The Lost Tribe (1949 film)

1949 film by William A. Berke

This article is about the 1949 film. For other uses, see Lost tribe (disambiguation).

The Lost Tribe

Theatrical release poster

Directed by| William Berke
Screenplay by| Don Martin
Arthur Hoerl
Story by| Arthur Hoerl
Based on| Jungle Jim
1934–1954 comic strip
by Don Moore and Alex Raymond
Produced by| Sam Katzman
Starring| Johnny Weissmuller
Myrna Dell
Elena Verdugo
Narrated by| Holmes Herbert
Cinematography| Ira Morgan
Edited by| Aaron Stell
Music by| Mischa Bakaleinikoff

Production
company

King Features Syndicate

Distributed by| Columbia Pictures

Release date

* May 3, 1949 (1949-05-03)[1]

Running time

| 72 minutes
Country| United States
Language| English

The Lost Tribe (1949) is the second Jungle Jim film produced by Columbia Pictures. The film features Johnny Weissmuller in his second performance as the adventurer Jungle Jim, co-starring Myrna Dell and Elena Verdugo, along with Joseph Vitale and George J. Lewis as the film's antagonists. It was directed by William Berke and written by Don Martin and Arthur Hoerl.[2]

The film follows Jungle Jim struggling to protect a legendary African city from harm and exploitation. Filming took place in September 1948. The film was theatrically released in the United States in May 1949.

## Plot

[edit]

The fabled city of Dzamm in Africa is rumoured to be a land of wealth. Looking to exploit its rich resources, Captain Rawlings (Ralph "Eddie" Dunn) dispatches two of his henchmen (Wally West and George DeNomand) to find the hidden trail to the city. After killing a few natives of Dzamm along the way, the inept servants of Rawlings are eaten alive by a large pride of wild lions.

Nearby, jungle roamer Jungle Jim (Weissmuller) receives Li Wanna (Verdugo), the daughter of Dzamm's chief religious official Zoron (Nelson Leigh). Li Wanna seeks Jungle Jim's help in fighting the mercenaries led by Rawlings. It is revealed that the rumour is indeed true—stashed in the temple of Dzamm are crates of precious stones. After hearing news of the murdered Dzamm natives, Jungle Jim and Li Wanna hurry to the scene, just to find the henchmen's corpses. Seeing the lions, the agile adventurer and Li Wanna climb up a tree to safety. An African elephant approaches, scaring the beastly cats away.

Jungle Jim and Li Wanna return to Zoron's residence, where they strategically discuss a peaceful resolution to get rid of Rawlings and his team. They come to the conclusion that giving Rawlings a few diamonds is the best idea. Meanwhile, Wanna's brother Chot (Paul Marion) is hypnotised by businessman Calhoun's (Vitale) niece Norina (Dell). Chot falls in love with Norina and unknowingly spills some secrets of Dzamm to her. Norina and Calhoun turn out to be under Rawling's payroll.[3]

Jungle Jim befriends a gorilla (Ray Corrigan) after rescuing it and its offspring from a ferocious lion. He names it Zimba. After this, he prevents Calhoun from getting to know the trail to Dzamm but gets captured by Rawling's followers. An empathetic Norina is in the midst of setting him free when she gets killed by Calhoun. Luckily, Jim's pet fowl Caw Caw unties his ropes and with that, the voyager breaks loose and knocks out some of Rawlings' men. However, he is left with no choice but to tell Rawlings the way to Dzamm when Li Wanna, who was finding Jim, gets captured.

They make it to the temple of Dzamm. While the criminals are busy raiding the priceless relics and other treasures, Zimba and his fellow gorillas attack the temple robbers, most of whom are killed.[3] Captain Rawlings and his accomplice Wilson (George J. Lewis) manage to escape, holding Jungle Jim captive, but are killed by Zimba. Chot, who has been shot and mortally wounded, asks for forgiveness before he dies. With Rawlings and his fellow looters dead for good, order in Dzamm is restored.[3]

## Cast

[edit]

* Johnny Weissmuller as Jungle Jim
* Myrna Dell as Norina
* Elena Verdugo as Li Wanna
* Joseph Vitale as Calhoun
* Ralph Dunn as Captain Rawlins
* Paul Marion as Chot
* Nelson Leigh as Zoron
* George J. Lewis as Steve "Whip" Wilson

