Miracles of the Jungle

Miracles of the Jungle is a 1921 American adventure film serial, directed by James Conway and E. A. Martin, in 15 chapters, starring Ben Hagerty, Wilbur Higby, and Al Ferguson. A co-production by Selig Studios and Warner Bros.,[1][2] it was distributed by the Federated Film Exchanges of America; it originally ran in U.S. theaters between May 24 and August 24, 1921.[3]

Miracles of the Jungle
Directed byJames Conway
E. A. Martin
Written byEmma Bell Clifton (original story)
E. A. Martin (adaptation)
Produced byWilliam Selig (as William N. Selig)
StarringBen Hagerty
Wilbur Higby
Al Ferguson
Production
companies
Distributed byFederated Film Exchanges of America
Warner Bros.
Release date
  • May 24, 1921 (1921-05-24)
Running time
15 episodes
CountryUnited States
LanguageSilent (English intertitles)

This film serial is considered lost.[4]

Cast edit

Production edit

Through the success of the serial The Lost City, previously made by Selig and Warner, the co-production of Selig Polyscope Company and Warner Bros., Miracles of the Jungle, began. Emma Bell Clifton wrote the original screenplay, which was adapted by E. A. Martin.[1] There were problems during production. William Selig, responsible for the day-to-day filming, accused Warner of inserting spies on the set, and of colluding with distributors to sell the film rights. The production thus dragged on for six months, during which time director E. A. Martin paid attention to the lead actress, with whom he had an affair. Martin's wife confronted him in the studio, and the actress had to stop filming abruptly, necessitating a lot of film ending.[1]

The show was also marred by an incident in which during a scene with a lion, actor Ben Hagerty was injured, which resulted in him being hospitalized for over a month, until he recovered and returned to filming.[5][6][7]

Release edit

The film was given an international release, being released in Brazil under the title Os Milagres da Selva and Milagres do Sertão.[8]

Chapter titles edit

  1. The City of Lions
  2. The Passage of Death
  3. The Jungle Attack
  4. The Leopard's Revenge
  5. The Storm in the Desert
  6. To the Rescue
  7. The Leopard's Lair
  8. Doomed to Death
  9. In the Hands of the Apes
  10. Midst Raging Tigers
  11. Twelve Against One
  12. Cheating Death
  13. The Heart of an Elephant
  14. The Lion's Leap
  15. All's Well That Ends Well

References edit

  1. ^ a b c Erish, Andrew A. (2012). Col. William N. Selig, the Man Who Invented Hollywood. University of Texas Press. p. 127.
  2. ^ "Miracles of the Jungle (1921)". Golden Age Movies.
  3. ^ Motion pictures, 1912-1939. Library of Congress. p. 163.
  4. ^ "Miracles of the Jungle". Silent Era.
  5. ^ "WILD ANIMAL PICTURE AT DELUXE TOMORROW" (PDF). Utica Morning Telegram. November 2, 1921. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 24, 2015 – via Fulton History.
  6. ^ The Chanute Daily Tribune, Kansas, September 13, 1921, p. 3.
  7. ^ "Archived copy". State Sentinel. Stigler, Oklahoma. October 27, 1921. p. 2.
  8. ^ Gomes de Mattos, A. C. (September 19, 2013). "Seriados Mudos Americanos e Europeus no Brasil II" [American and European Silent Film Serials in Brazil II]. Histórias de Cinema (in Portuguese).

External links edit