Law of the Jungle (Monogram) (1942)

Long Detour Led John King To Motion Picture Screen John King prospected many diversified lines of endeavor before he finally found his feet placed on the path that led to motion picture stardom. The thought of Hollywood had never occurred to him. King comes to the Monogram’s¥ | JOHN KING | “Law of the Jungle,” colorful South African comedydrama in which he is featured with Arline Judge. Born in Cincinnati, King attended the local public schools and later worked his way through the University of Cincinnati night school by acting as a checker and stoker in a grain elevator in the daytime. After graduation John was in turn a dishwasher in a cafeteria, an attendant in an automobile agency and a newspaper reporter. Wanderlust took him west, and he worked as a lumberjack in New Mexico and Arizona. Finally, after his return to Cincinnati, King secured a job as announcer at a local radio station, and since he had for years possessed a good voice, was shortly afterward impressed into service as a singer on sustaining programs. Eventually he was announcer and singer on several radio stations in the Cincinnati area, and as a result of his work on the air was engaged as soloist with Ben Bernie’s Band. It was while he was thus engaged that he was placed under contract for motion pictures, making his screen debut in the Carole Lombard picture, “Love Before Breakfast.” Recently he has been one of the starring trio in Monogram’s “Range Busters” series of western pictures. In addition to King ana Miss Judge, the cast of “Law of the Jungle” includes Mantan Moreland in the leading comedy role, Arthur O’Connell, C. Montague Shaw, Guy Kingsford, Victor Kendall and Feodor Chaliapin. Jean Yarbrough directed for Producer Lindsley Par sons, and the original screenplay was written by George Bricker, with additional dialogue by Edmond Kelso. Famous Forebear Feodor Chaliapin, coming to the Ages ase ere THEALTE “ON Fee Cle LI the Monogram comedy-drama, ‘Law of the Jungle,’ is the son of the great Russian singer of the same name, universally recognized as one of the outstanding bass vocalists of musical history. Arline Judge and John King play the featured roles in the picture, with the negro comedian Mantan Moreland heading the supporting cast. Familiar to western fans as one of the famed “Range Busters,’ John King sees more action in “Law of The Jungle” at the .......... Theatre now. One Col. Cut or Mat No. 3 SINGER NOW ACTOR John King acted as singer and announcer on several radio stations in and near his native Cincinnati, and later was soloist with Ben Bernie’s Band when he was signed for his first motion picture work. King, featured with the attractive Arline Judge, comes.to the .......... theatre on in Monogram’s colorful comedy-drama, “Law of the Jungle.” Notwithstanding his exceptional voice, the actor does no singing in the picture, since his role depicts him as a serious-minded explorer and archaeologist. MEAL MEMENTOS Arline Judge confesses to a great passion for good food, and began to collect menus when she was taken on a trip to Europe at the age of nine, so that she might have lasting reminders of excellent meals fully enjoyed. Miss Judge is now appearing on the screen of the Sp a ee theatre in “Law of the Jungle,” Monogram’s comedy-drama of South Africa, in which she is cofeatured with John King. That’s the Picture Business! Arline Judge made her way into motion pictures through her skill as a dancer; John King received his film chance because of his accomplishments as a singer. But Miss Judge does not dance a step, nor does King sing a note in “Law of the Jungle,” the Monogram comedy-drama in which they are now being featured on the screen of the eee ASR theatre. This illustrates the experience of many of Hollywood's motion picture players, who were originally placed under contract on account of some special skill or talent, and then found that the exigencies of studio casting took them far away from their specialties. Irene Dunne, signed for her vocal ability, went on to achieve her greatest success in such non-singing pictures as John Boles, one of the screen's most popular sing Street.” “Cimarron” and “Back ers, appeared in many straight dramatic roles (notably in the same “Back Street’’), and had not sung on the screen for several years until he appeared in the recently com pleted “Road to Happiness.” The action of “Law of the Jungle” is laid in the almost impenetrable forests of South Africa, with King and Miss Judge in the romantic leads and Mantan Moreland supplying the comedy as King’s negro manservant. The picture was produced by Lindsley Parsons, and directed by Jean Yarbrough. CREDITS Produced by LINDSLEY PARSONS Directed by JEAN YARBROUGH Original Screenplay by GEORGE BRICKER Additional Dialogue EDMOND KELSO Photography MACK STENGLER Film Editor JACK OGILVIE Sound Engineer VIRGIL SMITH Assistant Director WILLIAM STROHBACH Negro Comic Adds Fun to Jungle Hit One of the most popular of the screen’s negro comedians is Mantain Moreland, coming to the PREAtLe ON ee: in ‘“‘Law of the Jungle, ’the Monogram comedydrama featuring Arline And and John King. Prior to his entry into motion pictures, Moreland was a favorite song and dance man of the New York stage, appearing in such musical comedies as “Shuffle