## Production

[edit]

The working title for the film was Jungle Jim's Adventure. Myrna Dell was cast in September 1948.[4]

The film features an array of animal actors, including a crow and a dog. Ray Corrigan portrays Zimba, Jungle Jim's gorilla friend,[3] with the film being shot at his Corriganville Movie Ranch.[5]

The film was directed by William Berke with assistance from Wilbur McGaugh.[3] Sam Katzman was in charge of production for Columbia Pictures, while Arthur Hoerl and Don Martin wrote the screenplay based on a story by Hoerl. Ira Morgan signed on as cinematographer. The set decorator was Sidney Clifford. Mischa Bakaleinikoff headed the musical direction, and Aaron Stell edited the film. Principal photography officially began on September 8, 1948,[6] and ended on September 20, 1948.[7]

## Release

[edit]

The film was officially released in North American cinemas in May 1949.[7]

The Motion Picture Herald commented that it was a "film providing a generous measure of the expected excitement", while a reviewer for the magazine Variety opined that it "will prove surefire entertainment for youthful filmgoers."[3]

The Los Angeles Times called it "a veritable riot of unwitting comedy. It is probably one of the most ridiculous jungle features ever shown", adding that Weissmuller "needs to watch his waistline."[8]

## Bibliography

[edit]

* Michael R. Pitts (2010). Columbia Pictures Horror, Science Fiction and Fantasy Films, 1928–1982. McFarland. ISBN 978-0-7864-5766-3.
* Gene Blottner (2012). Columbia Pictures Movie Series, 1926–1955: The Harry Cohn Years. McFarland. ISBN 978-0-7864-3353-7.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Light Opera Has $400,000 Advance Sale". Los Angeles Times. May 6, 1949. p. 19.
2. ^ "LOST TRIBE". The Monthly Film Bulletin. Vol. 16, no. 181\. London. Jan 1, 1949. p. 143.
3. ^ a b c d e f Pitts 2010, p. 138.
4. ^ "LEAD IN NEW FILM TO JOAN FONTAINE: Rampart Plans to Star Actress in 'Very Remarkable Fellow,' Based on Cohan Play". THE NEW YORK TIMES. Sep 9, 1948. p. 32.
5. ^ p. 168 Pitts, Michael R. Columbia Pictures Horror, Science Fiction and Fantasy Films, 1928–1982 McFarland, 10 Jan 2014
6. ^ Schallert, Edwin (Sep 8, 1948). "Lady Luminaries Round Out 'Man's Man' Group; Caban Find in 'Sketch'". Los Angeles Times. p. A7.
7. ^ a b Blottner 2012, p. 211.
8. ^ Schallert, Edwin (May 4, 1949). "Characters, Acting Give Huston's Feature Value". Los Angeles Times. p. A7.

## External links

[edit]

* Review of film at Variety
* The Lost Tribe at IMDb
* The Lost Tribe at the TCM Movie Database
* The Lost Tribe at the AFI Catalog of Feature Films

* v
* t
* e

Jungle Jim

Created by: Alex Raymond and Don Moore

Series/Serial|

* Jungle Jim serial (1937)
* Jungle Jim (1955-56 series)

Films|

* Jungle Jim (1948)
* The Lost Tribe (1949)
* Mark of the Gorilla (1950)
* Captive Girl (1950)
* Pygmy Island (1950)
* Fury of the Congo (1951)
* Jungle Manhunt (1951)
* Jungle Jim in the Forbidden Land (1952)
* Voodoo Tiger (1952)
* Savage Mutiny (1953)
* Valley of the Headhunters (1953)
* Killer Ape (1953)
* Jungle Man-Eaters (1954)
* Cannibal Attack (1954)
* Jungle Moon Men (1955)
* Devil Goddess (1955)

Related articles|

* Congo Bill

* v
* t
* e

Films produced by Sam Katzman

Showmen's/
Screencraft|

* His Private Secretary (1933)
* Police Call (1933)
* Ship of Wanted Men (1933)
* Public Stenographer (1934)
* The Moth (1934)
* The Big Race (1934)
* St. Louis Woman (1934)

