20th Century-Fox Dynamo (February 1960)

Press Appraisal: Greatest Jungle Film Ever Made! Continued from page 33 THE FILM DAILY: Beautifully photographed and an expertly put together documentary. Strik- ing entertainment. Excitingly-made and excel- lenty photographed. As a documentary excursion into the Belgian Congo, it rates exceedingly well and will win high favor with the fans. The film is pervaded with a sense of the ferociousness and preciousness of life. The story is at an elemental level. The offstage narration by Orson Welles and William Warfield is particularly effective in its simple eloquence. An extraordinary job of photo- graphy has been accomplished by the team headed by Paul Grupp, George Schimzenski Neubert and Fernand Tack. They have caught the varieties of wild life, the vegetation and the natives with some stunning closeups. THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER: From its title one might be misled into thinking “Masters Of The Congo Jungle” is a B-type African adven- ture film. Instead, it is one of the most impres- sive scientific films ever assembled. The manner of its being placed before the public is news- worthy. When Spyros Skouras was in Brussels he was surprised to hear former King Leopold III remark: “In a way Pm a movie producer. I’d like to show you some film.” Politely acquiescing (but expecting to see royal “home movies”), the 20th-Fox president was astounded when the former sovereign showed him reel after reel of beautifully shot foot- age revealing the tribes and wild life of the Belgian Congo. Some imaginative animation, coupled with authentic volcano shots, depicts how some pre-liis- toric cataclysm divided the area into rain forests of the west and the plains and savannahs of the east. A completely fascinating film. LOS ANGELES HERALD EXPRESS: “Mas- ters Of The Congo Jungle” has the best of every- thing in the teeming world of nature in its primi- tive state. This film strikes a new note in jungle drama, for it is all very true and the most amazing motion picture of its kind ever made. Particularly good for the youngsters. BEVERLY HILLS (CAL.) CITIZEN: This pic- ture is definitely of Oscar calibre. An almost cer- tain Academy Award winner, in my opinion. You owe it to yourself and family to see it. It is the most fascinating film on jungle life ever filmed. Families, groups and school classes should make this a MUST SEE LOS ANGELES TIMES: This film has excite- ment, authenticity, good taste and drama ... the sort of drama that comes from intelligent picturization of wild life in the jungle in its primitive state. In light of the rapid changes taking place in our shrunken world of today, it is fitting and consider- ate of His Majesty King Leopold II to have pre- served through the medium of the screen the sur- viving vestiges of the ancient life of the Congo. It runs 90 rare and enthralling minutes. LOS ANGELES EXAMINER: “Masters Of The Congo Jungle” is a masterpiece, a film that will bring excitement and surprise to people of all ages. It is a most unusual film, one that informs and en- tertains, and this is a rare combination. LOS ANGELES MIRROR-NEWS: I have never seen anything to equal “Masters Of The Jungle”. It is spell-binding in its factual picturization of jungle life. It constitutes one of the major accom- plishments of the motion picture industry. No other medium could possibly have given the world such an authentic record. Its story runs the gamut of entertainment requirements, for it has the elements of fear, of suspense, of comedy and drama, and has been excellently photographed. SAN FERNANDO (CAL.) VALLEY TIMES: When Royalty gets involved in a motion picture project it is news, and in “Masters Of The Congo Jungle” we have a product that befits the regal standards of the head of a country. Exciting and eye-filling from beginning to end. Unlike past fea- ture pictures dramatizing jungle animal and native life, there is nothing stagey about this picture. It is authentic throughout. We agree with those who have seen this film in the belief that it will be awarded an Oscar as the best documentary of the year, for, in truth, it is the best picture of its kind ever exposed to public acclamation. It is not only an exceptionally excellent film in what it reveals, but it is revealing entertainment for everybody. 34 REPORT FROM "BIBLE OF SHOW BUSINESS” What’s What And Who’s Who In "Masters Of The Congo Jungle” Because it so thoroughly and accurately re- ports both the picture’s contents and reflects the concensus of opinions of newspaper and trade paper critics and exhibitors who have seen “Masters Of The Congo Jungle”, Dynamo here- with publishes, in its entirety, the appraisal of what is generally accepted as the “bible of show business”, Variety: “Masters Of The Congo Jungle” is a beauti- ful, unusual, feature-length docunsentary of Academy Award calibre. Both artistic and in- formative, it deals with the stoneage natives of the northeastern Belgian Congo. Looks like a promising entry for the art houses. The CinemaScope - De Luxe Color footage brought out by producer Henri Storck, directors Heinz Sielmann and Henry Brandt and a half dozen cameramen (not credited) includes mag- nificent vistas of jungles and volcanoes, close, dramatic views of birds and animals and, most important, captures the daily lives of the people. No travelog, the film doesn’t seek mere curi- osity but faithfully follows a theme. King Leo- pold III of Belgium, under whose auspices the International Scientific Foundation made the picture, states the theme in a title card: “There is a communion between the man of the forest and his natural surroundings which inspires in us a sense of respect, a recognition of spiritual heritage.” The voices of Orson Welles and William Warfield alternate at narrating Joe Wilis’ dialog (Sam Hill’s story). It’s subtly written and the great voices give it a poetic quality. Welles seems to speak as a scientist, learned but humble in a quest for truth, and Warfield speaks as a native, secure and dignified in a world he under- stands in his very bones. The world of the natives (related to Pygmies) is first shown in a superb, mood-setting ani- mated sequence (not credited). Then, follow- ing the course of a wise man’s lecture to the village warriors, the camera picks out each sub- ject as the narrators relate each myth to fact. For example: traditional dances and rites are shown and the bird or animal which inspired them is spot-lighted; the belief in the volcano god is made plausible through artfully selective photography and narrative. Among the many notable animal scenes are: a little “night heron” gruesomely capturing and killing a larger bird’s chick; a family of gorillas charging, almost at the camera. The scenes are the more remarkable because of the consistent studio quality of the photography. The film editor and the sound man (not credited) did outstanding jobs and Richard Cornu produced a fine score—all of which was part of a rare harmony among all departments in this film. trien. Just As It Happened From Time Immemorial ...IT HAPPENS TODAY!