When it was made, "Jungle Heat" was likely seen as a very progressive movie in regard to race. However, it sure gives a very confusing message in the process...one that clearly will infuriate most viewers.
The story begins with some sabotage on a plantation in pre-war Hawaii. It seems there have been a lot of incidents like it and a supposed expert, Roger McRae (Glenn Langan), has been brought in to help. Unfortunately, the guy is a total wiener...a racist and hate-filled wiener. He views all Asians as subhuman and his ill-informed opinion is that he needs to put the fear of God into the natives by being brutal. Nice guy, huh?
On the other hand, there is the 'enlightened' Dr. Ransom (Lex Barker), who feels that these acts of sabotage aren't because local workers were lazy or evil but that they were being orchestrated by the Japanese. As this is set just before the attack on Pearl Harbor, the answer is obvious to the viewer.
Looking at this film now, Ransom's opinion, while more enlightened, also would seem to condone and even possibly endorse internment camps for the Japanese-Americans.
All in all, while it's a semi-enjoyable film, it's also filled with a lot of nasty and hateful messages. I am NOT the biggest politically correct guy...but I found the attitudes in the film a bit shocking. For example, when McRae wildly shoots into a cabin when told NOT to because there's an innocent woman inside, he does anyway...killing the woman. Yet, inexplicably, he's not arrested or punished in any way.
The story begins with some sabotage on a plantation in pre-war Hawaii. It seems there have been a lot of incidents like it and a supposed expert, Roger McRae (Glenn Langan), has been brought in to help. Unfortunately, the guy is a total wiener...a racist and hate-filled wiener. He views all Asians as subhuman and his ill-informed opinion is that he needs to put the fear of God into the natives by being brutal. Nice guy, huh?
On the other hand, there is the 'enlightened' Dr. Ransom (Lex Barker), who feels that these acts of sabotage aren't because local workers were lazy or evil but that they were being orchestrated by the Japanese. As this is set just before the attack on Pearl Harbor, the answer is obvious to the viewer.
Looking at this film now, Ransom's opinion, while more enlightened, also would seem to condone and even possibly endorse internment camps for the Japanese-Americans.
All in all, while it's a semi-enjoyable film, it's also filled with a lot of nasty and hateful messages. I am NOT the biggest politically correct guy...but I found the attitudes in the film a bit shocking. For example, when McRae wildly shoots into a cabin when told NOT to because there's an innocent woman inside, he does anyway...killing the woman. Yet, inexplicably, he's not arrested or punished in any way.