Supreme|

* A Demon for Trouble (1934)
* Western Justice (1934)
* The Brand of Hate (1934)
* Smokey Smith (1935)
* Tombstone Terror (1935)
* Trail of Terror (1935)
* Alias John Law (1935)
* Big Calibre (1935)
* Sundown Saunders (1935)
* Brand of the Outlaws (1936)
* The Kid Ranger (1936)

Victory|

| Peter B. Kyne|

* Danger Ahead (1935)
* Hot Off the Press (1935)
* Bars of Hate (1935)
* The Fighting Coward (1935)
* Taming the Wild (1936) aka Madcap
* A Face in the Fog (1936)
* Rio Grande Romance (1936)
* Kelly of the Secret Service (1936)

|

Tom Tyler|

* Rip Roarin' Buckaroo (1936)
* The Phantom of the Range (1936)
* Orphan of the Pecos (1937) (also d)
* Brothers of the West (1937) (also d)
* Cheyenne Rides Again (1937)
* Lost Ranch (1937) (also d)
* Mystery Range (1937)
* Feud of the Trail (1937)

Serials|

* Shadow of Chinatown (1936)
* Blake of Scotland Yard (1937)

Herman Brix|

* Two Minutes to Play (1936)
* Silks and Saddles (1936)
* Amateur Crook (1937) (also d)
* Flying Fists (1937)
* Million Dollar Racket (1937)
* Sky Racket (1937) (also d)

Tim McCoy|

* Six-Gun Trail (1938)
* Lightning Carson Rides Again (1938)
* Texas Wildcats (1939)
* Code of the Cactus (1939)
* Outlaws' Paradise (1939)
* Trigger Fingers (1939)
* The Fighting Renegade (1939)
* Straight Shooter (1939)

Puritan|

* The Rogues' Tavern (1936)

Monogram|

| East Side Kids|

* East Side Kids (1940)
* Boys of the City (1940)
* That Gang of Mine (1940)
* Pride of the Bowery (1941)
* Flying Wild (1941)
* Bowery Blitzkrieg (1941)
* Spooks Run Wild (1941)
* Mr. Wise Guy (1942)
* Let's Get Tough! (1942)
* Smart Alecks (1942)
* 'Neath Brooklyn Bridge (1942)
* Kid Dynamite (1942)
* Clancy Street Boys (1942)
* Ghosts on the Loose (1943)
* Mr. Muggs Steps Out (1943)
* Million Dollar Kid (1943)
* Follow the Leader (1944)
* Block Busters (1944)
* Bowery Champs (1944)
* Docks of New York (1945)
* Mr. Muggs Rides Again (1945)
* Come Out Fighting (1945)

|

Bela Lugosi|

* Invisible Ghost (1941)
* Bowery at Midnight (1942)
* The Corpse Vanishes (1942)
* Black Dragons (1942)
* The Ape Man (1943)
* Voodoo Man (1944)
* Return of the Ape Man (1944)

Musicals|

* Zis Boom Bah (1942)

Billy Gilbert|

* Spotlight Scandals (1943)
* Crazy Knights (1944)
* Three of a Kind (1944)
* Trouble Chasers (1945)

The Teen-Agers|

* Junior Prom (1946)
* Freddie Steps Out (1946)
* High School Hero (1946)
* Vacation Days (1947)

Columbia|

| Serials|

* Who's Guilty? (1945)
* Jungle Raiders (1945)
* Brenda Starr, Reporter (1945)
* Hop Harrigan (1946)
* Chick Carter, Detective (1946)
* Son of the Guardsman (1946)
* Jack Armstrong (1947)
* The Vigilante (1947)
* The Sea Hound (1947)
* Brick Bradford (1947)
* Congo Bill (1948)
* Tex Granger (1948)
* Superman (1948)
* Adventures of Sir Galahad (1949)
* Batman and Robin (1949)
* Bruce Gentry – Daredevil of the Skies (1949)
* Pirates of the High Seas (1950)
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* Cody of the Pony Express (1950)
* Captain Video: Master of the Stratosphere (1951)
* The Mysterious Island (1951)
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* Son of Geronimo (1952)
* Blackhawk (1952)
* The Great Adventures of Captain Kidd (1953)
* The Lost Planet (1953)
* Riding with Buffalo Bill (1954)
* Gunfighters of the Northwest (1954)
* Adventures of Captain Africa Mighty Jungle Avenger! (1955)
* Perils of the Wilderness (1956)
* Blazing the Overland Trail (1956)

|

Jean Porter|

* Betty Co-Ed (1946)
* Little Miss Broadway (1947)
* Sweet Genevieve (1947)
* Two Blondes and a Redhead (1947)

