Below are the twelve films Johnny Sheffield made for Monogram/Allied Artists with some details about each. The films were apparently planned for colour, but with budget constraints, sepia is the best that could be done. None of them was released in sepia in Canada.
Some reviews are included. Although there were alternative titles, I have given those that appeared on the movie screen.
To see some scenes from the Bomba films, click on this link: POSTERS7
Bomba the Jungle Boy (1949) - Monogram
Cast and Credits
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Bomba |
Johnny Sheffield |
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Running Time: 70 minutes
Copyright Date: March 20, 1949; Copyright Renewed: June 21, 1976
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Synopsis Two commercial photographers, George Harland and his daughter Pat, are in the jungle to film the unusual, guided by old friend Andy Barnes. During a trek to the Great Riff, Pat does some exploring of her own accompanied by her gun-bearer Mufti. Mufti is killed by a leopard, which is in turn killed by a jungle boy named Bomba. At first, Pat is apprehensive and tries to warn him away with her revolver. He disarms her and then leaves. Alone, the girl becomes lost and is forced to catch up with him. Despite pleas to help her return to her father, the boy is unwilling . However, later that night while she is asleep, the boy makes an attempt to contact the father, but is wounded when the impetuous parent fires at him. Eventually the boy and Pat arrive at Bomba's home, a cave overlooking a peaceful jungle paradise. Pat would like to stay, but decides she has to locate her father. Unknown to her, Harland is hot on the trail, intending to kill Bomba as a kidnapper, but his plan goes awry when a plague of locusts descends upon Harland and Barnes. Later, the safari is forced to head back through the territory of the lion hunters, and when Barnes kills a lion to save his friend Eli, the natives attack them. But Bomba and Pat arrive, and the lad sets fire to the brush as a barrier against the angry savages. Later, having helped the party with their raft, Bomba takes his leave, unwilling to leave his jungle friends and accompany the Harlands to America. |
Running Time: 70 minutes
Reviews
Hollywood Reporter - February 23, 1949
Walter Mirisch's sepiatone production, "Bomba, the Jungle Boy," has been put together with rare care and the result is an action natural as well as the beginning of what could well prove to be a highly popular series. Some excellent stock shots skillfully combined with a properly simple jungle story in the Monogram release have brought forth a sure-fire exploitation winner. "Bomba" is of certain appeal to the kids, and likely to be satisfactory to the hordes of jungle-fascinated adults. Johnny Sheffield, who once winningly portrayed the adopted offspring of Tarzan and Jane, is now a very well-built 185-pound teen-ager, still with the same charm he had when romping around at Tarzan's heels, and a very good anchor for a new jungle series.
Sheffield, a white boy who has grown up in the jungle, saves Peggy Ann Garner, when a leopard kills her gun-bearer. He builds her a bed for the night, but when he attempts to inform her father, on safari for unusual photographic shots, that she is safe, the nervous Onslow Stevens wounds him. The youth refuses to return Peggy to camp, but proceeds to show her some of the pleasures and serenity of the jungle. Reluctantly Peggy realizes she must return to civilization. In the climax, Sheffield saves the safari from the angered lion-worshipping natives. The safari returns to "civilization" and Bomba returns to the jungle.
Sheffield's English is only slightly better than Tarzan's but his features are less immobile and consequently his monosyllables are easier to take. Miss Garner plays her role with pleasant self-assurance and naturalness. Charles Irwin does well by the Scotch professor turned to Africa for peace, and Onslow Stevens is fine as the unsympathetic father. Smoki Whitfield and Martin Wilkins are the guides.
The process shots of African wildlife, particularly the leaping antelopes, the monkeys and flamingos and the lion hunt are superb, and deftly combined with the film's plot. Ford Beebe's direction keeps the pace appropriately leisurely, but always interest-holding. William Sickner's photography blends well, and credit belongs to art director Theobold Holsopple and editor Roy Livingston.
From Erskine Johnson's Column
Twenty monkeys and Johnson went to a studio preview of "Bomba, the Jungle Boy." The monkeys sat there with their popcorn and crackerjack and I sat there with my Air-wick (the big economy size).
The monkeys were asked to full out the usual audience
reaction cards. Some of the questions were:
"Does the picture qualify to play in an
"A" jungle?
"Did you see any monkeys you'd like to be
stranded in a tree with?"
"A four-banana picture?"
"Plenty of sex ape-peal?"
"How many coconuts will this ring up at the boxoffice?"
I was asked the usual question, too. Walter Mirisch,
the film's producer, stopped me after the preview and nervously inquired:
"Did they show any signs that they liked it?"
I still don't know whether he was kidding. But I do
know that the Allied Artists publicity boys were kidding. They
announced the stunt "solely to study the psychological effect a
jungle picture has on monkeys."
I'm not so sure but that it turned out to be a clinical study for the monkeys on the psychological effect a Hollywood publicity stunt has on humans.
The monkey trainers - there were eight of them - put on performances of Oscar caliber getting the monkeys to act like monkeys. Half a dozen highly paid photographers climbed ladders and crawled around on the floor and the monkeys seemed to enjoy it thoroughly.
Despite the clinical atmosphere, I don't know whether the monkeys liked the picture or not. If they didn't, there wasn't much they could do about it as they were chained to their chairs.
If Hollywood's movies get any worse, this may give theater managers an idea. I don't know whether the film is good, either. I was too busy with the monkeys. Otherwise, the studio theater resembled a typical movie house any evening of the week.
