THE NAKED JUNGLE, directed by Byron Haskin

There is a man isolated in the South American jungle. He owns a cacao plantation, a land stolen inch by inch to the Rio Negro river. Though being away from civilization since his boyish years, this man hasn’t forgotten its luxuries and refinement. In fact, he is determined to build his own kind of civilization in the middle of the jungle where everything brought there was never touched by any hands but his. A wife is part of that dream. But being unable to leave the plantation, he asks his New Orleaner brother to find one for him, a marriage by proxy. And so, a woman of great charm, refinement, sophistication, arrives to Rio Negro, brought by a boat along with her fashionable luggage. A perfect wife, full of wits, knowledge, bravery, beauty. Too perfect, Leiningen, the plantation owner, begins to think.
Here begins the tension of the story, as Leiningen tries to unwrap, day by day, the hidden fault of his new arrived wife. There is one, in fact, but in his eyes only. A second amount of tension is added to the story. The couple’s drama becomes somehow less important before a real threat. The worst creature God created is coming: :Marabunta – the killer ant that destroys and eats everything that stands in its passage, including people. Trying to save the plantation and their own lives, Leiningen and his wife find love, and truly meet for the first time.
Charton Heston plays Leiningen and Eleonor Parker his wife, a victorious choice by director Byron Haskin.
The music by Daniele Amfitheatrof is masterly combined with the frightening sound of the jungle. A special reference should be made to costume designer Edith Head, a brilliant work that adds the right shade of colour to the scenes, making a match of beauty and horror.
Most of the shooting was made in Florida, a detail that reveals a faultless scenery construction.
The Naked Jungle will strip your soul and overwhelm you again and again.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FUk7q9N8BM

Cast and crew:

Charton Heston (Christopher Leiningen), Eleonor Parker (Joanna Leiningen), William Conrad (Commissioner), Abraham Sofaer (Incacha)…

Directed by Byron Haskin
Produced by George Pal
Music by Daniele Amfitheatrof
Screenplay by Ranald MacDougall