1955's "Female Jungle" was an early release from American International Pictures, when it was still called American Releasing Corporation, possibly a vanity project for actor Bert Kaiser, who not only plays a major role, but also co-wrote and produced (his only feature film, period). First time director Bruno Ve Sota, later responsible for 1955's "Dementia," 1958's "The Brain Eaters," and 1962's "Invasion of the Star Creatures," was a busy character actor in low budget films (particularly Roger Corman or Jerry Warren), and frequent villain in TV Westerns. Immeasurably aided by the cinematography of Universal ace Elwood 'Woody' Bredell, his best known titles including "Black Friday," "The Mummy's Hand," "Dark Streets of Cairo," "The Invisible Woman," "Man Made Monster," "Horror Island," "Hold That Ghost," "The Strange Case of Doctor Rx," "Mystery of Marie Roget," "The Ghost of Frankenstein," "Sherlock Holmes and the Voice of Terror," and "Phantom Lady." The film looks very good, the setup taking place almost in real time, just over an hour, starting off with the strangling murder of a pretty young blonde (not Jayne Mansfield, but Eve Brent, also making her film debut). She turns out to be a famous starlet, whose rise to the top was aided by news columnist Claude Almstead (John Carradine), who, like Clifton Webb's Waldo Lydecker in "Laura," remained confident that she'd always return to him whenever she strayed. There's a starving artist, Alex Voe (producer Bert Kaiser), who discovers Almstead at his apartment door at 2AM, curiously demanding a sketch performed; his not so faithful wife Peggy (Kathleen Crowley) has no problem accompanying the older man back to his place for a nightcap and moonlight swim. Ultimately, the film stubbornly focuses on its least interesting character, boozing cop Jack Stevens (Lawrence Tierney), barely recovered from his alcoholic blackout, conducting an investigation on the fly that never really picks up steam. Jayne Mansfield is absolutely stunning in her film debut, capably handling her supporting role as Candy Price, alternately carrying on with Voe and Stevens, all kisses with each man she comes across; too bad she too gets bumped off. Small parts are well played by director Ve Sota, James Kodl as the saloon owner, and especially Davis Roberts, so good in TV comedies like SANFORD AND SON, a very sober and believable performance as the janitor, usually a role played strictly for comic relief. It's not surprising to find John Carradine in such impoverished circumstances, and it's happily one of his meatiest roles of the 50s; bespectacled, dapper, and clean shaven, either a red herring or a killer, seemingly with understandable designs on another man's beautiful wife. The denouement is a lengthy one, and in his capable hands, ultimately satisfying (the picture would have been nothing without his presence). The pacing slowed by the dialogue-heavy script, it's downbeat but surprisingly good given the little known actors involved.
Review of Female Jungle