There was the usual chattering among the customers, the lovers in the back row (two monkeys insisted on occupying the same chair) and there was the lobby buffet of popcorn, crackerjack, bananas, oranges and apples and coconuts. One little monkey persisted in trying to break its leash.
His trainer apologized to press agents Johnny Flynn
and Lou Lifton and then with twinkling eyes added:
"Maybe he's bored. He saw "Joan of Arc"
last week.
A monkey named Junior, who plays the role of Oto in
the picture (the film co-stars Johnny Sheffield and Peggy Ann Garner)
and this rates a star on his cage, suffered an indignity which may
cause him to break all news photographers' cameras in the future.
Junior was sitting there, ready to enjoy himself on
the screen, when an Acme photographer asked a trainer:
"Can you get him to hold his nose as if he didn't
like the picture?"
The trainer bribed poor Junior with a banana and
Junior did it. But I caught him giving the photographer a very nasty
look and I didn't blame him.
The photographers insisted on a group shot of the monkeys, who were sitting in the first three rows of the studio theater. They wanted all the monkeys to look up at the screen.
Trainer Melvin Koontz went up on the stage in front of the screen and talked to the monkeys in a gibberish reminiscent of a Tarzan film or an out-of-focus television set.
The monkeys paid no attention. Koontz then stamped his feet and waved his arms. The monkeys paid no attention.
Somebody handed Koontz a big box of popcorn bags. That did it. The monkeys gave the popcorn their undivided attention. (Honest, I'm not making any comparisons. Just reporting what I saw.)
After the monkeys had seen the picture, been photographed from every angle and put back in their cages, I overheard somebody say:
"Now I'm convinced publicity men are crazy."
I was convinced a long time ago.
Bomba on Panther Island (1949) - Monogram
Cast and Credits
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Bomba |
Johnny Sheffield |
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Running Time: 76 minutes
Copyright Date: December 18, 1949; Copyright Renewed: January 31, 1977
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Synopsis Witnessing the death of his pet monkey by a marauding panther, Bomba goes after the killer beast. Its trail leads him to Andy Barnes' home where architect Rob Maitland is trying to clear land for an agricultural project. His sister Judy is with him, although she has no desire to stay. The panther kills two of the native workers, but their superstitious companions do not want the animal molested.
To make matters worse, the natives are uncomfortable
with the presence of a servant girl, Losana, claiming she has the
evil eye.
Meanwhile, Bomba takes an interest in Judy, but she
finds it difficult to see anything good about life in the jungle. |
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When Rob accidentally causes a forest fire, Bomba and the girl are forced into a cave, where coincidentally the panther has taken refuge. Bomba and the beast fight it out with Bomba the victor. A rainfall douses the fire, and everybody learns valuable lessons, including Judy, who decides to remain and help her brother. |
Reviews
"Bomba on Panther Island" is a jungle thriller which smacks of the "Tarzan" influence. Starring Johnny Sheffield, who was initiated as Tarzan's son in former series, this second in the new "Bomba" series presents him again as an African jungle lad. Film is a natural for juve trade and should do okay in secondary situations particularly.
Johnny, as Bomba, in tracking down a black panther which killed his pet monkey, comes upon an American who has come to the jungle to conduct an agricultural experiment. This newcomer to Africa is accompanied by his sister. Natives who work for American are fearful of Panther, who pounces frequently upon them, but hold animal in superstitious fear. Bomba, after number of adventures with the Americans, finally kills panther with his broken spear.
Plenty of thrills are inserted into footage, which frequently draws upon stock African footage for atmosphere.
Screenplay by Ford Beebe, who also directed, is run-of-the-mill stuff insofar as originality is concerned, but Ford in his treatment hits pace tempo which will keep small fry on the edge of their seats. Walter Mirisch tossed in appropriate values as producer.
Young Sheffield handles his role well and seems ideal for part. Ellen Roberts, as American's sister, is prettily effective as girl who hates Africa, and Harry Lewis does okay with brother role. Lita Baron is in for fascinating effect as half-breed maid, and Charles Irwin as veteran Scotchman who knows his Africa is finely cast.
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Bomba, the jungle boy, continues his bid for screen popularity with "Bomba on Panther Island," As played by Johnny Sheffield, the teen-age Tarzan, is a likable primitive who is the match of the action requirements of the role. The Walter Mirisch production gives him plenty of opportunity to display his swimming prowess, and, of course, he swings through the forest on tree branches at every possible occasion.
The story for this second entry in the Bomba series is standard jungle fare, in that all the usual devices are tossed into the caldron. The civilized folk are out-and-out dopes who want to change the jungle; the natives are dominated by superstition, and Bomba is the lad with all the answers. The attraction is geared to the tastes of juvenile and action audiences, and Ford Beebe's direction wisely takes their preference into account. He makes much of the action packed finale and manages successfully to get a slight romantic thread into the yarn.
Bill Walker [sic. Harry Lewis] and his sister, Allene Roberts, are in Africa to attend to an agricultural experiment. Help on the project is forthcoming from Charles Irwin, a Scotchman who is familiar with the jungle and with native ways. Irwin tries to impart some common sense to Walker [sic. Lewis], but the young man persists in antagonizing the natives and in doing such foolish things as starting a fire in the middle of the jungle. Bomba figures in the proceedings because of his pursuit of a panther and determination to kill the animal in spite of the natives' belief that the animal is sacred.