Jon Hall|

* Last of the Redskins (1947)
* The Prince of Thieves (1948)
* The Mutineers (1949)
* Hurricane Island (1951)
* When the Redskins Rode (1951)
* Brave Warrior (1952)
* Last Train from Bombay (1952)

Jungle Jim|

* Jungle Jim (1948)
* The Lost Tribe (1949)
* Mark of the Gorilla (1950)
* Captive Girl (1950)
* Pygmy Island (1950)
* Fury of the Congo (1951)
* Jungle Manhunt (1951)
* Jungle Jim in the Forbidden Land (1952)
* Voodoo Tiger (1952)
* Savage Mutiny (1953)
* Valley of the Head Hunters (1953)
* Killer Ape (1953)
* Jungle Man-Eaters (1954)
* Cannibal Attack (1954)
* Jungle Moon Men (1955)
* Devil Goddess (1956)

Gloria Henry|

* Racing Luck (1948)
* Triple Threat (1948)

Gloria Jean|

* I Surrender Dear (1948)
* Manhattan Angel (1949)

Musical|

* Mary Lou (1948)
* Glamour Girl (1948)

Crime|

* Chinatown at Midnight (1949)
* State Penitentiary (1950)
* Revenue Agent (1950)
* Chain Gang (1950)
* The Miami Story (1954)
* Chicago Syndicate (1955)
* The Crooked Web (1955)
* Inside Detroit (1955)
* Teen-Age Crime Wave (1955)
* Miami Exposé (1956)
* Rumble on the Docks (1956)
* Escape from San Quentin (1957)
* The Tijuana Story (1957)
* The World Was His Jury (1958)

William Castle|

* Serpent of the Nile (1953)
* Fort Ti (1953)
* Slaves of Babylon (1953)
* Conquest of Cochise (1953)
* The Law vs. Billy the Kid (1954)
* Jesse James vs. the Daltons (1954)
* Masterson of Kansas (1954)
* The Battle of Rogue River (1954)
* Charge of the Lancers (1954)
* Drums of Tahiti (1954)
* The Saracen Blade (1954)
* The Iron Glove (1954)
* Duel on the Mississippi (1955)
* The Gun That Won the West (1955)
* New Orleans Uncensored (1955)
* Uranium Boom (1956)
* The Houston Story (1956)

Action|

* Barbary Pirate (1949)
* The Mutineers (1949)
* Last of the Buccaneers (1950)
* Tyrant of the Sea (1950)
* The Magic Carpet (1951)
* The Golden Hawk (1952)
* Thief of Damascus (1952)
* Prisoners of the Casbah (1953)
* Flame of Calcutta (1953)
* Siren of Bagdad (1953)
* Prince of Pirates (1953)
* Target Hong Kong (1953)
* The 49th Man (1953)
* Pirates of Tripoli (1955)
* Crash Landing (1958)

War|

* Purple Heart Diary (1951)
* A Yank in Korea (1951)
* The Pathfinder (1952)
* A Yank in Indo-China (1952)
* Sky Commando (1953)
* Mission Over Korea (1953)
* The Last Blitzkrieg (1959)
* The Enemy General (1960)

Western|

* California Conquest (1952)
* Jack McCall, Desperado (1953)
* Seminole Uprising (1955)

* Blackjack Ketchum, Desperado (1956)
* Utah Blaine (1957)
* The Wild Westerners (1962)

Sci-fi|

* Creature with the Atom Brain (1955)
* It Came from Beneath the Sea (1955)
* Earth vs. the Flying Saucers (1956)
* The Werewolf (1956)
* The Man Who Turned to Stone (1957)
* The Giant Claw (1957)
* Zombies of Mora Tau (1957)
* The Night the World Exploded (1957)
* Lock Up Your Daughters (1959)