Along,” “Blackbirds of 1928” and “Singing the ‘Story of African Jungles Full of Thrills and Comedy (Review) There are thrills a-plenty in ‘Law of the Jungle,’ the Monogram picture which opened at the theatre last night—and there are also many interludes of genu inely amusing comedy. Altogether, it is a film which is unusually interesting and entertaining, with its locale in the picturesque jungles of South Africa.4———_——— The story follows the adventures of John King and Arline Judge, who play the leading roles in the picture, and who make a thoroughly pleasing pair. King plays the role of an archaeologist who leads an expedition into the jungle, and Miss Judge is seen as a former member of a stranded theatrical troupe, awaiting receipt of money and her passport at a small trading village in British Rhodesia. Circumstances bring the man and the girl together in a perilous journey through the jungle, where they are beset not only by savage natives but by German agents who have incited the tribes to revolt against the British. The comedy element oi tine story is carried by the negro comedian, Mantan Moreland, manservant of the explorer, who on many. occasions devoutly wishes himself back in Harlem. Other important roles are played by Arthur O’Connell, C. Montague Shaw, Guy Kingsford, Victor Kendall and Feodor Chaliapin Jean Yarbrough’s direction of Blues,” and attaining a reputation “Law of the Jungle” is deserving of for versatility literally “from Harlem to the Battery.” Mantan made his screen debut in 1938, when he went to Hollywood to play an important role with Joe Louis in the all-negro picture “Spirit of Youth.” In this picture Moreland did what so many other men have tried unsuccessfully to accomplish—he boxed with the champion, and was still on his feet at the end of the bout. This, it might be pointed out, was because the scenario called for this outcome of the scene. In “Law of the Jungle” Moreland appears as the manservant of an archaeologist and paleontologist exploring in the African jungle, and undergoes a series of adventures which are comically terrifying. Other members of the cast appearing with Miss Judge and King are Arthur O’Connell, C. Montague Shaw, Guy Kingsford and several actors of Moreland’s race, including Martin Wilkins and Lawrence Criner. The picture was directed by Jean Yarbrough under the production supervision of Lindsley Parsons. Back to Africa For Film Actor C. Montague Shaw makes a cinematic return to the scene of his service in the first World War in “Law of the Jungle,’ Monogram’s colorful comedy-drama which comes LOTHe an a GACALLG OD: ase ee with Arline Judge and John King in the featured roles. Shortly after the beginning of the war, more than a quarter of a century ago, Shaw was appearing on the stage in South Africa, in the general region in which the present picture is laid, and here he served in the British Army from 1914 to 1919. Before the war, and during its progress, he also organized the speech and education departments of Johannesburg and other South African cities. Other players appearing in “Law of the Jungle” are Mantan Moreland, Guy Kingsford, Arthur O’Connell, Victor Kendall, Feodor Cnhaliapin, Martin Wilkins and Lawrence Criner. Jean Yarbrough directed for Producer Lindsley Parsons, and the original screenplay was written dialogue by Edmond Kelso. special comment, and Lindsley Parsons, aS producer, has mounted tne picture with due regard for the pictorial possibilities of the tangled African forests. Many of the scenes are beautiful in their picturesque ?) wildness. Here is a picture which you are sure to enjoy. A Question Of Altitude Frequent jesting references to “Mutt and Jeff” and “the long and short of it’ were the rule during the filming of “Law of the Jungle,” the Monogram comedy-drama which comes to the Em ey, theatreOn o\ ii. ee.’ Arline Judge and John King played the featured roles, and when they met for the first time at the start of the picture they discovered that there was a difference of a full foot in their respective heights. Miss Judge is five feet, two inches tall, and King is six feet, two and onehalf inches. “Just because I have to look up to YOU, Mr. King,” quipped the gay Miss Judge, “don’t you think you can look down on ME!” JUNGLE ROMANCE Arline Judge and John King get that “primitive urge’ in “Law of The Jungle,’ Monogram’s fast-moving African drama at the .......... Theatre. One Col. Cut or Mat No. 4 BRIEF BIOGS ARLINE JUDGE—Brunette beauty who retired to domestic life some time ago atter establishing herself as a most attractive screen personality in “King of Burlesque,” “College Scandal” and many other successes. Since her recent return to the screen, she has appeared in “Harvard, Here I Come,” “The Lady Is Willing,” now “Law of the Jungle.” * * * JOHN KING—Stalwart young leading man who has lately added to his fame as “Dusty,” one of the trio of western heroes in the “Range Busters” series, in such pictures as and “Tonto Basin Outlaws.” Has also appeared in “Charlie Chan” pictures, M-G-M’'s “Hardy” series, and many others. | THEY FACE JUNGLE PERILS | John King, Arline Judge and Mantan Moreland wage a desperate struggle by George Bricker, with additional) against the terrors of Africa in “Law of The Jungle,” coming to the See age Ns Theatre. Two Column Cut or Mat No. 16