Law of the Jungle (1942)

The main plot of the movie is espionage and adventure in the African Jungle. Nazi agents try to incite a native uprising against the British. This is drama and adventure with a healthy dose of comedy by Mantan Moreland. This film was made in 1942 and is certainly dated. You have to watch this film in the context of the times. Today this film will be looked upon as politically incorrect and demeaning to blacks. Mantan Moreland had what was considered a supporting role in Law of the Jungle but today he should be seen for what he is. This man is a good actor and a great comedian. Mantan Moreland playing Jefferson "Jeff" Jones is the main reason to watch this movie. Mantan Moreland may be better known to viewers for his roles as Birmingham Brown in the Charlie Chan movies of the mid 40s but he is great in law of the Jungle. Moreland is so good, he is even used as the main attraction on the cover art of the DVD. His acting is what takes Law of the Jungle a notch above being a blah boring movie.

(Some Spoilers) Being stuck in the African jungle at this dive "The Traders Hole & Cafe" Brooklyn band singer Nora Brooks, Arline Judge,has been waiting for her passport so she can get back to civilization back in Brooklyn. But as you would expect the Post Office, even in the wilds of darkest Africa,is as slow as molasses in it's mail delivery. It turns out that it's not the Post Office fault but Nora's boss Simmons, Arthur O'Connell who been keeping her passport from getting to her, after first stealing it, in order to keep Nora at his joint to entertain the customers.Simmons is also in the pay of the Nazis who's agents Grozman & Belts,Victor Kendall & Feodor Chaliapan, who are trying to stir up the natives against their British Colonial rulers and become unwitting pawns in helping Germany in winning the war against the allies. It's when British government agent Tony Hobson, Robert Strange, shows up to see just what's going on that things really start to unravel for everyone involved. Having a drink and watching Nora's stage act the lights go out and when their turned back on again Hobon is dead. Stabbed to death and the secret document that he has on him about the Nazis intentions, as well as Nora are both gone. Hobson's killer in a panic put the document in Nora's jacket.On the run from the police thinking she's to be arrested for agent Hobson's murder Nora runs into in this camp in the middle of the jungle of what's we would call a digger upper, archaeologist Larry Mason, John "Dusty" King. Being a woman the natives on Mason's expiation are nervous since they tell him, through their head boss man Bongo(Martin Wilkins),that she's brought a Ju-Ju, an evil spirit, along with her and they want no part of it. Not being able to throw Nora out into the jungle Mason agrees to take her along which has the two Nazi agents to get the local native tribe headed by their Oxford educated and Harlem born Chief Mojobo, Lawrence Criner. They want Chief Mojobo to attack and capture Nora and Mason and also his Harlem born & bread sidekick Jefferson "Jeff" Jones, Martan Moreland.Funny only because of Martan Moreland being in the film who, as you would expect, steals every scene that he's in with the rest of the cast coming across like a bunch of wooden cigar store Indians.The Nazis are so inept that they can't even finish off Simmons, with a handgun and rifle at point-blank range. Simmons gives them up to the British because the Nazis were too cheap to pay him the 100 British Pounds that they promised him. The lovable and adorable, as well as hilarious, Jeff Jones attracts both a big hairy guerrilla as well as the chief's over endowed and well-fed daughter. Who get's him and his friends Mason & Nora released just before they were to be the main course for Thanksgiving Dinner. The fact that Jeff and Chief Mojobo belonged to the same fraternity back in Harlem didn't hurt their chances to be able to survive intact and not be wolfs-down by the natives either.

Stranded at a jungle outpost a singer tries to make her way home. Through circumstances beyond her control she ends up in the jungle on the run from Nazi's and the police who think she maybe connected to a murder. Reluctantly coming to her aid is a scientist with Mantan Moreland as an aide de camp.Back lot bound with some twists that must have been put in let the audience know that none of this was to be taken seriously, Law of the Jungle is an imperfect but very funny jungle adventure/comedy. Our heroine for once seems to be what she claims, a tough broad from Brooklyn way over her head. Her whiskey barrel voice is a nice change from the typical female shriek. Mantan Moreland is, as always, a joy to watch and how he shoots dice has to go down as one of the worst, and funniest scams in B movies.Is this the greatest movie ever made? No, but its one you will be sorry to see end, especially when you see Moreland and the King interact.8 out of 10. This is one to look for, especially since its out on cheaply priced DVD.

Nona Brooks is an American singer in a nightclub in the middle of the African jungles, is trying to scrape enough money to get back to the US. When a British intelligence officer is murdered by a pair of Nazi spies in order to get a document that would reveal their identity, Nona escapes from the nightclub, unaware that she is carrying the document. She joins up with Larry Mason, an American archaeologist, and they, along w/ Larry's valet Jeff, try to prevent the spies from capturing them, until they fall into the hands of a cannibalistic tribe. It seems Monogram was trying to cash in on the fun they had with King of the Zombies, but lacks the style that picture due to Yarbrough's listless direction, making this one feel just ho-hum. Not much to rave about from King, Judge, and Moreland, however Criner steals the show as the Oxford educated tribal chief, unfortunately he's only in the last 10 minutes of the movie. Rating, 4.