Allene Roberts, in the feminine lead, handles herself most competently, and Lita Baron scores with a sultry performance of a girl who is supposed to have the evil eye. Bill Walker [sic. Harry Lewis] makes a handsome if stubborn research expert, and Charles Irwin handles his character role with finesse. Smoki Whitfield, Harry Lewis [sic. Bill Walker], and Martin Wilkins do well in supporting roles.
William A. Sickner's photography blends the stock shots and studio footage rather well. Edward J. Kay's score is satisfactory, and Richard Heermance rates attention for his deft editing.
The Lost Volcano (1950) - Monogram
Cast and Credits
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Bomba |
Johnny Sheffield |
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Running Time: 67 minutes
Copyright Date: June 25, 1950; Copyright Renewed: November 21, 1977
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Synopsis When archæologist Charles Langley arrives with his guides Barton and Higgins in search of a lost volcano, hunter Paul Gordon and his wife Ruth are contemplating sending their son David to a boarding school in Capetown, to remove him from the influence of Bomba, whom they see as a white wild boy swinging through the trees like an ape.
When the guides see a knife that Bomba gave David from
a lost city near a volcano, they are entranced by the golden hilt and
the precious gems. They ostensibly agree to drive David and the
Gordons' maid Nona to Capetown, leaving Paul Gordon free to act as
Langley's guide to locate the lost volcano, but
they really intend to force the boy to lead them to the hidden treasure. |
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Nona escapes and returns to the Gordons to tell them what has happened. Then she leads them back to where she escaped the guides. Langley comes upon the two men and, while trying to help David escape, is killed by them. But Bomba is also on the trail, and after a series of misadventures, he catches up with the kidnappers at the volcano site and is able to disarm Barton, who through his own greed is knocked over the edge of the precipice by a landslide and Higgins is swallowed up by a lava floe when he tries to escape. Now the Gordons can return home, secure in the knowledge that they have made a new friend in Bomba, the Jungle Boy. |
Notes. Apparently, child actor Peter Miles was considered for the role that went to Tommy Ivo. Perhaps the two year age difference was a factor. Miles would have been equally good in the role.
According to producer Walter Mirisch, the volcano footage was obtained from the film files of the National Geographic and the Encyclopædia Britannica, and is actually footage of an Italian volcano erupting. P.S. This same footage was used later in Safari Drums.
Reviews
L.A. Times - June 23, 1950
Every small boy who sees this film will wish he were in David's shoes, for the production is a small boy's adventure paradise, as, along with jungle man Bomba, the lad swings from tree to tree. Pretty soon, if this business keeps up, small boys going through forests will be looking up in the trees for ape men like those heroes. Indeed, Tarzan now has a formidable rival in Bomba.
Bomba loves wild animals, frees some trapped by an African safari, and has only one human friend, little David, who lives with his parents at the edge of the jungle. The boy's dad doesn't believe his son's tales of the wild man, thinks he's imagining things. When Bomba frees the caged lions David's papa has caught, the suspenseful story begins.
Involved is a treasure hunt by an ethnologist seeking a lost volcano which is believed to be covering a buried city with great treasure. That new Mexican volcano was a "natural" for producers, since stock shots of that busy eruption are utilized. Story is tremendously suspenseful, even though reason asks why characters weren't stifled by volcano fumes.
Johnny Sheffield is a likely looking jungle hero as Bomba, but should have suntanned himself a bit. And how do these jungle men always manage to keep so nicely shaved? Donald Woods and the others are good, but it's really the volcano and little Tommy Ivo as David, the kid, who win top honors.
Motion Picture Herald - July 1, 1950
This third in the series of "Bomba" stories being produced by Walter Mirisch for Monogram, tops its successful predecessors by a substantial margin, and gives rich promise for those to come. If the kids liked the first two, as everybody knows they did, they'll love this one. And the term "kid" is used here in application to those in all age brackets who have not forgotten how to go along with a clean story and free adventure, wherever it may lead. This is that kind of story, ably told, and a good deal more plausible than is par for jungle tales, with Johnny Sheffield as Bomba, treading adroitly the tight ropes separating the incredible from the credible.
This time Bomba's adventuring is done in behalf of Tommy Ivo, the young son of Donald Woods, a zoologist of whom Bomba disapproves, because he cages jungle animals. David, accustomed to swinging blithely from tree to tree with his friend Bomba, is packed off to city school by Woods, but doesn't get there, being kidnapped instead by two members of an ethnological party seeking the location of a lost volcano reputed to overlay an ancient city. These kidnappers attempt to force David to lead them to the lost volcano, which he has visited with Bomba and Bomba attempts to rescue David, as do his father, mother, and others. Sundry incidents, including episodes with a friendly python and an unfriendly alligator, culminate in thunderously dramatic scenes of volcanic eruption, with everything coming out right for all concerned, except the kidnappers.
Direction is by Ford Beebe, who also wrote the screenplay, and a right showmanly job it is.
