Jungle Moon Men

In the jungles of Africa, members of the Baku country pygmy tribe, known as Moon Men, capture Marro, the son of Nolimo, chief of the Aribis. Farther down the river, jungle guide Johnny Weissmuller meets Ellen Marston, a researcher-writer, who wants a guide into the Baku country, as she has studied ancient Egyptian history and believes the Baku may be linked to the Egyptians and have the secret of eternal life. After Johnny agrees, they are approached by Nolimo, who is searching for Marro. Having discovered footprints linking the Moon Men to Marro's disappearance, Nolimo asks to accompany Johnny into Baku country. The next day, a jeep carrying Ellen's friend and colleague, Bob Prentice, and his driver, Mark Santo, arrives just as the Aribis discover Marro escaping from the Moon Men. Johnny helps subdue the pygmy leader Damu, but Marro is struck down by their poisonous darts and dies. Johnny and Ellen discover a strange ornate necklace on Marro, which Ellen excitedly notes has Egyptian hieroglyphics reading "high priest of Baku." Nolimo confirms that Marro's last words were that he had been held by Oma, the ancient high priestess of the Baku. When Johnny points out that the stones in the necklace are diamonds, Santo takes the information back to his three colleagues, and the group decides to follow Johnny to learn the location of the diamonds. The Aribis depart to conduct a massive funeral ceremony for Marro. That night the Moon Men break into Johnny's camp to rescue Damu and kidnap Bob. Johnny is knocked unconscious with a dart and later revived by Ellen, who is anxious to search for Bob. Johnny leaves a message for the Aribis to follow and sets off with Ellen. Later they are intercepted by Santo, who takes the necklace from them at gunpoint, only to be attacked by the Moon Men afterward. When Santo and his men come to, the necklace and jeep are missing. Santo insists on pressing on and kills two of the men who refuse. Meanwhile, Johnny and Ellen arrive at an ominous cave with more hieroglyphics and accidentally trigger the cave's secret opening device. Santo and his henchman Regan join Johnny and Ellen, and all go inside the cave where they hear roaring lions. The Moon Men have followed the group and meet them inside the cave, then force them to a large, brightly decorated room. There, they are met by a striking blonde woman who introduces herself as the Baku High Priestess Oma. Oma explains that she is the last of the centuries old ancient Baku, and has taken the Moon Men as subjects, but must never leave the cave or she will incur the wrath of the sun god, Rah. When Ellen demands to know Bob's whereabouts, Oma reveals that she was disappointed that Marro chose to run away, so has named Bob her new high priest. Bob appears, glassy-eyed and drugged, and agrees to remain with Oma. Later that night, Johnny promises Ellen to find Bob and slips out. Upon finding Bob, Johnny revives him and discovers he has no memory of submitting to Oma. The Moon Men find Johnny and Bob and take them to Oma, who expresses her displeasure. Johnny informs Oma that Ellen and Bob wish to remain together and offers to stay in Bob's place. Later, Ellen and Bob object to Johnny's idea, but Santo and his henchman support it. After Johnny returns to his private room, Santo knocks Bob out and returns to Oma's altar, where he steals several diamonds before being caught by Johnny. The men's fight is broken up by the Moon Men, who take them to Oma, who orders the entire group be put to death in the lions' den. Kimba, Johnny's pet chimpanzee, slips into Johnny's cave and unties him, then sends the lions out into the cave's maze-like passageways. Johnny, Bob and Ellen search for an escape, as Santo and Regan return for the diamonds, only to be cornered and attacked by the lions. Johnny finds Oma and demands she tell them how to escape, and when she refuses, Johnny uses her as a shield from the threatening Moon Men and leads the others outside. There, the group finds Nolimo and his tribe ready to kill Damu for Marro's death. They are distracted by Oma, who collapses immediately and vaporizes in a cloud of smoke. Freed from Oma's slavery, the Moon Men ask for a truce with the Aribis as Johnny, Ellen and Bob look on.