Borneo

1937

Action / Documentary

1
IMDb Rating 6.8/10 10 21 21

Plot summary

Expeditions in Borneo by Mr. and Mrs. Martin Johnson show the terrain, flora, fauna and lifestyle of Borneo as the Johnsons search for a huge orangutan.

Director

Truman H. Talley Photo
Truman H. Talley

Top cast

Lowell Thomas Photo
Lowell Thomas as Serious Narrator
Martin E. Johnson Photo
Martin E. Johnson as Martin Johnson
Osa Johnson Photo
Osa Johnson as Osa Johnson
Lew Lehr Photo
Lew Lehr as Interrupting Narrator
720p.BluRay
645.46 MB
1280*720
English 2.0
NR
Subtitles us  
24 fps
1 hr 10 min
Seeds ...

Movie Reviews

Reviewed by mark.waltz 5 / 10

The monkeys are adorable, but I'll pass on the bird's nest soup.

It's pretty obvious what Martin and Osa Johnson's desired goal is in this exploration of the wilds of Borneo, going after a rare orangutan and coming across various species of monkey, minor ape species, flying snakes, rare birds and tree climbing fish in the process. The Johnsons also come across a seemingly tribe of head hunters, seemingly hospitable but rumored to be quickly dangerous if the mood changes.The last film for Martin Johnson who died after a plane crash before this was released, it's interesting but poor in condition. The commentary goes from mildly interesting through Lowell Thomas and ridiculously corny when Lew Lehr takes over, particularly when describing the big nosed monkey and other weird cases of nature. But when the visuals just speak for themselves, it's much more interesting. Definitely a film dated in its ideals, some elements really eye rolling.
Reviewed by pgregorjones 8 / 10

humorous and disturbing

A very good depression-era propaganda film disguised as an anthropological and natural study which lies somewhere between King Kong and a Margaret Mead journal. As Mr & Mrs. Johnson travel upland and upriver they encounter flying snakes, various simians and apes, climbing fish, tree oysters and indolent natives. A scientist with a fake German accent gives explanations. Assumed to be filmed on location, the natives converse in rehearsed, broken English and are dressed according to Christian decency. Lowell Thomas' narration is quite humorous at first until the real reason for their expedition is divulged. The film culminates in the American management of the capture of a 300lb. orang-utan (literally meaning the "wild-man of the jungle") who will live the rest of his life in "some American city zoo lazily eating bananas". The scene is powerful and disturbing.
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