The Hidden City (1950) - Monogram
Cast and Credits
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Bomba |
Johnny Sheffield |
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Running Time: 71 minutes
Copyright Date: September 24, 1950; Copyright Renewed: November 21, 1977
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Synopsis As a witness to a murder, Bomba is hunted by Emir Hassan and his men. To complicate matters, a poor Arab villager named Raschid is trying to improve his lot in life by consenting to having his foster daughter, Zidah, join Hassan's household. After Zidah nurses the jungle boy who was knifed by Hassan's henchman, Abdullah, she follows him into the jungle to avoid the fate that Raschid intends for her. Museum photographer, Dennis Johnson, and his guide Hadji find her. Soon after, Hassan and his men come upon them and take the girl back to the hidden city. Bomba returns to the city to help the girl, but is captured by Hassan. Johnson arrives to stop Abdullah from beating the jungle boy, and is in turn interrupted by Hassan and his guards. But Raschid foils the attempt to kill them, and they all flee into the jungle, where Bomba picks off Hassan and his men one by one, until the villainous Emir plunges into a lake where a crocodile dispatches him. It turns out that the girl was the daughter of the rightful governor of the hidden city and his wife, both killed by Hassan to usurp his power. |
Reviews
Hollywood Reporter -
"The Hidden City" is a lively tale of jungle adventure based on characters taken from the "Bomba Books" by Roy Rockwood, and starring Johnny Sheffield as Bomba, the jungle boy. The plot seems somewhat contrived and no attempt is made to make it anything but a sort of fairy tale that is neither convincing nor realistic, but it is good entertainment for juveniles and the grown-ups who like adventure films. Johnny Sheffield's good looks, fine physique and personal charm deserve much of the credit for holding the spectator's interest, and he swings about on vines with the greatest of ease, proves himself an accomplished swimmer, and displays his athletic prowess in fights with men and a few beasts. Walter Mirisch gives the film adequate production values with effective jungle backgrounds and a fairly large cast, while Ford Beebe's direction is competent and shows off the acting abilities of his star and the other players to good advantage.
The yarn has a naturalist O'Flynn catching a glimpse of Bomba in the jungle and reporting the fact to Guilfoyle, emir of the Hidden City, who sends men to capture the lad. Guilfoyle is an impostor who killed the rightful emir, and took over the district. Sue, the daughter of the rightful emir, knows nothing of her origin and lives with her foster father, Belasco. Bomba is wounded by the emir's men and Sue cares for him. Belasco sells the girl to the emir as a slave, but she escapes with Bomba into the jungle. Sue is captured, but the jungle boy gets away. Bomba rescues Sue from the palace. O'Flynn finds proof of Sue's identity, Guilfoyle is killed while trying to capture Bomba, and Sue comes to rule over the Hidden City.
Sue England brings youthful charm to her role as the emir's daughter, and she and Johnny Sheffield are delightfully natural in their scenes together. Damian O'Flynn does a good job as the naturalist, with Smoki Whitfield as his servant. Paul Guilfoyle, Leon Belasco and Charles La Torre are convincing as villains in the piece.
The photography is well done by Wm. Sickner, Ozzie Caswell provides a fitting musical score, and Lester A. Sanson's [sic. Sansom] art direction is colorful. The editing and other technical credits are nicely handled.
The Lion Hunters (1951) - Monogram
Cast and Credits
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Bomba |
Johnny Sheffield |
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Producer |
Walter Mirisch |
Running Time: 75 minutes
Copyright Date: March 25, 1951; Copyright Renewed: April 27, 1979
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Synopsis Forbes and his daughter Jean are joining up with Forbes' partner, Martin, to trap lions. Bomba thwarts their efforts by releasing the caged animals, and sending the lions in the district away. Nor will the natives help Martin trap the jungle boy. Martin decides to turn to the Masai for help. And when Martin accidentally kills the chief's son when the latter is attacked by a lion, he decides to lie to the chief in return for hunters. After giving his word to help the hunters, the chief learns the truth, but Bomba restrains him from seeking vengeance, promising to drive the hunters away by confiscating their guns. When Martin realizes that there are no lions near his camp, he asks the chief for permission to trap lions on the veldt, and the witch doctor, sensing that this is a way to seek vengeance without being accused of murder by the authorities, suggests that warriors drive lions towards Martin's camp, knowing that he will have no weapons with which to defend himself. The chief agrees to the plan. When Bomba realizes what is going to happen, he races to the camp, but Martin has already been killed by a lion, and Bomba must kill it to save Forbes' life. Now, the Masai are satisfied, and the safari leaves the district, filled with regrets. |
Reviews
Hollywood Reporter - April 16, 1951
"The Lion Hunters," the latest entry in the Bomba series has enough thrills to satisfy the juvenile and action fans who support these adventure films. While Walter Mirisch's limited budget allows little in the way of settings, the producer has cleverly inserted a multitude of stock shots of jungle animals which give the film a certain amount of scope. The direction by Ford Beebe, who also is responsible for the script, concentrates on keeping the pace as fast as possible. Johnny Sheffield continues to righteously reign his jungle domain by virtue of his athletic abilities and mental brightness.
Sheffield resents the efforts of Morris Ankrum, his daughter, Ann Todd, and Douglas Kennedy to capture lions for sale to zoos. At every opportunity he slips into their camp and sets the aniomals free. Though he convinces Miss Todd that it is wrong to put wild animals in cages, the other two continue their activities. They enrage a tribe of natives who herd several hundred ferocious lions into the hunters' camp. One of the animals kills Kennedy, but Sheffield arrives in time to call off the rest and save Miss Todd and her father.
Ankrum is rather likeable in his semi-heavy role, but he suffers from lack of clarity in the writing of his character. Miss Todd is pretty and reads lines competently. Kennedy is sufficiently menacing as the principal villain.
