Jungle Drums of Africa
- January 21, 1953 (1953-01-21) (U.S. serial)[1]
100 minutes (TV)[1]
Jungle Drums of Africa is a 1953 12-episode American serial film shot in black-and-white. It was an original commissioned screenplay by Ronald Davidson produced by Franklin Adreon and directed by Fred C. Brannon for Republic Pictures. The story is set in Kenya, and involves the efforts of an American uranium processing company's representative and a woman medical missionary, to thwart the efforts of agents of a "foreign power", abetted by a disaffected native witchdoctor, to gain control of a large uranium deposit on lands owned by the latter's tribe. This serial features black American actors in major roles, including that of a college-educated chieftain.
Plot
The daughter of a medical missionary in Africa carries on her father's work after he dies. She later befriends two adventurers prospecting for uranium. But it isn't long before she finds herself in danger from crooks trying to get the uranium for themselves and a local witch doctor, who sees her as a threat to his power.
Cast
- Clayton Moore as Alan King
- Phyllis Coates as Carol Bryant
- Johnny Spencer as Bert Hadley
- Henry Rowland as Kurgan
- John Cason as Regas
- Roy Glenn as Naganto, the witch doctor
- Bill Walker as Chief Douanga
- Steve Mitchell as Gauss, the store clerk henchman
- Don Blackman as Naganto
Production
Jungle Drums of Darkest Africa was budgeted at $172,840 although the final negative cost was $167,758 (a $5,082, or 2.9%, under spend). It was the most expensive Republic serial of 1953.[1]
It was filmed between September 29 and October 18, 1952 under the working title Robin Hood of Darkest Africa.[1] The serial's production number was 1935.[1]
Stunts
- Tom Steele as Alan King/Third Constable (doubling Clayton Moore)
Special effects
Special effects created by the Lydecker brothers.
Release
Theatrical
Jungle Drums of Darkest Africa's official release date is 21 January 1953, although this is actually the date the sixth chapter was made available to film exchanges.[1]
This was followed by a re-release of Adventures of Captain Marvel, re-titled as Return of Captain Marvel, instead of a new serial. The next new serial, Canadian Mounties vs. Atomic Invaders, followed in the summer.[1]
Television
Jungle Drums of Darkest Africa was one of twenty-six Republic serials re-released as a film on television in 1966. The title of the film was changed to U-238 and the Witch Doctor. This version was cut down to 100-minutes in length.[1]
Critical reception
Harmon and Glut describes this serial as "an uninteresting arrangement of stock footage and clichés."[2]
Chapter titles
- Jungle Ambush (20min)
- Savage Strategy (13min 20s)
- The Beast Fiend (13min 20s)
- Voodoo Vengeance (13min 20s)
- The Lion Pit (13min 20s)
- Underground Tornado (13min 20s)
- Cavern of Doom (13min 20s)
- The Water Trap (13min 20s)
- Trail to Destruction (13min 20s)
- The Flaming Ring (13min 20s) - a re-cap chapter
- Bridge of Death (13min 20s)
- The Avenging River (13min 20s)
Source:[1][3]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Mathis, Jack (1995). Valley of the Cliffhangers Supplement. Jack Mathis Advertising. pp. 3, 10, 132–133. ISBN 0-9632878-1-8.
- ^ Harmon, Jim; Donald F. Glut (1973). "1. The Girls "Who Is That Girl in the Buzz Saw?"". The Great Movie Serials: Their Sound and Fury. Routledge. p. 16. ISBN 978-0-7130-0097-9.
- ^ Cline, William C. (1984). "Filmography". In the Nick of Time. McFarland & Company, Inc. p. 254. ISBN 0-7864-0471-X.
External links
- Jungle Drums of Africa at IMDb
Preceded by | Republic Serial Jungle Drums of Africa (1953) | Succeeded by |
Succeeded by Commando Cody: Sky Marshal of the Universe (1953) (Intended to be a TV series) |
- v
- t
- e
(1936–1941)
- Darkest Africa
- Undersea Kingdom
- The Vigilantes Are Coming
- Robinson Crusoe of Clipper Island
- Dick Tracy
- The Painted Stallion
- S.O.S. Coast Guard
- Zorro Rides Again
- The Lone Ranger
- The Fighting Devil Dogs
- Dick Tracy Returns
- Hawk of the Wilderness
- The Lone Ranger Rides Again
- Daredevils of the Red Circle
- Dick Tracy's G-Men
- Zorro's Fighting Legion
- Drums of Fu Manchu
- Adventures of Red Ryder
- King of the Royal Mounted
- Mysterious Doctor Satan
- Adventures of Captain Marvel
- Jungle Girl
- King of the Texas Rangers
- Dick Tracy vs. Crime, Inc.
(1942–1945)
(1946–1955)
- The Phantom Rider
- King of the Forest Rangers
- Daughter of Don Q
- The Crimson Ghost
- Son of Zorro
- Jesse James Rides Again
- The Black Widow
- G-Men Never Forget
- Dangers of the Canadian Mounted
- Adventures of Frank and Jesse James
- Federal Agents vs. Underworld, Inc
- Ghost of Zorro
- King of the Rocket Men
- The James Brothers of Missouri
- Radar Patrol vs Spy King
- The Invisible Monster
- Desperadoes of the West
- Flying Disc Man from Mars
- Don Daredevil Rides Again
- Government Agents vs. Phantom Legion
- Radar Men from the Moon
- Zombies of the Stratosphere
- Jungle Drums of Africa
- Commando Cody: Sky Marshal of the Universe
- Canadian Mounties vs. Atomic Invaders
- Trader Tom of the China Seas
- Man with the Steel Whip
- Panther Girl of the Kongo
- King of the Carnival
Category