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Jungle Goddess
Jungle Goddess
	Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Lewis D. Collins
Screenplay by	Jo Pagano
Produced by	William Stephens
Starring	George Reeves; Ralph Byrd; Wanda McKay
Cinematography	Carl Berger
Edited by	Norman A. Cerf
Music by	Irving Gertz
Production; company	Lippert Pictures
Distributed by	Screen Guild Productions Commonwealth Pictures reissue
Release date	August 13, 1948 (United States);
Running time	62 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

Jungle Goddess is a 1948 American action/adventure crime film starring George Reeves, Ralph Byrd, and Wanda McKay. Directed by Lewis D. Collins, the film was based on an idea by producer William Stephens.

Jungle Goddess was later featured in a Season 2 episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000.

Plot

In Africa, pilot Mike Patton is persuaded by his business partner, Bob Simpson, to conduct a search for a missing heiress whose plane supposedly went down in the jungle, resulting in her never being seen again.

Encountering an indigenous tribe of natives, Bob recklessly shoots a man. He is taken before a woman, Greta, who is being treated like a high priestess. Bob is sentenced to die, but when she gets Mike off to herself, Greta pleads with him to help her escape.

During a struggle, a gun goes off and a guard is left dead. With the tribesmen in pursuit, Mike and Greta are betrayed by Bob, who has gone mad. But after he is killed by a spear, Mike and Greta make it to the plane and safely get away.

Cast

George Reeves as Mike Patton
Wanda McKay as Greta Vanderhorn
Ralph Byrd as Bob Simpson
Armida as Wanama
Onest Conley as Drummer
Rudy Robles as Nugara
Jack Carroll as Accompanist
Dolores Castle as Yvonne
Fred Coby as Pilot
Helena Grant as Mrs. Fitzhugh
Reed Hadley as Radio Newscaster (uncredited)
Sam Harris as Bar Patron (uncredited)
Linda Leighton as Helen Phillips (credited as Linda Johnson)
Smoki Whitfield as Oolonga the witch doctor
Zack Williams as Chief M'benga

Production notes

The film was the first to be produced by Robert L. Lippert's independent production company, Lippert Pictures.^[1]

Lippert borrowed George Reeves to star and filming began in June 1948.^[2]

Reception

A Los Angeles Times reviewer who saw the film in a theater called it "so corny" that the audience "died laughing when they weren't razzing on it."^[3] Despite this reaction, the film was widely seen, as one of the most watched movies in what were then all 48 states.^[4] In 1950 the film was shown as part of a double feature with Treasure Island at the Five Points Theatre in Birmingham, Alabama as well several other theaters around the state.^[5] In 1954 Jungle Goddess was shown as part of a double feature with a re-airing of The Lawless Nineties in several media markets.^[6]

The film was popular enough for a follow-up Green Gold which became Thunder in the Pines.^[7]

Home media

In 2006, Jungle Goddess was released on Region 1 DVD in the United States by VCI Home Video. The film was paired with another title starring George Reeves, Thunder in the Pines (1948).^[8]

References

^ Davis, Blair (2012). The Battle for the Bs: 1950s Hollywood and the Rebirth of Low-budget Cinema. Rutgers University Press. p. 84. ISBN 978-0-813-55324-5.
^ Schallert, E. (May 28, 1948). "Hodiak star in 'bribe,' carlson will produce". Los Angeles Times. ProQuest 165839834.
^ Schallert, E. (Oct 29, 1948). "Powell duels with sultry jane greer; outlaw queen". Los Angeles Times. ProQuest 165854083.
^ Davis, Blair (2012). The Battle for the Bs: 1950s Hollywood and the Rebirth of Low-budget Cinema. Rutgers University Press. p. 84. ISBN 978-0-813-55324-5.
^ The Southern Movie Palace: Rise, Fall, and Resurrection by Janna Jones
^ The Florida Historical Quarterly Vol. 82, No. 3 (Winter, 2004)
^ Schallert, E. (Jul 13, 1948). "Cameron story-buyer; 'green gold' slated". Los Angeles Times. ProQuest 165891603.
^ Tye, Larry (2012). Superman: The High-Flying History of America's Most Enduring Hero. Random House Digital, Inc. p. 353. ISBN 978-1-588-36918-5.