Jungle Blue Review

Distributor: Vinegar Syndrome Edition Details: Standard DVD Movie Specs: Genres: Golden Age Classic, Feature Film Also known as: Rey Del Amazonas Run Time: 79 minutes Rated: X Release Year: 1976 Director: Carlos Tobalina (as Troy Benny) Written by: uncredited Cast: Nina Fause, Carol Bombard (as Kathie Kori), Susan Fuentes, Jose Ferraro, Loren Ferretti (as Hank Lardner), Bill Cable (as Bigg John), Iris Medina, John Length, Rose Renae, Maria Thay, Sharon Lee, Annette Haven (as Janette Haven), Candida Royalle (as Kathy Silverman), David Pinney, Jeff Lyle, Chico Release Specs: Audio: English Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono Subtitles: none Video: Widescreen, 1.85:1 (Anamorphic) Video Format: NTSC Format: DVD Regional Code (for DVD/Blu-ray): 0 (All) Number of discs: 1

Jungle Blue has sat in obscurity for most of its existence, with no United States home video release prior to Vinegar Syndrome's DVD coming out and only a European VHS release outside of its original theatrical release. After watching this release, it becomes evident why Jungle Blue has sat in obscurity. Jungle Blue is a mess of an adult film, or a film of any sort for that matter. The concept behind the film isn't bad, a different take on the idea behind Tarzan, from what I can figure out. It is the application of the the footage and story where it falls apart. It seems that there are two different films edited together to make the final product, which seems to have very little to do with the original intention behind either of the two films edited together. One film contains the story with Evor — the Tarzan character stand-in for the movie — and the other film contains an orgy scene that seems to have nothing to do with the rest of the film. The end result is footage of two thieves going into the jungle to find treasure, while an orgy goes on, and a narration tells us the story.

The Evor story portion of Jungle Blue, seems to have originally shot as a softcore film. There is some hardcore footage mixed in with the Evor story-line, but it all appears to have been shot at a different point, I suspect with different actors, as the background doesn't match, nor are the faces of the principle cast members present within the hardcore shots. The plot, as I understand it, is Silvia, played by Nina Fause, and Hank, played by Loren Ferretti, are jewel thieves who run across jungle man Evor, played by Bill Cable, in their attempt to liberate a Peruvian tribe of their jewels.

The orgy scene is interlaced into the film, so it comes and goes sporadically throughout the entire film and features a group of people, somewhere, who do some new exotic drug and then have an orgy. It serves to insert most of the hardcore footage present in Jungle Blue. The scene doesn't appear to have been originally filmed to go along with the other footage and seems to be added more in an attempt to justify Jungle Blue being a hardcore film.

A voice-over by the character of Silvia tells the majority of the story that is told. I am not sure if this is because very little dialog scenes were shot, or if the plot of the original jungle footage was altered so significantly during the production that the only way to tell the story was through the narration. On top of that, a bunch of stock-style footage to prove that the film was shot in Peru along with a woman blowing a man dressed as a gorilla are stuck in the film. The end result is in almost incomprehensible mess unfortunately. The concept behind the story seems like it would have made for an enjoyable film, with decent allowances to be a hardcore film, but the end result comes across as amateurish and hastily assembled.

As for the release, Vinegar Syndrome has done an amazing job with it, probably far better than it actually deserves. The film is presented in anamorphic widescreen in the film's original aspect ratio. The print is in amazing shape for its age and obscurity. The image is, for the most part, sharp and clean. There are some instances of print damage with some scratches, dirt, and grain. Far less than I would have expected. The film is presented with its original monaural soundtrack in English only.

The release is essentially a bare bones release offering only the theatrical trailer as an extra. However, the only other extra that I can honestly think of that I would have wanted to see on the release is a commentary from Carlos Tobalina, explaining how this mess of a film got made and what it was originally was supposed to be in concept. Since Carlos Tobalina passed away roughly twenty five years ago, such a commentary would be impossible.

Jungle Blue has been an almost impossible film to come across since its original release and probably should have stayed that way as the film is far better in concept than in application. Vinegar Syndrome has done an amazing job with their release of the film that may interest fans of some of the stars. Unless you are a fan of the film, I would pass on this release.

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