''Killer Ape'' (1953) is the twelfth

Jungle Jim Jungle Jim is the fictional hero of a series of jungle adventures in various media. The series began on January 7, 1934, as an American newspaper comic strip chronicling the adventures of Asia-based hunter Jim Bradley, who was nicknamed Jungle ...

film produced by

Columbia Pictures Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc., Trade name, doing business as Columbia Pictures, is an American film Production company, production and Film distributor, distribution company that is the flagship unit of the Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group ...

. It features

Johnny Weissmuller Johnny Weissmuller ( ; born Johann Peter Weißmüller, ; June 2, 1904 – January 20, 1984) was a Hungarian-born German American Olympic swimmer, water polo player and actor. He was known for having one of the best competitive-swimming records o ...

in his twelfth performance as the protagonist adventurer Jungle Jim.

Carol Thurston Carol Thurston (born Betty Lou Thurston; September 27, 1920 – December 31, 1969) was an American film and television actress who played the fictitious Emma Clanton in eight episodes (1959–1961) of the ABC/ Desilu western television series ...

also stars. The film was directed by Spencer G. Bennet and written by Arthur Hoerl and Carroll Young. The film centres on Jungle Jim battling a man-like ape in the jungle and trying to clear his name after he is framed of murder. The film was theatrically released in the United States in December 1953.

Plot

Noticing many jungle animals behaving in an unnatural manner, adventurer Jungle Jim (

) sends a few of them for laboratory testing. It is revealed that diabolical scientist Doctor Andrews (Nestor Paiva) is behind the deed. Andrews is intent on formulating a deadly drug that would make any creature injected with it succumb in a matter of seconds. Jim, who is unaware of Andrews' plans, spots him near the Canyon of the Man Ape. The jungle explorer advises him to leave quickly, as rumour has it that a creature ( Max Palmer), half-man and half-ape, roams the canyon's grounds. Andrews does not heed the warning, and his laboratory in the jungle gets obliterated by the legendary "Killer Ape". Jungle Jim later meets Mahura, leader of the tribal Wazuli clan. Jim also warns him of the Killer Ape, but Mahura wishes to see it for himself to believe him. He ventures into the canyon, and meets the enraged monster in the flesh. Jim comes to Mahura's aid but is knocked out cold by the beast. The Killer Ape proceeds to kill the tribal chief. Shari (

), Mahura's daughter, and Ramada (Burt Wenland), Shari's spouse, both accuse Jim of murdering Mahura. When Jim vehemently denies doing so, a heated squabble ensues. Jim sneaks away but is chased by Shari. Just then, the Killer Ape reappears and tries to kill Shari, only to be scared off by Jim. Meanwhile, Ramada has learnt of Andrews' scheme and decides not to let him harm the jungle animals anymore. Ireful, Andrews orders for his men to kidnap both Ramada and a tribal Elder (Eddie Foster). Jungle Jim also gets caught while trying to rescue the captured duo. When the Killer Ape re-bags Shari and returns to the canyon, they are both abducted too. Jim's pet chimpanzee Tamba ropes in his fellow ape friends and together they storm into Andrews' retreat. The captured become freed. The Killer Ape angrily massacres all of Andrews' henchmen and lets the doctor be mauled to death by a panther. It then changes its motive when it sees Shari. Attempting to drag her away, its plans are permanently halted by Jim, who burns it alive. In the aftermath, Jim receives a medal for ridding the Killer Ape.

Cast

as Jungle Jim *

as Shari * Max Palmer as Man Ape * Burt Wenland as Ramada *

Nestor Paiva Nestor Caetano Paiva (June 30, 1905 – September 9, 1966) was an American stage, radio, film and television actor of Portuguese descent. He performed in over 400 motion pictures either as an extra, a bit player, or as a significant supporting ...

as Andrews * Paul Marion as Mahara *

Eddie Foster Edward Cunningham Foster (February 13, 1887 – January 15, 1937) was an American professional baseball third baseman. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1910 to 1923 for the New York Highlanders, Washington Senators, Boston Red Sox ...

as Achmed *

Rory Mallinson Charles Rory Mallinson (October 27, 1913 – March 26, 1976) was an American film and television actor. Career Born in Atlanta, Georgia, Mallinson began his acting career after signing a contract with Warner Brothers in 1945. That year he had ...

as Perry *

Ray Corrigan Ray or RAY may refer to: Fish * Ray (fish), any cartilaginous fish of the superorder Batoidea * Ray (fish fin anatomy), the bony or horny spine on ray-finned fish Science and mathematics * Half-line (geometry) or ray, half of a line split at an ...

as Norley *

Nick Stuart Nick Stuart (April 10, 1904 – April 7, 1973) was an Austro-Hungarian-born American actor and bandleader. His career spanned five decades, during which he appeared in over 50 films, more than half of them features, as well as film shorts, ser ...

as Maron * Tamba as Tamba The Chimp

Production

returned as Jungle Jim for the twelfth time. Max Palmer was cast as the title "Killer Ape". The then-owner of the movie ranch

Corriganville __NOTOC__ Corriganville Movie Ranch was a working film studio and movie ranch for outdoor location shooting, as well as a Western (genre), Western-themed tourist attraction. The ranch, owned by actor and stuntman Ray "Crash" Corrigan, was locate ...

, American actor

Ray "Crash" Corrigan Ray "Crash" Corrigan (born Raymond Benitz; February 14, 1902 – August 10, 1976) was an American actor most famous for appearing in many B-Western movies (among these the '' Three Mesquiteers'' and ''The Range Busters'' film series). He ...

, made a cameo appearance in the film. The film was directed by Spencer G. Bennet with assistance from Carter DeHaven. Sam Katzman was in charge of production for Columbia Pictures, while Carroll Young and Arthur Hoerl wrote the screenplay, based on a story by Young. William Whitley signed on as cinematographer. The set decorator was Sidney Clifford. Mischa Bakaleinikoff headed the musical direction, and

Gene Havlick Gene Havlick (March 16, 1894 in Enid, Oklahoma, USA – May 11, 1959 in Los Angeles, California) was an American film editor. He was nominated for three Academy Awards, winning one. He worked on over 100 films during his 30-year career. Early ...

edited the film. Filming began on February 5, 1953 and ended on February 12, 1953. Scenes were filmed at Corriganville. Archived footage from '' Captive Girl'' (1950) was incorporated in the film for a scene involving primates ambushing a scientist's retreat.

Release

The film was officially released in North American cinemas in December 1953. It was released in the United Kingdom in May 1954 and in Australia on January 6, 1955. ''

Variety Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...

'' wrote that the film was " stereotyped entry in Johnny Weissmuller's 'Jungle Jim' series of programmers". ''The Columbia Story'' commented that "more talk than action characterized this adventure", while the ''Motion Picture Guide'' found it to be "a cliché tour-de-force replete with bad acting and apathetic direction".

References

Bibliography

* * *

External links

Review of movie
at Variety * * * {{Jungle Jim 1953 films Films directed by Spencer Gordon Bennet 1950s action adventure films American action adventure films Columbia Pictures films American black-and-white films 1950s English-language films 1950s American films Films scored by Mischa Bakaleinikoff English-language action adventure films Films produced by Sam Katzman