Just what I expected

A story that's too fascinating to pass by...

Easily the biggest piece of Right wing non sense propaganda I ever saw.

Each character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.

Arline Judge, John King, Mantan Moreland, Martin Wilkins, Arthur O'Connell, C. Montague Shaw, Guy Kingsford, Victor Kendal, Feodor Chaliapin, Lawrence Criner. Director: JEAN YARBROUGH. Screenplay: George Brick-er. Additional dialogue: Edmond Kelso. Photography: Mack Stengler. Film editor: Jack Ogilvie. Art director: David Milton. Music director: Edward J. Kay. Production manager: William Strohbach. Sound recording: William Fox: Producer: Lindsley Parsons.Copyright 6 February 1942 by Monogram Pictures Corporation. No New York opening. U.S. release: 6 February 1942. Australian release through British Empire Films: 2 July 1942. 6 reels. 5,824 feet. 64½ minutes.COMMENT: The most interesting thing about this wartime contribution is Arthur O'Connell's curious performance as a seedy innkeeper. Unfortunately, the O'Connell character gets himself killed soon after the action begins, leaving us to the mercy of George Bricker's cliché-ridden script — plus the inadequate acting of the rest of the players including Mantan Moreland, up to his usual eye-rolling antics, plus an unfortunate, if needy extra, dressed up in a very obvious monkey suit.

For a Monogram Picture that was obviously rushed out into production post Pearl Harbor, Law Of The Jungle does have some amusing moments in it, mostly provided by Mantan Moreland. Moreland plays a Rochester like character who is accompanying paleontologist Dusty King on a scientific expedition in Africa. Both of them get involved with Arline Judge, a stranded Maisie like showgirl and all of them get involved with some Nazi agents who are trying to foment trouble among the African tribes.As it is a Monogram it also has some extreme plot holes no doubt due to some injudicious editing by Sam Katzman's cutters. Just why is Judge's passport worth stealing so she can't leave Africa by our villains is really never explained. Unless of course they had other obvious designs upon her.Moreland has some funny moments however, but his Rochester like character is playing against Dusty King who is as stiff as those plywood jungle trees that Monogram was using as a set. No Jack Benny is movie cowboy Dusty King who is not as much home in the jungle as he is home on the range.Mantan Moreland is the reason to see this film.

The main plot of the movie is espionage and adventure in the African Jungle. Nazi agents try to incite a native uprising against the British. This is drama and adventure with a healthy dose of comedy by Mantan Moreland. This film was made in 1942 and is certainly dated. You have to watch this film in the context of the times. Today this film will be looked upon as politically incorrect and demeaning to blacks. Mantan Moreland had what was considered a supporting role in Law of the Jungle but today he should be seen for what he is. This man is a good actor and a great comedian. Mantan Moreland playing Jefferson "Jeff" Jones is the main reason to watch this movie. Mantan Moreland may be better known to viewers for his roles as Birmingham Brown in the Charlie Chan movies of the mid 40s but he is great in law of the Jungle. Moreland is so good, he is even used as the main attraction on the cover art of the DVD. His acting is what takes Law of the Jungle a notch above being a blah boring movie.

(Some Spoilers) Being stuck in the African jungle at this dive "The Traders Hole & Cafe" Brooklyn band singer Nora Brooks, Arline Judge,has been waiting for her passport so she can get back to civilization back in Brooklyn. But as you would expect the Post Office, even in the wilds of darkest Africa,is as slow as molasses in it's mail delivery. It turns out that it's not the Post Office fault but Nora's boss Simmons, Arthur O'Connell who been keeping her passport from getting to her, after first stealing it, in order to keep Nora at his joint to entertain the customers.Simmons is also in the pay of the Nazis who's agents Grozman & Belts,Victor Kendall & Feodor Chaliapan, who are trying to stir up the natives against their British Colonial rulers and become unwitting pawns in helping Germany in winning the war against the allies. It's when British government agent Tony Hobson, Robert Strange, shows up to see just what's going on that things really start to unravel for everyone involved. Having a drink and watching Nora's stage act the lights go out and when their turned back on again Hobon is dead. Stabbed to death and the secret document that he has on him about the Nazis intentions, as well as Nora are both gone. Hobson's killer in a panic put the document in Nora's jacket.On the run from the police thinking she's to be arrested for agent Hobson's murder Nora runs into in this camp in the middle of the jungle of what's we would call a digger upper, archaeologist Larry Mason, John "Dusty" King. Being a woman the natives on Mason's expiation are nervous since they tell him, through their head boss man Bongo(Martin Wilkins),that she's brought a Ju-Ju, an evil spirit, along with her and they want no part of it. Not being able to throw Nora out into the jungle Mason agrees to take her along which has the two Nazi agents to get the local native tribe headed by their Oxford educated and Harlem born Chief Mojobo, Lawrence Criner. They want Chief Mojobo to attack and capture Nora and Mason and also his Harlem born & bread sidekick Jefferson "Jeff" Jones, Martan Moreland.Funny only because of Martan Moreland being in the film who, as you would expect, steals every scene that he's in with the rest of the cast coming across like a bunch of wooden cigar store Indians.The Nazis are so inept that they can't even finish off Simmons, with a handgun and rifle at point-blank range. Simmons gives them up to the British because the Nazis were too cheap to pay him the 100 British Pounds that they promised him. The lovable and adorable, as well as hilarious, Jeff Jones attracts both a big hairy guerrilla as well as the chief's over endowed and well-fed daughter. Who get's him and his friends Mason & Nora released just before they were to be the main course for Thanksgiving Dinner. The fact that Jeff and Chief Mojobo belonged to the same fraternity back in Harlem didn't hurt their chances to be able to survive intact and not be wolfs-down by the natives either.