The photography and other credits are average.
Elephant Stampede (1951) - Monogram
Cast and Credits
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Bomba
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Johnny Sheffield
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Producer |
Walter Mirisch |
Running Time: 71 minutes
Copyright Date: October 28, 1951; Copyright Renewed: April 27, 1979
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Synopsis Ivory hunters, Bob Warren and Joe Collins, set up headquarters in Nagala's village where a missionary, Miss Banks, is providing basic education for the tribe, aided by her helper Lola. Unknown to their hosts, the two hunters have illegally killed an elephant, and their guide, Mark Philips, when he attempted to arrest them. Coincidentally, Lola is teaching Bomba, the Jungle Boy, although her designs on him are more romantic. When the hunters witness him finding the body of the slain guide, they attempt to kill Bomba, but wound the girl instead. Warren learns that Nagala is about to turn over to the missionary a cache of ivory, hidden by Arab ivory traders long ago. He uses the injured girl as a bargaining tool to gain the ivory. When his partner refuses to go along with his plan, Warren kills him. Bomba is about to reveal the location of the ivory when his elephant friends appear and kill the hunter. Now the ivory can be turned over to Miss Banks, who will use it to improve the natives life style. |
Reviews
Variety - Oct. 19, 1951
One of the strongest entries to date in the "Bomba, the Jungle Boy" series, "Elephant Stampede" will keep juve audiences perched on the edge of their seats, and likewise provides some pretty fair entertainment for adults who like their screen fare served Tarzan style. Film is highly exploitable, which will ensure commensurate returns.
Bomba, played as usual by Johnny Sheffield, is up against ivory hunters in this latest jungler which makes particularly effective use of wild animal shots. Film takes its title from exciting footage in the climax, when great herd of elephants charge to Bomba's rescue. Story, as developed by Ford Beebe, who also directs, is given good treatment which allows for legitimate situations, and pace throughout progresses at fast tempo.
Sheffield offers his customary excellent characterization which juves find right up their alley, and has even more contact with the animals of the jungle than usual. Donna Martell is colorful and enticing as the house girl of a missionary, in love with Bomba, and John Kellogg and Myron Healey persuasively portray the two ivory hunters, out to kill the jungle boy because he's found the body of a white hunter they murdered when the latter interfered with their search for gold [?] Edith Evanson, as the missionary,Martin Wilkins, as native chief, and Leonard Mudie, as district commissioner, lend capable support.
Walter Mirisch as producer drained the possibilities of his assignment, and Beebe deftly handles his director chores, too. Musical score, which is instrumental in buildup of film's mood, is the able work of Raoul Kraushaar; William Sickner's photography is careful, and William Austin's clever editing is responsible for convincing inlay of stock footage.
Hollywood Reporter - October 19, 1951
The latest in Monogram's "Bomba, the Jungle Boy" series is an action-crammed offering following in the pattern of its predecessors, and, in its budgetary niche, is a good example of getting the most entertainment out of the least expenditure. The story has to do with Bomba, played again by Johnny Sheffield, outwitting two killers who attempt to steal an African tribe's treasure of ivory. In this he is aided by his own physical prowess and the animals of the jungle which whom he grew up.
The finale comes when a herd of elephants, led by one who is Bomba's close friend, crushes a native hut and kills the remaining murderer as he threatens all the other characters.
Ford Beebe wrote and directed the Walter Mirisch production, making excellent use of stock shots and integrating them well into the story line. Donna Martell, in the role of the assistant to a white school teacher aiding the natives; Edith Evanson, the teacher; Martin Wilkins, as the tribal chief, and John Kellogg and Myron Healey, as the villains, round out the cast.
Photography by William Sickner is above par, while all the other technical credits are average.
Motion Picture Herald - October 27, 1951
More animals, more action, more heavies and more story set this item in the Bomba series well ahead of its highly useful predecessors. Although the emphasis of the villainy of the two-legged meanies sometimes take the play away from the heroics of the star's four-legged friends, it appears likely that the youngsters will find the film even more to their liking than the more slenderly plotted numbers they have enjoyed in the past.
Produced by Walter Mirisch and directed by Ford Beebe, with Johnny Sheffield again and very convincingly the jungle boy whose heart is pure and muscles strong, the production looks sound and solid for its purpose.
The script, by the director, opens in a jungle village where a white woman is teaching the natives English in a makeshift schoolroom and her aide, played by Donna Martell, is teaching Bomba the alphabet in the adjacent jungle. This pleasant paradise is disrupted by a couple of white hunters who invade the area, an elephant sanctuary, intent upon killing elephants for the profit the sale of their tusks can bring them. The depredations begin with their murder of their guide, an authorized hunter, and end, after many a conflict, with one of the villains killing the other and with Bomba's friends, the elephants, killing the killer. Reviewer's Rating: Good
African Treasure (1952) - Monogram
Cast and Credits
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Bomba |
Johnny Sheffield |
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Running Time: 70 minutes
Copyright Date: May 25, 1952; Copyright Renewed: February 4, 1980
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Synopsis Roy De Haven, alias Pat Gilroy, kidnaps Commissioner Barnes to lead him to a hidden crater where his two confederates are working a diamond deposit with the help of an enslaved native tribe. Bomba, meanwhile, aids a young woman, Lita Sebastian, who is looking for her missing father, Pedro. She is eventually captured by one of the gang and taken to the diamond mine, where she is reunited with her father, who is also a prisoner of the villains. Eli, Barnes' faithful servant, and two companions rescue the Commissioner, and they head for the native village to find out what has happened. When the two diamond smugglers have collected enough diamonds, they cause a landslide which imprisons their slave labour, and head out for their boat, which they had hidden at the native village, with Bomba in hot pursuit. A fight ensues when he catches up with them, and at the same time the Commissioner arrives to lend a hand. And the film has a happy ending when Lita's father is able to find a fault in the cave, through which the native prisoners manage to dig their way out. |
Reviews
Variety - May 14/52.
