lex Barker,replaced him as the new "Tarzan" in five movies while Maureen O'Sullivan went into semi-retirement.Veteran director Ford Beebe,a "B" picture veteran whose speciality was mostly action-adventure films and also movie serials,was hired as director/writer for the series. In all,Beebe directed all 12 Bomba pictures that were released between 1949 and 1955. Owing more to the Tarzan film series than the children's books they claimed to based on,the Bomba movies were made on a shoestring budget with predictable plots that rely on stock jungle footage.The first of the series,"Bomba:The Jungle Boy",released in 1949 was a basic standard fare,more or less aimed as a children's matinée attraction. In this first outing,a photographer and his daughter arrive in Africa hoping to capture the local wildlife on film. Instead,they encounter(and never photographed)a killer leopard,a swarm of locusts,deadly lion worshippers and to the rescue to save them and protect them from the deadly encounters of the jungle comes Bomba the Jungle Boy! All of these within its 70 minute running time. Most of scenes involved the photographer's daughter(wearing a well-tailored leopard's skin)spends most of the movie with Bomba while her father and his assistant search for her.As for Producer Walter Mirisch,after the success of the "Bomba" pictures,along with his brothers,formed there own company The Mirisch Corporation. The Mirisch Corporation,and under the powers that be at United Artists,produced some of the biggest hits ever to come out of Hollywood during the era. Films like "The Magnificent Seven", "The Apartment","West Side Story","The Great Escape","The Pink Panther",and "In The Heat of the Night",just to name a few. However,Producer Walter Mirisch won the Oscar for Best Picture in 1961 for "West Side Story",and again in 1967 for Best Picture of "In The Heat of the Night".

On safari in Africa, pretty teenager Peggy Ann Garner (as Patricia "Pat" Harland) photographs animals with father Onslow Stevens (as George). For better pictures, "glorified game warden" Charles Irwin (as Andy Barnes) and "native" Smoki Whitfield (as Eli) lead them deeper into the wild, where they meet "Teen Tarzan" Johnny Sheffield (as Bomba). The popular "Boy" from the faltering "Tarzan" movies was a natural pick for this unofficial spin-off series. While successful, it's nothing special. The first outing finds Mr. Sheffield and Ms. Garner in a tame "Tarzan and His Mate" (1934) mode. Best scene is when Garner tears her dress and Sheffield offers her his loincloth; she declines as the always-obvious stock footage inserts two chimps kissing.**** Bomba, the Jungle Boy (3/20/49) Ford Beebe ~ Johnny Sheffield, Peggy Ann Garner, Onslow Stevens, Charles Irwin

If I am not mistaken I watched this movie in 1951 and I was just an 11 year old, and my memory fades somewhat on detail of the Film. Keep in mind, my memories of this film was from a childs viewpoint, but the best that I remember, I really enjoyed it, in particular the animals, and lot & lots of action. Bomba was just a few years older than myself and I really related to him and his escapades. I would like to see it once more as an adult, but I really don't know if any videos/dvds' are available. Thank you for reading my comments.