Lost City of the Jungle [DVD] [1946] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]

While Universal's reason for exiting the serial movie market is often misrepresented as a quality issue, and inability to compete with serials from Republic and Columbia, the decision seems to have had more to do with a change in company ownership, and a desire to focus on higher-end films. That said, their next-to-last serial, "Lost City of the Jungle" has a number of problems, though it is better than might be expected from the circumstances of its production.

Lionel Atwill plays war monger Sir Eric Hazarias, who is after a rare element, "Meteorium-245" that provides a defense against the atomic bomb, which he hopes to sell since it would allow a country to engage in atomic warfare without fear of retaliation. On the trail of Sir Eric is an agent of the United Peace Foundation, Rod Stanton (Russell Hayden) who, with difficulties including 'plane stowaway Marjorie Elmore (Jane Adams) flies across the Himalayas to Zalabar, capital of Pendrang, an isolated jungle province apparently near Hollywood. There an archaeological dig is taking place by Ms. Elmore's father, Dr. Elmore (John Eldredge), whose activities are unwittingly helping Sir Eric who, under the assumed name of Geoffrey London, is financing the expedition because he believes it will uncover the "Meteorium-245" needed for his schemes. Stanton meets up with co-agent Tal Shan (Keye Luke) and confirms Sir Eric's identity. Discovering why Sir Eric is interested in the digs takes a little longer. Adding further complications to both sides is the real power in Zalabar, a woman named Indra (Helen Bennett) who runs things from her casino, protecting those who pay for the service.

The serial was directed by the experienced team of Ray Taylor and Lewis D. Collins. It shouldn't be a surprise that the plot is similar to that of the 1945 serial "Secret Agent X-9" since Universal had long been into recycling. We have a casino owner in an isolated part of the world creating, for a profit, a neutral zone between the factions; the usual search for a miracle stuff by the bad guys, with the good guys trying to figure out what they're after and why; and the all-too-obvious "secret agent" types hanging about the casino. It isn't even as believable as the earlier serial; for example no explanation is given as to why Indra has influence over the natives. The plot had to be reworked when Lionel Atwill became seriously ill during production; he died the day before the official release date of the film. Atwill had filmed scenes through the last chapter, but there were gaps, so Sir Eric's secretary, Malborn (John Miljan) became "the real" war monger. Sometimes non-speaking views of Atwill's face are used along with a back view of a body double, but it doesn't work too well. Universal was big on stock footage anyway, here using it for some of the cliffhangers, including clips from the avalanche rescue from the 1929 German film "The White Hell of Pitz Palu," familiar from the third Flash Gordon serial. The 1943 Universal film "White Savage" provided a couple more cliffhangers. The acted out introductions do not help the pacing, since Universal thought it necessary to explain the many plot complications at the start of each chapter, which takes a couple minutes. Acting is mostly to usual serial movie standards, with Russell Hayden a little bland as the hero, though Lionel Atwill did what he could, Keye Luke does his usual fine job as a sidekick, and there are some nice cameos, such as Frank Lackteen as the "blind beggar" outside the casino. And despite the production problems, the plot holds together, if hardly a shining example of the form.

VCI's edition, # 8469 is on a single DVD. The print used isn't bad, given what is often available from these old serials, but it is not ideal. Some of the "next week" titles don't extend the full length of the music, and the final "The End" title finishes on a still frame, before the temple door in the background is fully closed. I'm not sure it really hurts, but the last couple lines, where Ms. Elmore is questioned about her future plans are missing on this print. Otherwise there are occasional splices, scratches and dirt but not to an annoying degree and some of it is from the stock footage; the temple destroyed by a "remote controlled earthquake" is shown in a still frame, with an especially nasty scratch in the original. Brightness and contrast are good, the image well-framed and fairly sharp. The "night" scenes are a bit dark but not totally black, and enough details can be seen with adjustment of brightness and contrast controls. The sound is clear enough for the extensive dialogue to be understood but with a little noise, some distortion and limited frequency range, suggesting more than the image quality that this is from a 16mm reduction print. There is some obvious flutter in Chapter Six, and wow at the start of the opening credits, worse in some chapters but all from the same piece of film with a splice as the credit for John Miljan scrolls up in "The Players" list from the bottom of the screen.

The "extras" include the original two-minute trailer for "Lost City of the Jungle" and one running about three and a half minutes for the 1951 Columbia serial "Captain Video" including some color-tinted scenes. There are also "Bios" of Russell Hayden, Jane Adams, Lionel Atwill, Lewis D. Collins and Ray Taylor. After the FBI warning at the start of the disc there are some clips used as advertising for other serials available from VCI.