As the latest release in Monogram's Bomba series, African Treasure will meet the demands of the juvenile market, but little else. For the pic is liberally padded with stock shots and the yarn is too incredible to be accepted by adult audiences. Screenplayed by Ford Beebe from his own story, chief budgeter, chronicles how diamond smugglers are nabbed in the African wilds with the aid of jungle Boy, Bomba. Before the culprits are rounded up, Sheffield does plenty of vine-swinging over ground and streams, swims underwater and rescues a group of people imprisoned by a landslide in a mountain tunnel. Sheffield does well enough by the top role, plump Laurette Luez shows that she can wear a sarong, while Arthur Space, Lane Bradford, and Lyle Talbot are adequate as the heavies. Beebe's direction is best in the action sequences.
Bomba and the Jungle Girl (1952) - Monogram
Cast and Credits
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Bomba |
Johnny Sheffield |
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Producer |
Walter Mirisch |
Running Time: 70 minutes
Copyright Date: December 7, 1952; Copyright Renewed: February 4, 1980
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Synopsis While on his way to Gamboso's village seeking information about his parents, Bomba rescues Linda Ward from a crocodile. The meeting is fortunate in that the girl's father is visiting the village to assess the living conditions for the government. Through a blind native woman named Linasi, Bomba discovers that his parents were killed by Gamboso's men and buried in a cave in the hills. Before she can point the way, she dies from a poisoned dart fired by Boru, Gamboso's daughter. Then Bomba is bound and taken back to the village to be turned over to Ward for the murder. Ward tells Gamboso that Bomba should be turned over to the authorities, but Bomba assures him and Linda that the natives will never allow him to reach there alive. Linda takes matters into her own hands and forces his release, adding that she intends to investigate Bomba's claims regarding his parents. Gamboso sends Boru and her warriors to stop the Wards. Although she succeeds in killing or driving off their safari boys, she makes a tactical error when she is trapped by fire after ordering her men to torch the jungle. Bomba and Linda come upon her, and with the help of Boru's bodyguard, she is extricated from beneath a fallen tree. Their only safety lies in a nearby cave, and it is here that Bomba finds the evidence needed to convict Gamboso. Boru tries to kill Bomba and Linda, but after a brief struggle, she runs out of the cave and perishes from the flames. Gamboso is arrested and Kokoli, Linasi's son, is promoted to chief. Now Bomba can return home, content that at least justice has been done. |
Reviews
Motion Picture Exhibitor
Karen Sharpe, daughter of government agent Walter Sande, is in the jungle with her father inspecting native villages. While swimming in a nearby river, she is attacked by a crocodile, but is saved by Johnny "Bomba" Sheffield, passing by. He takes her back to the village, where her father is staying, and pursues his inquiry about an old native woman, Amanda Randolph, whom he thinks has knowledge of the whereabouts of his parents. The native chief, Martin Wilkins, and his daughter, Suzette Harbin, unfriendly, tell him that Randolph is dead. Sheffield learns otherwise from a friendly native, Morris Buchanan, who tells him where he can find the old woman. Randolph reveals that his parents are buried in a nearby cave along with an important diary. Randolph is killed by a poison dart shot by Harbin's men. Sande and his party are persuaded to go to the cave to find the diary. While on their way, they are attacked by Harbin's men but escape. Sheffield and Sharpe find the diary with enough evidence to depose Wilkins as chief, and set up Buchanan as the new leader. However, the jungle is a blazing fury set afire by Harbin. Sheffield and Sharpe manage to escape, but Harbin is killed. With Buchanan as the new chief, Sheffield goes back to his jungle friends.
This routine series jungle yarn incorporates all the expected thrills, action, and jungle shots. The screen play was written by Ford Beebe.
Safari Drums (1953) - Allied Artists
Cast and Credits
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Bomba |
Johnny Sheffield |
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Producer |
Ford Beebe |
Running Time: 71 minutes
Copyright Date: June 21, 1953; Copyright Renewed: January 19, 1981
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Synopsis Larry Conrad isn't very happy with the jungle action he's seen so far on his photographic safari, so Commissioner Barnes' manservant Eli agrees to guide him to Bomba's home near Mt. Kulari to ask if Bomba will help. The jungle boy refuses, even when asked by Conrad's attractive assistant, Peggy. Meanwhile, the Commissioner learns that someone in Conrad's expedition may be a murderer, and he sends word via jungle telegraph, asking Bomba to join the safari, at least until the police can get there to take charge. With Bomba's help, Conrad gets some great animal shots of elephants and lions, but when Brad Morton, the guide, needlessly kills a lion, Bomba steps out of the picture. Later Peggy discovers that Brad is the man the police are after, but she is kidnapped before she can tell anyone. Brad then stages a fight between a lion and an imported tiger, which Conrad had been planning, to help him get away. The diversion is only temporary as Bomba catches up with the guide, but not before the latter is killed by a lion, which Bomba is then forced to kill in turn. The police see no violation in Conrad's rigging of the lion and tiger fight, and do not intend to confiscate the film. But Conrad's delight turns to horror, when he sees Bomba's pet chimp wrapped up in the exposed film. |
Reviews
Variety - June 24, 1953
Bomba, Allied Artists' indestructible jungle boy has the usual obstacles to surmount in Safari Drums, but has enough exciting footage to shape up as above-average for the series.