Rock Musical|

* Rock Around the Clock (1956)
* Cha-Cha-Cha Boom! (1956)
* Calypso Heat Wave (1957)
* Don't Knock the Rock (1957)
* Juke Box Rhythm (1959)
* Twist Around the Clock (1961)
* Don't Knock the Twist (1961)

Drama|

* Going Steady (1958)
* Life Begins at 17 (1958)
* The Flying Fontaines (1959)
* The Love-Ins (1967)
* For Singles Only (1968)

Fox|

* Pirates of Tortuga (1961)
* The Wizard of Baghdad (1961)

TV|

* Tallahassee 7000 (1961)

MGM|

| Musicals|

* Hootenanny Hoot (1963)
* Get Yourself a College Girl (1964)
* Kissin' Cousins (1964)
* Your Cheatin' Heart (1964)
* Harum Scarum (1965)
* When the Boys Meet the Girls (1965)
* Hold On! (1966)
* The Fastest Guitar Alive (1967)
* A Time to Sing (1968)

|

Non-musical|

* Hot Rods to Hell (1967)
* Riot on Sunset Strip (1967) (sold to AIP)
* The Young Runaways (1968)

Other|

* Angel, Angel, Down We Go (1969)
* How to Succeed with Sex (1970)
* The Loners (1972)

* v
* t
* e

Films directed by William Berke

1930s|

* Toll of the Desert (1935)
* Desert Justice (1936)
* Gun Grit (1936)

1940s|

* Lawless Plainsmen (1942)
* Down Rio Grande Way (1942)
* Riders of the Northland (1942)
* Bad Men of the Hills (1942)
* Overland to Deadwood (1942)
* The Lone Prairie (1942)
* Riding Through Nevada (1942)
* Pardon My Gun (1942)
* A Tornado in the Saddle (1942)
* The Fighting Buckaroo (1943)
* Riders of the Northwest Mounted (1943)
* Saddles and Sagebrush (1943)
* Law of the Northwest (1943)
* Frontier Fury (1943)
* Robin Hood of the Range (1943)
* Tornado (1943)
* Hail to the Rangers (1943)
* Silver City Raiders (1943)
* Minesweeper (1943)
* The Vigilantes Ride (1943)
* Sailor's Holiday (1944)
* The Navy Way (1944)
* Girl in the Case (1944)
* Wyoming Hurricane (1944)
* Riding West (1944)
* The Last Horseman (1944)
* The Falcon in Mexico (1944)
* That's My Baby! (1944)
* Dark Mountain (1944)
* Dangerous Passage (1944)
* Double Exposure (1944)
* Betrayal from the East (1945)
* High Powered (1945)
* Why Girls Leave Home (1945)
* Dick Tracy (1945)
* Ding Dong Williams (1946)
* Sunset Pass (1946)
* Rolling Home (1946)
* The Falcon's Adventure (1946)
* Renegade Girl (1946)
* Code of the West (1947)
* Shoot to Kill (1947)
* Caged Fury (1948)
* Speed to Spare (1948)
* Waterfront at Midnight (1948)
* Racing Luck (1948)
* Jungle Jim (1948)
* Highway 13 (1948)
* The Lost Tribe (1949)
* Arson, Inc. (1949)
* Sky Liner (1949)
* Treasure of Monte Cristo (1949)
* Zamba (1949)
* Deputy Marshal (1949)

1950s|

* Mark of the Gorilla (1950)
* Captive Girl (1950)
* Operation Haylift (1950)
* I Shot Billy the Kid (1950)
* On the Isle of Samoa (1950)
* Gunfire (1950)
* Train to Tombstone (1950)
* Border Rangers (1950)
* Pygmy Island (1950)
* The Bandit Queen (1950)
* Danger Zone (1951)
* Roaring City (1951)
* Smuggler's Gold (1951)
* Pier 23 (1951)
* Savage Drums (1951)
* FBI Girl (1951)
* The Jungle (1952)
* The Marshal's Daughter (1953)
* Valley of the Head Hunters (1953)
* Four Boys and a Gun (1957)
* Street of Sinners (1957)
* Island Women (1958)
* Cop Hater (1958)
* The Mugger (1958)

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