7: The JUNGLE BOOK
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(Year refers to British release)
Running Time: 78 minutes
Colour: Technicolor
Estimated Attendance: 19.8 million
What they said at the time...
Synopsis
Mowgli has been raised in the jungle by wolves, who look on him with affection as the Man Cub. But when it is learned that the ferocious tiger Shere Khan is returning to his hunting ground, the wolves fear for the boy's life and decide that he must be returned to his own kind. Bagheera the Panther volunteers to escort the protesting Mowgli through the jungle, and it turns out to be an eventful journey. After successfully avoiding the hypnotic designs of Kaa the Snake, the travellers next encounter the elephant herd, led in military style by Colonel Hathi, who is outraged by Mowgli's attempt to join the troop. Exasperated, Bagheera temporarily deserts Mowgli, who strikes up a friendship with the genial Baloo the Bear. But he is kidnapped by monkeys and taken to the ape king, who hopes to obtain from him the secret of fire. Mowgli is rescued by Bagheera and Baloo, but he still feels friendless and strays into the hangout of a trio of beatnik vultures who at first tease him and then make friends with him. Then Shere Khan arrives, and it seems that Mowgli must face him alone. Brave Baloo tackles the tiger, but is beaten and left for dead. Mowgli is saved by the vultures, and Shere Khan is scared off by fire when lightning strikes a tree. Baloo turns out to be very much alive, and Mowgli is overjoyed to think he can remain in the jungle after all. But a chance meeting with a Girl Cub proves a stronger attraction, and Bagheera and Baloo depart in the knowledge that Mowgli is best left with his own kind.
Review
Kipling enthusiasts may recoil in horror, and those constitutionally allergic to the Disney cartoon remain unpersuaded, but this animated feature (the last under Disney's personal supervision) is in its way surprisingly engaging. Certainly it is far and away the best of its kind to emerge for some time. The standard of design remains the same as before, but the film scores with an inventive and often witty script and some highly entertaining vocal characterisations. George Sanders in particular is very funny as a suavely menacing Shere Khan. This is Disney at his most imaginative, with even the sentimentality kept well in check.
Synopsis and Review from Monthly Film Bulletin Vol.35 No.408 January 1968 p.10
The Monthly Film Bulletin was published by the BFI between 1934 and 1991. Initially aimed at distributors and exhibitors as well as filmgoers, it carried reviews and details of all UK film releases. In 1991, the Bulletin was incoporated into Sight and Sound magazine.