Ford Beebe works in triple capacity for "... Drums," one of the rare instances in A.A. annals. As producer, (he's taken over for Walter Mirisch on this one.) he's turned out pic in know-how fashion. An eye on the budget is evident in the direction, but it's entirely suitable to the demands. Beebe script allows for much stock footage, which improves the overall effect. Best moments come via a long, raw fight between a lion and a tiger.
Story deals with a group which comes into the African wilds to film a picture of jungle animal life. It later turns out that one of the bunch has robbed and killed a geologist for his fortune in diamonds. Bomba works with the group in helping them get their film, but it's a lion that kills the baddie. Pic winds with Bomba swinging off into the jungle again.
Johnny Sheffield (it's John now on the screen) has the physical appearance to do the lead role justice and is competent in the acting division. Barbara Bestar is better than might be expected as femme lead, while supporters Douglas Kennedy, Emory Parnell, and the others are satisfactory. Technical credits are stock.
The Golden Idol (1954) - Allied Artists
Cast and Credits
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Bomba |
Johnny Sheffield |
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Producer, Director, Screenplay |
Ford Beebe |
Running Time: 71 minutes
Copyright Date: January 10, 1954; Copyright Renewed: June 3, 1982
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Synopsis Ali Ben Mamoud hires unscrupulous hunter Joe Hawkins to retrieve the Golden Idol of Watusi, which he claims was stolen from him by Bomba, the Jungle Boy. It turns out that the villainous Arab chieftain had wrested it from a native chief through torture, and Bomba, finding the dying man, promised to get it back and use it to help his people. A representative from a London museum arrives with Commissioner Barnes to buy the precious artefact only to learn the truth. By now, Ali and Hawkins will do anything to get the valuable object, even wiping out the Commissioner's party. Forcing Bomba to go and bring back the idol under threat of torture to Karen Marsh, the Museum's representative, Ali and Hawkins hold the rest of the party hostage. But N'Kimba, Bomba's pet chimp, helps them escape, and they rush to rejoin Bomba, who has alerted the local police by a drum message. In a rousing finale, Bomba overturns the villains' boat, Ali drowns, and Hawkins is captured. The police arrive and take the remainder of the villains' men into custody, and Karen can buy the idol, the proceeds of which will be turned over to the needy tribe, as Bomba promised. |
Reviews
Motion Picture Exhibitor
Paul Guilfoyle, murderous Arabian chieftain, is incensed at having lost a very valuable golden idol and hires Lane Bradford, a soldier of fortune to get it back from Johnny (Bomba, the Jungle Boy) Sheffield. Meanwhile, Anne Kimball, expert from a museum, and territorial commissioner Leonard Mudie and men, Smoky Whitfield and James Adamson, set out to obtain the statue from Sheffield. Bradford and Guilfoyle fight amongst themselves after taking the commissioner, Whitfield, and Kimball prisoner to force Sheffield to bring them the idol. Guilfoyle is killed. As Bradford and his men are about to wipe out the others, the district police show up to arrest them. As Kimball prepares to take out the idol, Sheffield disappears into the jungle.
This latest in the "Bomba" series should find the usual clientele awaiting it. The story is interesting and the cast, direction, and production are also in the usual category. The screen play was written by Ford Beebe.
Killer Leopard (1954) - Allied Artists
Cast and Credits
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Bomba |
Johnny Sheffield |
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Producer, Director, Screenplay |
Ford Beebe |
Running Time: 70 minutes
Copyright Date: August 22, 1954; Copyright Renewed: June 3, 1982
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Synopsis Film star Linda Winters is pursuing her husband, an accountant who has embezzled a great deal of money from his employers. She wants him to come back with her, promising to make good the money that was stolen. But Fred Winters has other plans. He has no intention of returning either to the States or to his wife. Instead, he has made a deal with a disreputable guide named Pulham to guide him to a man named Saunders, who has a reputation for selling diamonds under the table. Bomba comes into the story as he trails a man-killing black leopard, and at the same time tries to help Mrs. Winters find her husband. When Pulham tries to shake down Saunders, the latter kills him. Then Winters tries to kill Bomba to prevent him from taking him back to face the authorities. Local police arrive in time to help the jungle boy. Oh yes, and Bomba manages to kill the leopard before it can do any more damage. |
.Reviews
Motion Picture Exhibitor
Beverly Garland, American film actress, arrives in Africa in search of her husband, Donald Murphy, who has embezzled money in America. She learns that he has gone into the jungle, probably to a diamond mine, with a crooked guide. At the commissioner's headquarters, she meets Johnny (Bomba) Sheffield, who volunteers help. During their trek through the jungle, they are menaced by a leopard which Sheffield finally kills. Murphy arrives at the diamond mine and concludes a deal to buy some uncut diamonds. Sheffield and Garland pursue Murphy until they overtake him. Murphy tries to kill Sheffield, but government police intervene. Murphy is put under arrest.
