The Jungle Princess *** (1936, Dorothy Lamour, Ray Milland, Akim Tamiroff) – Classic Movie Review 5736

‘Her exotic beauty held all the allure of the tropic jungle!’ Dorothy Lamour makes her star movie début at the age of 22 in the kind of role for which she will always be remembered – a saronged jungle girl.

In director William [Wilhelm] Thiele’s cheap and cheerful 1936 Paramount double bill support feature, Lamour plays Ulah, who saves stranded British explorer Christopher Powell (Ray Milland) capturing wild animals out in Malaysia with his fiancée and her father.

Christopher is attacked by a tiger while hunting, his native guides run away, leaving him for dead. Ulah rescues Chris and takes him back to her cave, nurses him to health and the duo get up, close and personal till a rescue party arrives.

[Spoiler alert] He returns to camp, she follows, his fiancée is jealous, the natives dislike Ulah, and it turns out the tiger is Ulah’s pet everyone hates and fears.

With the two stars giving charming performances, it is easy-going and easy-watching, and was popular in its day, though today’s audiences might wonder just exactly why.

Lamour sings Moonlight and Shadows (music by Frederick Hollander, lyrics by Leo Robin), rather sweetly too.

The stars were immediately re-teamed for a bit more of Her Jungle Love in 1938.

© Derek Winnert 2017 Classic Movie Review 5736

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