The Lost Jungle
Brief Synopsis
Cast & Crew
Armand Schaefer
Clyde Beatty
The Hagenbeck-wallace Animals
Syd Saylor
Cecelia Parker
Edward Le Saint
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
On the day he is to set sail with explorer Professor Livingston for the South Sea islands, Captain Robinson insists that his daughter Ruth either procure a marriage proposal from her boyfriend, Clyde Beatty, a renowned circus animal trainer, or leave with him. Preoccupied with breaking in a new lion, girl-shy Clyde ignores Ruth and her pleas for a private talk, and hurt, she departs without a goodbye. Unable to catch Robinson's schooner before it sails, Clyde, lonely and depressed, throws himself into developing a new and dangerous "mixed" animal act, which features bears, lions and tigers in the same ring. The act proves a hit, but when Clyde hears of the schooner's shipwreck on the "lost" island of Kamor and the subsequent plans for a rescue mission, he insists on joining the crew. After the rescue dirigible carrying Clyde, Larry, the circus publicity man, and Sharkey, an envious rival of Clyde, breaks apart in a hurricane, the men fall to safety on Kamor, which is inhabited by fierce bears, tigers and lions. Sharkey discovers the island's tribal treasure, as well as a dying Professor Livingston, while Clyde and Larry meet Ruth in the jungle and save her from a lion's attack. After he captures lions and tigers alive, saves Captain Robinson from his mutinous crew, and thwarts Sharkey's attempt to steal the treasure and kill him, Clyde finally proposes to Ruth.
Cast
Clyde Beatty
The Hagenbeck-wallace Animals
Syd Saylor
Cecelia Parker
Edward Le Saint
Warner Richmond
Wheeler Oakman
Lew Meehan
Max Wagner
Maston Williams
J. Crauford Kent
Lloyd Whitlock
Lloyd Ingraham
Wes Warner
Jack Carlyle
Jim Corey
Wally Wales
Ernie Adams
Harry Holman
Mickey Rooney
Crew
Colbert Clark
Jimmie Higgins
William Jolley
Nat Levine
Sherman Lowe
Al Martin
William Nobles
John Rathmell
Paul Ries
Monty Steadman
Earl Turner
Alvin Wyckoff
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
Mascot released a twelve-chapter serial version of The Lost Jungle beginning on April 1, 1934. According to modern sources, the feature version of The Lost Jungle was made up of most of the first two chapters, or four reels, of the serial and twenty-four minutes of original footage. A "feature-serial" version was also released, according to modern sources, and was distributed as a seven-reel feature followed by ten two-reel chapters. In onscreen credits Lew Meehan's name was misspelled as "Lou." (This version was two reels longer than the straight serial.) In addition, modern sources note that Mascot released an eleven-reel feature that was a condensation of the entire serial when some exhibitors asked for a Clyde Beatty feature without chapters. Release charts indicate that the feature was first slated for state rights distribution through Mascot on May 1, 1934. After July 1934, however, the title appears as a Mascot release with a June 13, 1934 distribution date. Review dates suggest that the film May have been released first in New York on a state rights basis.
According to a contemporary news item in International Photographer, photographer Alvin Wyckoff and star Beatty, a professional animal trainer, were mauled while filming a scene for the film. The animal attack reportedly resulted in a wrecked camera. International Photographer also notes that filming took place at the Mack Sennett Studios and in Peru, Indiana. Modern sources add the following credits to the serial production: Production Manager, Larry Wickland; Supervising Editor, Wyndham Gittens; story, Colbert Clark, John Rathmell and Al Martin; Screenplay, Barney Sarecky, David Howard, Armand Schaefer and Wyndham Gittens; Music Score, Hal Chasnoff; Recording Engineer, Terry Kellum. It is possible that some of these contributors worked only on the serial and were not involved in the feature. In addition, modern sources add Charles Whitaker ("Slim") to the cast of the serial, and complete the above-listed cast with the following character names: Lloyd Whitlock (Howard), Lloyd Ingraham (Bannister), Wes Warner (Jackman), Jack Carlyle (The cook), Jim Corey (Steve), Wally Wales (Sandy), Ernie Adams (Pete), Harry Holman (Maitland) and Mickey Rooney (Mickey).
