African Treasure [Bomba and the African Treasure] ** (1952, Johnny Sheffield, Laurette Luez, Leonard Mudie, Martin Garralaga) – Classic Movie Review 11,013

‘FABULOUS! FORBIDDEN! FEARSOME! Ruthless raiders trap white savage and jungle beauty!’

Director Ford Beebe’s simple 1952 adventure film African Treasure [Bomba and the African Treasure] stars Johnny Sheffield as Bomba and is the seventh in the Monogram 12-film Bomba the Jungle Boy series, based on characters created by Roy Rockwood in his cartoon strip.

Bomba (Sheffield) seizes diamond smugglers in this seventh Bomba the Jungle Boy series entry.

A pair of nefarious geologists, Greg (Arthur Space) and Hardy (Lane Bradford), force the African locals to work in a hidden diamond mine. Bomba just escapes being buried alive, captures the two diamond smugglers and rescues the locals.

Leonard Mudie returns as Andy Barnes, Kimbbo the Chimp plays Bomba’s Chimp, there is some underwater action, and Bomba (Sheffield) shows his skill as a jungle drummer, while ensuring his hair is cut short, he is clean shaven and shows swim trunk tan-lines. Prolific character actor Lyle Talbot plays escaped convict Roy DeHaven.

African Treasure [Bomba and the African Treasure] is directed by Ford Beebe, runs 71 minutes, is written by Ford Beebe (original story and screenplay), is shot in black and white by Harry Neumann, is produced by Walter Mirisch and is scored by Raoul Kraushaar.

Also in the cast are Laurette Luez, Arthur Space, Lane Bradford, Martin Garralaga, Lyle Talbot, Smoki Whitfield, James Adamson, Woody Strode, Wesley Bly and Sugar Foot Adamson.

The 12 Bomba films, all directed by Ford Beebe, are: Bomba, the Jungle Boy (1949), Bomba on Panther Island (1949), The Lost Volcano (1950), The Hidden City (1951), The Lion Hunters (1951), Elephant Stampede (1952), African Treasure (1952), Bomba and the Jungle Girl (1952), Safari Drums (1953), The Golden Idol (1954), Killer Leopard (1954) and Lord of the Jungle (1955).

© Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 11,013

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com

Bomba (Johnny Sheffield) shows his skill as a jungle drummer.