Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]
Welcome to In The Balcony. We hope you enjoy your visit.

You're currently viewing our forum as a guest. This means you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are some features you can't use. If you join our community, you'll be able to access member-only sections, and use many member-only features such as customizing your profile, sending personal messages, and voting in polls. Registration is simple, fast, and completely free. Plus, you'll be eligible for the monthly $1 million prize. (Not really.)

Join our community!

If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features:

Username:   Password:
Add Reply
Kongo (1932); Debauchery, Death, Disability in the Jungle!
Topic Started: Jul 16 2011, 03:32 AM (1,494 Views)
AndyFish
Member Avatar
Movie Watcha Foist Class
[ *  *  * ]
A remake of Chaney's WEST OF ZANZIBAR which comes full circle since that was based on a play starring Walter Huston in the title role and he assumes it here.

This one knocked my socks off-- which in hindsight is a good thing because I was wearing shorts with sandals at the time.

Huston is a crippled and angry jungle medicine man who lives only to take revenge on the man who both crippled him and took his wife away. I'm not going to say much more because it's worth going into this one with little knowledge and then just hanging on. The movie probably deserves to be in the Horror Category instead of Jungles but I couldn't find mention of it in either forum.

Anyone else give this one a go? I've caught bits of it on TCM but finally got the WBshop DVD.
www.andytfish.com
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Laughing Gravy
Member Avatar
Look for In The Balcony on Facebook!
[ *  *  * ]
This was our FNF this week.

As ugly and unpleasant a film as I can think of, and not as good as West of Zanzibar.

Huston is the king of his jungle domain; he uses terror, cheap parlor tricks, and alcohol to cow the natives. He was left a cripple by a quack doctor who stole Huston's wife, who has since died, and has kept their daughter stowed away in a convent until she's 18 and he can take his bitter revenge on the girl, which he does, feeding her body to the natives and turning her into a wild-eyed drunk while he cavorts with sexy, hardly-dressed Lupe Valez, who is actually cavorting with pretty much everybody in the film. A nice guy shows up to rescue the girl; the doctor shows up to do some trading, and all this tragedy smashes together like 2 trains running in opposite directions on the same track.

The film's at its best when Lupe cavorts in that skin-tight, sheer sweat-soaked dress of hers, but she disappears for long stretches, alas. An ugly film, as I said. Virginia Bruce is the daughter. A nice print of the film, but a lot of the early-talkie dialog is hard to hear.
"I'm glad that this question came up, because there are so many ways to answer it that one of them is bound to be right." - Robert Benchley
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
rodney
Member Avatar
Charter Member
[ *  *  * ]
Let's see. Drug abuse, alcoholism, human sacrifice... check, check, check.

Couldn't take my eyes off it, but I literally never want to see it again. I agree with how unpleasant it is, but it's also pretty mesmerizing. At the end of it all though, I need a shower. This is some creepy stuff.

Totally worth watching, but know what you're getting into.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
The Batman
Member Avatar
Charter Member
[ *  *  * ]

Well, several Amazon reviews say that if you love FREAKS and ISLAND OF LOST SOULS, you'll love this one. I am a big fan of the former two films, so does this make me depraved (or are there other reasons for that)?

I gotta admit, I'm going to pick this one up.



Always be yourself! Unless you can be Batman...then always be Batman!
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Frank Hale
Balcony Gang, Foist Class
[ *  *  * ]
I agree with all the comments. It's a mighty strange entry from MGM, right down there with "Freaks".

Like Gravy, I think the Chaney version was better, possibly because he seemed slightly more redeemable than Mr. Huston (not that it did him any good in the script.) It was a real shockeroo when I learned Mr. Huston had been in the Broadway play.

Not something I would ever recommend to anyone.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
The Batman
Member Avatar
Charter Member
[ *  *  * ]
Frank Hale
Jan 30 2015, 01:12 PM
It's a mighty strange entry from MGM, right down there with "Freaks".


From that comment, Mr Hale, do I infer you are not a fan of FREAKS? If so, would love to hear why.



Always be yourself! Unless you can be Batman...then always be Batman!
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Laughing Gravy
Member Avatar
Look for In The Balcony on Facebook!
[ *  *  * ]
Bats, read what Mr. Hale had to say in the Freaks thread.
Edited by Laughing Gravy, Jan 30 2015, 02:45 PM.
"I'm glad that this question came up, because there are so many ways to answer it that one of them is bound to be right." - Robert Benchley
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
The Batman
Member Avatar
Charter Member
[ *  *  * ]

Thanks, LG!

Always be yourself! Unless you can be Batman...then always be Batman!
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Frank Hale
Balcony Gang, Foist Class
[ *  *  * ]
Yeah, thanks so much, Gravy.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
The Batman
Member Avatar
Charter Member
[ *  *  * ]
Frank Hale
Jan 30 2015, 05:23 PM
Yeah, thanks so much, Gravy.

LOL. Cheer up, Mr Hale, I think we've got that thread heatin' up.


Always be yourself! Unless you can be Batman...then always be Batman!
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Don Diego
Member Avatar
Balcony Gang, Foist Class
[ *  *  * ]
Kongo will be on TCM Apr 6th
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
The Batman
Member Avatar
Charter Member
[ *  *  * ]

Is that TCM North, Don?


Always be yourself! Unless you can be Batman...then always be Batman!
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Don Diego
Member Avatar
Balcony Gang, Foist Class
[ *  *  * ]
The TCM north group doesn't provide a far enough ahead schedule but there have only been a few movies that have been stopped at the border - the one that comes to mind is Stagecoach. I believe that TCM north will broadcast Kongo though
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
The Batman
Member Avatar
Charter Member
[ *  *  * ]

Thank you, sir. I'll have to remember to keep an eye out for it.


Always be yourself! Unless you can be Batman...then always be Batman!
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
« Previous Topic · Jungle Boogie! · Next Topic »
Add Reply