The Jungle Book (Action/adventure, 1942)

The Jungle Book (1942) is a live-action action-adventure film with elements of fantasy and family drama. Directed by Zoltán Korda, it's a Technicolor adaptation of Rudyard Kipling's classic stories, blending lush jungle escapism with themes of human greed and the call of the wild.

The story is framed as a tale told by an elderly beggar (Buldeo) to a British woman. It centers on Mowgli, a young man raised by wolves in the Indian jungle after his father is killed by the fearsome tiger Shere Khan. As a child, Mowgli is discovered and returned to his village by greedy villagers, where he struggles to adapt to human society. He bonds with his mother Messua and falls for the village girl Mahala, but tensions rise when a trio of covetous locals—Buldeo the hunter, a scheming barber, and a pompous pundit—learn of a legendary lost city of gold from Mowgli's jungle lore. Lured by treasure, they venture into the ruins, where Mowgli confronts the cursed jewels guarded by a wise cobra. Betrayal and greed unleash chaos: Mowgli slays Shere Khan with the aid of the python Kaa, while the black panther Bagheera and elephant Hathi protect the jungle's balance. A devastating forest fire, sparked by the villagers' folly, symbolizes the purging of human corruption. In the end, Mowgli rejects civilization, choosing to remain as the jungle's guardian.CastSabu as Mowgli: The feral jungle boy, portrayed with wide-eyed innocence and athletic grace by the Indian-born actor, who was a natural fit for the role.
Joseph Calleia as Buldeo: The grizzled, treasure-obsessed hunter whose greed drives much of the conflict.
Rosemary DeCamp as Messua: Mowgli's devoted mother, desperately trying to reconnect with her long-lost son.
Patricia O'Rourke as Mahala: The kind-hearted village girl who becomes Mowgli's brief romantic interest.
John Qualen as The Barber: One of the bumbling, greedy villagers scheming for riches.
Frank Puglia as The Pundit: The self-important holy man in the treasure-hunting trio.
Animal roles, like Shere Khan (tiger), Bagheera (panther), Kaa (python), and Hathi (elephant), were brought to life through a mix of trained performers and innovative effects.

FactsProduced by the legendary Korda brothers (Zoltán directing, Alexander producing, Vincent on art direction), the film was shot in a massive 40-acre man-made jungle set in Hollywood during World War II, after the family fled Europe—offering audiences a vivid escape from wartime realities.
It was a box-office smash, earning an estimated $11 million worldwide (over $115 million adjusted for inflation), with massive audiences in the U.S., UK, France, and even the Soviet Union, where it drew nearly 19 million viewers.
Nominated for four Oscars in 1943, including Best Cinematography (Color) for its stunning Technicolor visuals, and featuring a groundbreaking score by Miklós Rózsa—the first full Hollywood film soundtrack released as a commercial album.