The Golden Idol ** (1954, Johnny Sheffield, Anne Kimbell, Paul Guilfoyle, Leonard Mudie) – Classic Movie Review 11,017

‘Since you know this Bomba, you know that he is a devil, a devil with the strength of a gorilla and the cunning of a snake!’ – Prince Ali Ben Mamoud.

‘Jungle Thrills! Jungle Treasure! Jungle Hoodoo!’

Writer-director Ford Beebe’s 1954 American adventure film The Golden Idol stars Johnny Sheffield and Anne Kimbell and is the tenth in the 12-film Bomba the Jungle Boy series, based on the characters by Roy Rockwood.

This time Paul Guilfoyle plays cold-bloodedly murderous Arabian chieftain Prince Ali Ben Mamoud, who wants the Lost Golden Idol of Watusi, which has come into the hands of Bomba, and hires ruthless hunter Joe Hawkins (Lane Bradford) to get it for him. But, with the help of Commissioner Andy Barnes (Leonard Mudie), number one boy Eli (Smoki Whitfield) and beautiful British museum archaeologist Karen Marsh (Anne Kimbell), Bomba foils Guilfoyle’s plans. Guilfoyled again!

Cue much filming in Allied Artists Pictures’ back lot, rear projection and stock footage, including scenes from The Hidden City as Paul Guilfoyle plays the bad guy in both films, though different characters. The jungle scenes are shot at Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden, 301 N. Baldwin Avenue, Arcadia, California, and at Melody Ranch, 24715 Oak Creek Avenue, Newhall, California.

There is so much recycled footage, with stock shots of wild animals and entire action sequences lifted from previous Bomba movies, that the film was widely criticised at the time.

The cast are Johnny Sheffield, Anne Kimbell, Paul Guilfoyle, Leonard Mudie, Smoki Whitfield, Lane Bradford, Rick Vallin as Abdullah, Roy Glenn as jungle guide Gomo, James Adamson as Ezekial, William Tannen as Sergeant Reed, Don C Harvey as Officer Graves, Bill Walker as Nadji, and Kimbbo the Chimp.

The Golden Idol is directed by Ford Beebe, runs 71 minutes, is made by Allied Artists Pictures, is released by Allied Artists Pictures (1954) (US) and Associated British-Pathé (1954) (UK), is written by Ford Beebe, is shot in Black and White by Harry Neumann, is produced by Ford Beebe and Walter Mirisch (uncredited), and scored by Marlin Skiles, with Art Direction by Dave Milton.

Roy Glenn plays Sidney Poitier’s father, who disapproves of his son’s desire to marry the daughter of Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn, in 1967’s Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner.

Leonard Mudie was born on 11 April 1883 in Cheetham, Manchester, England, and made over 150 appearances before the camera.

© Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 11,017

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