Search - The Naked Jungle on DVD

MPAA Rating: NR Content Advisory: Violence, Questionable for Children Movie Release: 1954 DVD Release: 11/09/2004 Format: DVD - Closed Captioned Edition: Special Collection Audio Tracks: English Subtitles: English SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 35 mins Studio: Paramount Members Wishing: 6 Genres: Adventure, Adventure Drama, Natural Horror, Jungle Film

It doesn't take long for old-time-radio fans to figure out that The Naked Jungle is a film version of the classic Carl Stephenson nailbiter Leiningen Versus the Ants. Charlton Heston plays South American plantation owner Christopher Leiningen, who spends most of the film preparing for the hellish onslaught of deadly soldier ants. The original story concentrated solely on Leiningen; the film version hokes things up a bit by bestowing upon the hero a gorgeous mail-order bride, played by Eleanor Parker. No matter: the climactic insect invasion is well worth the wait, utilizing the Paramount Pictures optical-effects department to the nth degree. The Naked Jungle also offers excellent supporting work from Abraham Sofaer, Douglas Fowley, and William Conrad, who also acted in several of the radio adaptations of the Carl Stephenson yarn. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Eleanor Parker - Joanna Leiningen
Charlton Heston - Christopher Leiningen
Abraham Sofaer - Incacha
William Conrad - Commissioner
Romo Vincent - Boat Captain

George Pal's production of The Naked Jungle, based on Carl Stephenson's story -Leiningen Versus The Ants, and directed by Byron Haskin, was a very good looking laserdisc in its time, one of the best that Pioneer ever issued on behalf of Paramount. But the 2004 DVD release looks absolutely amazing, running circles around the laserdisc and seeming almost 3-D in spots, the color and resolution are so sharp. Indeed, this is a demonstration quality disc, and makes even Paramount's release of the Charlton Heston-starring vehicle Arrowhead, in the same DVD cycle, look poor by comparison, good as it actually does look. From the opening credits to the final frame, this film is a feast -- a banquet -- for the eye, The audio has also been mastered at a satisfyingly high volume level, and when the combined effect of the high-resolution video and audio kick in with those scenes of the advancing soldier ants, this becomes the kind of disc that can stop traffic in a video showroom, even if it is shot in Academy ratio and mastered the same way (1.33:1). The movie has no other extras, just 14 chapters that are more than adequate for the 95-minute feature, though one sorely wishes that there was an original trailer on hand, just to see how the movie was originally marketed. ~ Bruce Eder, All Movie Guide