Jungle Book

1942 "A jewelled secret city...guarded by the jungle's fiercest denizens!"
6.7| 1h46m| NR| en| More Info
Released: 03 April 1942 Released
Producted By: Alexander Korda Films
Country: United States of America
Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
Official Website:
Synopsis

Mowgli, lost in the jungle when a toddler, raised by wolves, years later happens upon his human village and reconnects with its inhabitants, including his widowed mother. Continuing to maintain a relationship with the jungle, adventures follow.

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Alexander Korda Films

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Reviews

Mjeteconer Just perfect...
Odelecol Pretty good movie overall. First half was nothing special but it got better as it went along.
Dynamixor The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.
Curapedi I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.
LeonLouisRicci A Near Flawless Fantasy Full of Magnificent Matte Work, Glorious Technicolor, an Intense Lead Performance from Sabu, Fantastic Animal Work, and an Almost Seamless Inclusion of a Talking Snake and Other Extravagances.The Movie was Not Ignored at the Oscars Winning Multiple Statues and the Movie was a Success at the Box Office. But Over the Years it Somehow got Ignored and Relegated to the Background and has been Overlooked and Pushed Aside by Inferior Movies with Similar Themes.To Add Insult to the Injurious Injustices, the Movie Fell into Public Domain and During the Home Video Revival of Old Movies it was Blasphemously Released on Highly Inferior Tapes and Discs that Diminished the Spectacular Production Values and Artistic Merit.Then there was the Disney Animated Version that also Made This Somehow Irrelevant and the Film has been in the Netherlands of the Public Consciousness and Hardly Well Known. But it is a Wonderful Achievement and Deserves to be Rediscovered and Brought Back and Regarded as a Masterpiece of Movie Making and Marvelous Entertainment for All Ages.
SnoopyStyle In an Indian village, elderly storyteller Buldeo tells a story of his youth to a passing British lady. Shere Khan the tiger attacked just as the villagers are about to start a new settlement. The man's cub survives the attack and wonders into a wolves' den. Mowgli is then raised by the wolf family. All the jungle is his playground except for Shere Khan. Twelve years later, he investigates the village and is captured by the villagers. His birth mother Messua doesn't recognize him but takes him in anyways as her own. Buldeo is adamant against the boy who he sees as evil like the rest of the jungle. On the other hand, Buldeo's daughter Mahala is fascinated with Mowgli. Mowgli takes Mahala back into the jungle to meet the wolves. She finds the King's Palace in the jungle and his treasure chamber guarded by the ancient father of the cobras. Despite the cobra's warning, she takes one coin which is discovered by her father. This looks terrific in Technicolor although the village doesn't look as good as the jungle. All the animal footage is very fascinating. The animals look great in color. The treasure chamber is also quite nice with the ancient city. It's most commendable that they cast an Indian boy as Mowgli. The animal characters don't have quite as much of a presence as the Disney cartoon. This is a little more grown up than the cartoon. It deals with some fairly adult subject matters. Overall, the story moves along with enough thrills and is a fun treat from another era. Although the ending feels like it ran on for a little too long.
TheLittleSongbird As a child, I loved this 1942 film Jungle Book. As a 20-year old adult, I still do, my favourite version of the story alongside the less faithful but just as fun 1967 Disney film. As with all Korda Brothers films(The Four Feathers being my personal favourite), the film is full of beautiful scenery and cinematography as well as an exotic atmosphere. Miklos Rozsa's score is suitably stirring with an authentic touch, while the story is exciting and amusing with a real adventurous streak about it and the pace not dragging too much. The jungle animals look great and are colourful characters in their own right, and the film is lovingly directed as always. Sabu is a likable and athletic lead, Joseph Calleia is terrific as Buldeo and Rosemary De Camp is a sympathetic mother figure. My only complaint is the romance, which was not as developed as it could have been. Overall though, I still love this film and still thinks it holds up today. 9/10 Bethany Cox
bobbyhollywood The first time I saw this movie I walked each step with Sabu playing the part of Mowgli, what an adventure it was. The animals of the jungle know and respect him, they willingly do as he wishes because, they know that he is good and one of them. I first saw this in a theater, and don't remember the year, I was very young. I am sorry to say that it has gained some darkness and lost a little of the very nice color, but to anyone who didn't first see it way back when, it should seem very nice. Watch for the one who whispers, so old and yet so special. Well worth the rental/buy price in my opinion. Mowgli of the wolfs wants to get a tooth, and he does. A very nice movie, I have watched it many times, and will watch it many more. Join me.