More than with most serials, this one shouldn't be watched without at least a day between chapters to forget some of the redundant plot explanations, but otherwise it isn't bad for a post-war serial; the story itself moves along fairly well. VCI's print isn't perfect, but the defects are fairly minor, and at the price, a reasonable value.

Lost City was close to being Universal's last serial effort. It is not as dull as some of their other serial efforts but it is not very good either. Very noticeable is Universal's penchant for saving money by framing their serial plots around available stock shots. In Lost City the cliffhangers for chapters 2,3 and 4 were lifted from the 1943 Maria Montez-Jon Hall epic White Savage and many more "liftings" are prevelant in other chapters. If you want an exotic serial go with "Drums of Fu Manchu", one of Republic's finest.

VCI Entertainment and Universal Pictures present "Lost City of the Jungle" (1946), 13 Chapters of vintage serial episodes loaded with action packed sequences...story line involves Secret agents Russell Hayden and local guide Keye Luke wage a desperate battle in native infested Asian jungles for the secret to a rare element which can neutralize the atomic bomb...can Hayden (investigator for United Peace Foundation) stop the Lionel Atwill who is the power hungry Sir Eric Hazarias (aka London) from his scheme to rule the entire planet with a antidote known as Metorium 245 that lies in the mountains of Himalaya...who is the real power pulling the strings, is it Sir Eric or Malborn (John Mylong) who has been sitting back waiting for things to heat up...looks like Hayden and Luke have their work cut out for them right down to the final Chapter."Atomic Vengeance" ...double thrills, chills, mystery and suspense...don't miss a single spine-thrilling episode..return next week to this local theater for another episode of action and adventure that will keep you thrilled until the next chapter.

Under director's Lewis D. Collins and Ray Taylor, executive producer Morgan B. Cox, associate producer Joseph O'Donnell, original screenplay by Joseph F. Poland, Paul Huston and Tom Gibson, music score by Hans J. Salter, Frank Skinner, Paul Sawtell and Milton Rosen...the cast include Russell Hayden (Rod Stanton), Jane Adams (Marjorie Elmore), Lionel Atwill (Sir Eric Hazarias/London), Keye Luke (Tal Shan), Helen Bennett (Indra), John Miljan (Dr. Gaffron), John Eldredge (Dr. Elmore), John Gallaudet (Prof. Grebb), Ted Hecht (Doc Harris), John Mylong (Malborn), Dick Curtis (Johnson-henchman), Gene Roth (Police Capt. Hammond), Eddie Parker (Guard on Schooner), George Lynn (Marlow), Ralph Lewis (Kurtz).......special behind the scenes note the actor Russell Hayden best known as Hopalong Cassidy's sidekick Lucky Jenkins, during the long run of "Hopalong Cassidy Series" during 1937-1941(Birth Date:6/12/1912 Chico, CA - Died: 6/09/1981 Palm Springs, CA)...also Lionel Atwill well known for his role as Inspector Krogh in "Son of Frankenstein (1939), whose artificial arm is ripped out by an iritate Frankenstein Monster (Boris Karloff), Atwill died before completing his work on "Lost City of the Jungle" (1946), his remaining scenes were completed by using a double (Birth Date: 3/01/1885 Croydon London UK - Died: Pacific Palisades, CA).....meanwhile back to the feature as Universal Pictures is always good till the last drop and this serial is no exception...there is a great deal of entertainment here for the cliffhanger fans out there...all courtesy of VCI Entertainment, who in my humble opinion is the best there is in restoring early serials and features.

CHAPTER TITLES:

1. Himalaya Horror

2. The Death Fllod

3. Wave Length for Doom

4. The Pit of Pendrang

5. Fiery Danger

6. Death's Shining Face

7. Speedboat Missing

8. Fire Jet Torture

9. Zalabar Death Watch

10.Booby Trap Rendezvous

11.Pendrange Guillotine

12.Jungle Smash-Up

13.Atomic Vengeance

If you crave action, drama and plenty of adventure then this is the place for all of the above...check out another release from VCI Entertainment and Columbia Pictures present "Captain Video: Master of the Stratosphere" (1951) (digitally remastered), 15 Chapters.finally for the first time on video the really great Columbia Serial that broke the mold...we have everything a serial fan would want...the tinted sequences by Cinecolor and unique inventions that were unlike any other serial out there in the '50s...get out there as they're going fast, this is the one you've been waiting for.

Great job by VCI Entertainment for releasing "Lost City of the Jungle" (1946), the digital transfere with a clean, clear and crisp print...looking forward to more high quality releases from the vintage serial era of the '30s, '40s & '50s...order your copy now from Amazon or VCI Entertainment, stay tuned once again for top notch action mixed with deadly adventure from the "King of Serials" VCI...just the way we like 'em!

Total Time: 265 mins on 2 VHS ~ VCI Entertainment 1708 ~ (7/15/1992)