The Jungle Book

While "Tarzan's Hidden Jungle" isn't the worst Tarzan movie I have seen, it is all the same one of the dullest. To begin with, take how Tarzan is portrayed in this particular cinematic telling. Gordon Scott shows both no charisma and no enthusiasm in the role. In fairness to Scott, the movie doesn't exactly give him a lot to do - there is no Jane character here to interact with, and he gets very little opportunity to throw himself into action. He doesn't even do a Tarzan yell until the final few minutes of the movie (and it sounds pretty half-hearted.) The script isn't just bad with Tarzan, but also the central story - if you can call it a story, that is. It takes forever for the movie to set up what little plot there is, and what story there is doesn't feel the least bit interesting or exciting. The movie also looks pretty cheap at times. Even if you are a fan of Tarzan movies, this adventure can safely be skipped.

Aka The Jungle Book, not that Jungle Book. Tarzan (Gordon Scott) is in his jungle paradise when he's interrupted by white poachers. He saves an elephant and makes their hunt difficult. One of them suggests crossing the river, but the local guide tells them that it's the Sukulu tribe known for killing white hunters. UN doctor Celliers (Peter van Eyck) and his assistant Jill Hardy (Vera Miles) have gained a good reputation for treating the locals. The hunters intend to use them to infiltrate the good hunting grounds.

It's not bad. It is an old Tarzan movie. One has to expect the B-movie quality. There isn't much to this Gordon Scott Tarzan. He doesn't say much. He's a white bodybuilder. Don't expect too much and it'll be fine.

Tarzan, "The ape man", fights it out (again) with a bunch of hunters, an evil witch-doctor and all those "scary" animals of the jungle. As you can see, this is what Tarzan's all about. Nothing new nor surprising here, no Academy Awards nominations, no great dialogue, not really exciting. When you see a Tarzan flick you know what to expect. I guess for some people that 's the charm of Tarzan, but there are better ways to spend your afternoon. And better Tarzan films (e.g. TARZAN'S GREATEST ADVENTURE)too. But it still is a Tarzan film, and there are also worse films than one of those. 4/10

In the African jungles at RKO studios, white men hunt wild animals who mind their own business in stock footage. This upsets jungle king Gordon Scott (as Tarzan) and area natives. They wear animal skins, bones and feathers. There is no "Jane", so Mr. Scott meets pretty nurse Vera Miles (as Jill Hardy) taking a swim. They are mutually attracted. Later, Scott rescues Ms. Miles from quicksand and washes a leg, arm and neck before observing censorship rules. Several lions run toward the camera. Sporting a 1950s hair style, this was Scott's first outing as "Tarzan". Holding in his stomach even when he doesn't need to, Scott handsomely shows off a beautiful physique. Miles is exceptionally attractive. They got married.

**** Tarzan's Hidden Jungle (2/16/55) Harold D. Schuster ~ Gordon Scott, Vera Miles, Peter van Eyck, Jack Elam

Tarzan's Hidden Jungle marked the debut of Gordon Scott as Edgar Rice Burroughs legendary ape man of the African jungle. It was also the last Tarzan film done at RKO studios which was slowly going out of business and would in the next two years. It was the reason they did not invest this film with too many production values. It was nice that they actually used black people to portray natives in the film as producers did not on too many occasions for Johnny Weissmuller and Lex Barker Tarzan movies.

Gordon Scott was one of those Hollywood discovery stories you read about. A professional bodybuilder he was discovered pool side and brought to Hollywood and beat out a whole lot of other candidates for the Tarzan roles. He wasn't exactly Brando or Olivier with the dialog, but for someone who was making his screen debut with no other acting experience, Scott handled the dialog better than you would expect.

And he married the leading lady Vera Miles while still shooting the film. Miles plays the assistant to UN doctor Peter Van Eyck who gets tricked by some unscrupulous hunters, Jack Elam and Charles Fredericks, to take them along on his humanitarian mission.

Van Eyck's mission was to a native tribe who apparently were vegetarians because they did not believe in the killing of animals. As a result game flourished in their territory. As Tarzan is a friend of the animals as well, his mission was to stop the bad guys from harming his jungle friends.

Tarzan's Hidden Jungle is not a bad debut for Gordon Scott in the new role. In fact Scott was my particular favorite among the actors who played Tarzan.