Sheena [DVD] [1984] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]

Deep in Africa, late at night, a Range Rover bounces over a rough track when suddenly the headlights pick out a face...a man buried up to his neck in sandy soil. A young couple, scientists, are horrified. They get out and walk to the face. The eyes are open and staring. Suddenly a tall native appears and tells them they are intruding on sacred soil. Then other natives appear with torches and begin to dance around the huddled couple and the head. And from the car appears a small, blond child, curious but apparently unafraid. At the climax, the head moves, shoulders appear, the body rises from the soil, free of the terrible sores which had afflicted it. Mysteriously, the man has been healed.

Days later, the couple set out to explore the source of the healing soil which seems to be from a cave in the sacred Guchar Mountain. Unknown to them they are followed by their child. When they are killed in a cave in, the child survives. And then the shaman lifts the child in the air before a gathering of the tribe and proclaims to all that "the prophecy has come to pass. When a day when the sacred mountain cries out, a golden god child shall come from the depths of Guchar and she shall grow in wisdom and be the protector of the Zamboulis and all their creatures...and she shall be called Sheena, queen of the jungle."

Sheena (Tanya Roberts) grows into a strikingly beautiful woman, who sleeps with snakes, plays with elephants, splashes with hippopotami and rides zebras. She has telepathic power and can call not only on mammals and reptiles, but on birds as well, small and large. In fact, those who have seen the shapely Sheena swear that she has the biggest parakeets in Africa.

But enough of that. The brother of the king of a neighboring land assassinates his sibling and plans to open the sacred lands of the Zambouli to large-scale mining. Prince Otwani (Trevor Thomas) has learned that rich ore is there for the taking. Backing him up is the evil Princess Zanda (France Zobda), who had been betrothed to the dead king, and a band of tough mercenaries led by the ruthless, white-haired Colonel Jorgensen (John Forgeham). However, a visiting reporter, Vic Casey (Ted Wass) and Fletch (Donovan Scott), his chubby photographer, find evidence implicating the Prince. The chase is on, with Sheena, Vic and Fletch on the run, and the bad guys using helicopters and armored vehicles coming after them. Only Sheena's jungle smarts and the animals she can call on stand in the way of Prince Otwani winning the day.

This is one of the guilty pleasure movies I get a kick out of. Roberts is a truly limited actress. When she calls on the animals, she places the back of her hand to her forehead and looks like she's getting a migraine. When she tries to be angry, she's only petulant. And the movie handles the love scenes between Sheena and Vic in such an awkward way that you can't stop looking. Sheena at last discovers love in the arms of Vic one afternoon when he kisses her. We know, because the camera pans to thousands of flamingos suddenly taking off from a lake. Still, the premise of the movie is a good-natured reverse of the Tarzan story. Vic may be courageous, but Sheena has to help him climb a tree, scramble down a cliff and demonstrate how to shoot a fire arrow into barrels of gasoline. Not least, Sheena looks great bathing nude in a lake, bathing nude under a waterfall, and bathing nude...well, you get the idea. It's mindless, corny fun, and I like it.

The DVD picture looks good but it's only available, as far as I know, in full-frame. The movie was shot wide screen. There are no significant extras.

This movie was made in 1984, is 117 mts long and is mostly in full screen presentation. Sheena's parents are taking samples in a cave, when it collapses and they die. Orphaned in Zambouli (SAMBURU) territory, Sheena (TANYA ROBERTS) is raised by noble tribe and taught to talk telepathically with all creatures. Sheena plays with chimpanzee and has elephants and hippo as friends. As she grows older, she plays with zebra, giraffe, eland and topi. The Zambouli are her tribe now.
There is titanium on the Zambouli land and the Royal football player Prince Diwani (TREVOR THOMAS) wants it. T V reporter Vic Casey (TED WASS) was travelling in his small plane and his photographer claims he saw a blonde girl swinging in trees near a water fall below. The Prince's brother, the King, is killed with an arrow and Vic Casey has it on film. Sheena's mentor is in jail and she goes and rescues her. The Prince wants the mentor and Sheena and gets an army to get them.
While following Sheena, Vic Casey and the rest get attacked by the army in the forest. The army attack one of the villages with fire and builetts and destroy it, as a lesson to others. Sheena is then captured along with Vic Casey. The film is shot entirely on location in KENYA with its beautiful scenary and wildlife. Will Sheena defeat the army with the help of the tribe and her animal friends? Will the Prince be punished by the law? Will Vic Casey come back to help?
Other films shot in Kenya are:-
(1) Where no Vultures fly, Antony Steel 1951-----(10) Ashanti, Michael Caine 1979
(2) Simba, Dirk Borgarde 1955-----(11) The Lion of Africa, Brian Dennehy 1987
(3) Call me Bwana, Bob Hope 1961-----(12) Cowboy in Africa, John Mills 1967
(4) Mogambo, Clarke Gable 1957-----(13) Ivory Hunters, John Lithgow 1990
(5) King Solomon's Mines, Stewart Granger 1950-----(14) Safari, Victor Mature 1955
(6) Sammy Going South, Edward G Robinson 1963 (2010)-----(15) Born Free, V Mckenna 1963
(7) Killers of Kilimanjaro, Robert Taylor 1966-----(16) Tarzan's Greatest Adventure, Gordon Scott 1962 (2009)
(8) Out of Africa, Robert Redford 1985-----(17) The White Masai, Nina Ross 2007
(9) The Last Safari, Stewart Granger 1967
Having born in Kenya, I found this film interesting.
Watch and ENJOY.

First appearing in 1937, Sheena created by comic legend Will Eisner and S.M."Jerry" Iger Golden Age Sheena: The Best Of The Queen Of The Jungle has had a long history without making as big a splash as her rival super-heroine Wonder Woman.
Apart from the early comics and a 1950's TV series starring Irish McCalla there was a long gap before Sheena re-appeared in this 1984 movie with Tanya Roberts, formerly of Charlie's Angels in the lead role.
The story is largely a retelling of Tarzan with a female lead. After her parents are killed in an accident she is brought up by the Shaman of the Zambouli tribe. When a news reporter, Vic Casey (Ted Wass) and his camera man, accidentally film the truth behind the killing of the King. When Sheena appears on the scene to rescue her adopted mother from jail she and Vic escape into the jungle and become involved in political intrigue as they try to get the truth out and stop an attack on the Zambouli tribe.
In no way is it a classic movie, the acting is poor and the story is basic but the scenery is great, it is pure escapist fun and Tanya Roberts is an attractive lead and soon found her niche in the erotic thriller genre.
Unfortunately there are no real extras to speak of, just 2 trailers for other movies including Jumanji, which is a shame as a history of the character would have made an interesting documentary.