The Lion Hunters ** (1951, Johnny Sheffield, Morris Ankrum, Ann E Todd, Douglas Kennedy, Smoki Whitfield) – Classic Movie Review 11,008

Director Ford Beebe’s acceptably standard 1951 black and white Monogram Pictures adventure The Lion Hunters is the fifth Bomba the Jungle Boy series entry, again starring Johnny Sheffield as Bomba. The usual African jungle excitements include an honest hero, evil lion hunters, feisty love interest, bare chested male fighting, a man tied up, a man wearing a loincloth, noble natives, brave lions and an ecological message.

Morris Ankrum and Douglas Kennedy play the lion hunters Tom Forbes and Marty Martin, and Ann E Todd plays Ankrum’s tomboyish daughter Jean Forbes, who takes a liking to Bomba, becoming his ally in the story.

The lion trapper Forbes and his daughter Jean rendezvous with his hardheaded business partner Martin in the African jungle on safari trapping lions for sale to zoos. Bomba sets out to release the animals, and, with aid from the local natives and lions, sees off the trappers, and uses the word ‘Umgawa’ for the first time (an East and Central African word meaning ‘entangled’).

Also in the cast are Smoki Whitfield, Davis Roberts [Robert Davis] and Woody Strode [Woodrow Strode]. The performances from the nice, well chosen cast are above average, especially those of Sheffield, Todd, Ankrum and Kennedy.

The Hidden City [Bomba and the Hidden City] is directed by Ford Beebe, runs 75 minutes, is made by Monogram Pictures, is written by Ford Beebe, based on characters created by Roy Rockwood, is shot in black and white by William A Sickner, is produced by Walter Mirisch, is scored by Marlin Skiles and designed by Dave Milton.

It is filmed at Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden, 301 N. Baldwin Avenue, Arcadia, California.

It is the last film of child star Ann E Todd, who died on 7 February 2020, aged 88.

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 11,008

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