Jivaro

This is Mrs. Sheila Beers, writing with the permission of Barney Beers. I saw this movie on a black and white television as a child about 45-50 years ago, and I only can imagine how much better it is in color. However, through missionaries I had heard of the fierce Jivaro Indians, and I found "Jivaro" a compelling story. I still believe the film is much more than an adventure-romance story and that it has more to offer than viewers of the 1950s realized. Now that there is so much interest in saving the Brazilian rain forest, I believe "Jivaro" is even more relevant today. The theme is timeless, being the clash between primitive cultures and the modern world. Since New World exploration in the 1500s, the Jivaro Indians of South America were known as headhunters and cannibals, but a lesser known fact is that South America's richest gold deposits were (and still are) located in Jivaro territory. Although Brazil was settled by the Portuguese, the Spanish who settled Peru, Ecuador, and other countries that border Brazil, soon learned of the Jivaro's treasure and wanted the gold to defeat Protestantism in Europe. In spite of their primitive nature, the Jivaros (like other primitive tribes of South America) knew how to mine gold and refine it. Through their reputation as fierce headhunters and cannibals, the Jivaros protected their wealth. In the late 1500s the Spanish dared to build the city of Logrono, population 25,000, on the border of Brazil. The city provided housing for miners, settler families, and administrators who wanted to send the gold to Spain. Wanting to deflect the invaders, the Jivaros, armed only with spears and possibly blow guns and clubs, wiped out the city in 1599. They killed everyone but the young women they could assimilate into their tribe for breeding. The city, built mostly of wood, was burned to the ground and mostly absorbed by the jungle. For centuries afterward the Jivaros killed any Europeans or Americans who encroached on their territory. When the Jivaros eventually were Christianized in the late 20th century, missionaries noted some members of the tribe had lighter complexions and more body hair, attesting to their descent from the Spanish women taken from Logrono. Because of this fascinating piece of Brazilian history, I would like to see "Jivaro" made available on DVD. By seeing the movie, people could learn more about South Americam cultures and relate the story to current issues about the rain forest.

Adventure n. 1 an unusual, exciting, and daring experience. 2 excitement arising from danger or risk.

While you could argue that Alice Parker's (Rhonda Fleming) initial journey to the Amazon trading outpost to reach her fiance meets the above requirements for an adventure, that part of her story isn't shown on screen. In fact, the only real adventure here takes place in the final twenty-five minutes. But what a glorious twenty-five minutes! A rope bridge over a raging river, dense jungle foliage with all the layering you could dream of, windswept ruins, hostile natives shooting flaming arrows at the camera: it's exactly what I wanted when I first heard about Jivaro.

The preceding hour-and-a-bit, quite frankly, isn't what was advertised. In fact, it's dramatically quite anaemic. The superbly underplayed romance between Alice and Rio (Fernando Lamas) would be perfect as a secondary plot element if the main story-her quest to find her fiance-had any weight. But it rarely does. And the conflict, provided by lascivious prospector Brian Keith, peaks during a bruising fist-fight but then gets swept up in the final expedition and promptly loses its steam.

As with several of these Golden Age 3-D films, I had to watch Jivaro twice, the first time for what it wasn't, the second time for what it was. On second viewing, I surrendered to the leisurely pace and found I could luxuriate in the sumptuous stereography, colourful production, fine acting, and the imaginative evocation of this Amazon setting on the studio backlot. You could say I jived with Jivaro and became a fan. Plus, I just love the 1950's Technicolor feel.

The 3-D is wonderful throughout. You're always conscious of it but never distracted by it, apart from the flying arrows and such near the end. It reminded me of the intuitive, naturalistic 3-D in Miss Sadie Thompson, which was strong without being ostentatious. The layering of dripping water in Alice's room when the rainstorm hits is one of my favourite effects: it's gritty and dream-like at the same time, and absolutely puts you inside the room with her. The sheeting rain outside is also great, as is the smoke in the saloon. There are several instances of characters jumping into the frame from negative space-remember Igor in House of Wax-and they work every time.

The film fulfils its 3-D action-adventure potential and then some as it reaches the finale, first with the rope bridge sequence and then, one of my favourites of any Golden Age 3-D blu-ray, the Valley of the Winds sequence. It's so exotic and striking and dangerous-looking, it kicks the film up several gears. Combined with the sound effects and some clever stereo touches-raging water, a swaying corpse, the positioning of the actors-it's transportive in all the ways I want a movie adventure to be.

1953's "Jivaro" was shot in color and Widescreen 3-D on location in Brazil as "Lost Treasure of the Amazon" or "Valley of the Winds," produced by the Pine-Thomas unit at Paramount, remembered for their frugality as 'The Two Dollar Bills.' Fernando Lamas toplines as Rio Galdez, a tradesman and bar owner dealing in the upper reaches of the Amazon while discouraging talk of vast riches deep in Jivaro country, the land of headhunters, as a shrine to their victory over the Spaniards. Into this heated background comes Rhonda Fleming as Alice Parker, expecting to wed her long absent fiancee after two years of waiting in California, instantly an object of desire for fortune hunting Tony (Brian Keith), who also covets the hidden treasure. 3-D thrills are plentiful, enough to offset the expected love triangle, with spears, arrows, and other objects hurled at the camera, saving the dangerous trek through the jungle for the final third (the 'Valley of the Winds' certainly earns its nickname). Apart from the handsome leads, supporting cast members are only on screen a short time, including Richard Denning as Alice's doomed beau, Marvin Miller in brown makeup as a native chief, and Lon Chaney as trader Pedro Martines, around just long enough for some good natured sparring with Rio over a worthless crate filled with rocks. This was easily the least of Chaney's films for Pine-Thomas, previously doing major villains opposite Randolph Scott in "Albuquerque" and John Payne in "Captain China."

A pure little jewell from Paramount Studios which it was the speciality, adventure, exotic, colourful yarns full of action, romance, that were never boring. Edward Ludwig and Lewis Foster were the more iconic directors, and Rhonda Fleming, Arlele Dahl or Yvonne De Carlo- though the latest was more involved with Universal Pictures - the usual lead females. The charm contained in those films is now totally lost, that's the reason I will never get tired of watching them. Nothing special to say about this one, except it's one of the best of Edward Ludwig. If you don't know anything about this period, in the fifties, try this one to begin, you won't be deceived.

Cheesy in the extreme, this one is a lot of fun. Lon Chaney, Jr (The Wolfman) is in a supporting role. Rhonda Fleming's third 3-D movie and Fernando Lamas' second. By the time this one was released, the 3-D boom was over so it was shown flat. However,you can glimpse some 3-D clips in the IMAX 3-D film ENCOUNTER IN THE THIRD DIMENSION, which is available on DVD.

In September 2006, the 3-D version made its public debut (53 years after it was made!) at the World 3-D Film Expo II. It's even more fun in the intended 3-D form. The restored print was quite nice and it is wonderful that this film can be seen in the stereoscopic version as shot.