A routine entry in the "Bomba of the Jungle" series, this offers the usual thrills and animal fights. The players give adequate performances. Ford Beebe, who also produced and directed, wrote the screen play.
Lord of the Jungle (1955) - Allied Artists
Cast and Credits
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Bomba
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Johnny Sheffield
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Producer, Director, Screenplay |
Ford Beebe |
Running Time: 69 minutes
Copyright Date: June 12, 1955; Copyright Renewed: April 5, 1983
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Synopsis In the final entry of the Bomba series, hunter Jeff Woods has been ordered to exterminate a herd of rogue elephants. Convinced that there is only one rogue, Bomba prevents the hunter from carrying out his instructions. Since the animals seem to be on Bomba's land, the Commissioner's representative is reluctant to give Woods permission to trespass, but when the elephants stage another stampede, Woods is given blanket approval to slaughter the herd. Complicating matters is a visit by Deputy Commissioner Barnes' niece Mona, who has come to the jungle after an argument with her fiance, a doctor who wants to set up his practice in the jungle. Being a spoiled girl and used to getting her own way, she adds to Bomba's troubles. After Bomba rescues Kenny, one of Woods' associates, he is tied up by Kenny to prevent further interference. But the elephants stampede the hut in which he is bound. After they leave, it is discovered that a native named Molu and his son have been killed; only his wife has survived. To ensure that the hunters will not kill all the elephants, Bomba steals their weapons at night, then arranges to meet with Barnes the next day to offer him the chance to kill the one rogue. Reluctantly, Barnes accepts. When the rogue appears, Barnes is able to dispatch it and the other elephants do not retaliate. Bomba has proved his point and the other pachyderms are left unmolested by the hunters. |
Reviews
Motion Picture Daily - October 3, 1955
Designed primarily for the youthful trade, "Lord of the Jungle" has an adequate amount of suspenseful developments. Another in the Bomba the Jungle Boy series, this one's got the guest name - presence of Wayne Morris and Paul Picerni, who've had some top roles in their lengthy film colony stays.
Action, of course, is concentrated on the exploits of Bomba, convincingly enough portrayed by Johnny Sheffield, who is a junior edition of the African interpretation of Robin Hood. He has many friends in the Dark Continent country, and his main objective seems to [be to] preserve the wild life. Morris, Picerni and William Phipps, elephant hunters, arrive in the district with official orders to exterminate a herd of rogue elephants that has been terrorizing native villages. Sheffield resents the intrusion, and expresses his dislike of the kill orders. He lets it be known that he'd prefer seeing the elephant leader done away with and the remainder of the herd left to roam. The hunting trio, however, doesn't go for this ultimatum, and ties him up guarded by natives. Nancy Hale, niece of game commissioner Leonard Mudie, rescues aid Bomba, and the latter is off and running for the herd's location. He arranges for the lead elephant to be slain by Mudie, and leads the remainder of the herd to Morris, et al, camp site, and convinces them that additional killings are needless.
It may be depressing to the older elements of your audience to see ex-leading men like Morris and Picerni trampling through the underbrush, but the youngsters will enjoy this one.
Ford Beebe produced, directed and wrote this attraction.
When the Bomba series ended, Johnny Sheffield and his father, Reginald, produced a pilot for a TV series to be titled Bantu, the Zebra Boy. Although the proposed series' opener is on a par with the other jungle TV series of the period, e.g. Jungle Jim, Sheena, Queen of the Jungle, in terms of plot, cast, and production values, a sponsor could not be found, and the series was not produced. There is also a bracelet gimmick: Bantu turns it over to begin a good deed, and turns it back when the good deed is performed. It would have had great marketing potential. Also cast in the pilot episode were Lane Bradford and Roy Glenn. And Bantu's major animal ally in this film is a zebra named Zulu, played by Stripes (but called Spot on the set). He had the distinction of being rideable, although not always, as Johnny found out.
In the cast appears the name George Spelvin as the Commissioner. This was an inside joke. There was no such person. Often someone would ask: “Who made that dive?”or “Who spoke that line?” If one didn't know, one would answer George Spelvin. In fact, the Commissioner was played by father Reginald.
The entire show was shot out of doors at various locations in and around Los Angeles. The swings, and closing shot of Bantu and his zebra, Zulu, going up the hill, were shot at Malibu.The Mundembi trial scenes & environs were photographed at Griffith Park. Trench's camp, some zebra riding shots and the croc fight were all made at the Arboretum (a.k.a. Lucky Baldwin's Ranch). The croc fight was edited by John's father, Reginald, and John notes with due filial pride: “Father cut the Croc Fight and I think it is as good as I have ever seen.”
A Bahati* Production
*Bahati is a Swahili word meaning “Good Luck!”
Cast and Credits
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Bantu |
Johnny Sheffield |
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Producer |
Reginald Sheffield |
Synopsis
Witch doctors Kako and M'Gura conspire with white hunter Trench to dispose of the chief and his son so that they may exploit an untapped diamond field. To accomplish this, the witchmen accuse Kano, the chief's son, of theft, a crime punishable by death. Meanwhile, Trench has the task of causing the “accidental” death of chief Chaba.
Bantu learns of the plot, and foils the attempt with the help of his zebra friend, Zulu.
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Brother Bill visits Johnny on the Bomba set
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