The Tiger Woman(1944) is a 12-chapterfilm serialbyRepublic PicturesstarringAllan LaneandLinda Stirling(her serial debut). The serial was re-released in 1951 under the titlePerils of the Darkest Jungleand, in 1966, it was edited into the 100-minute Century-66 filmJungle Gold.
| The Tiger Woman | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Spencer Bennet Wallace Grissell |
| Written by | Royal Cole Ronald Davidson Basil Diskey Jesse Duffy Grant Nelson Joseph Poland |
| Produced by | William J. O'Sullivan |
| Starring | Linda Stirling Allan Lane Duncan Renaldo George J. Lewis LeRoy Mason Crane Whitley Robert Frazer Rico De Montez |
| Cinematography | Bud Thackery Ernest Miller |
| Distributed by | Republic Pictures |
Release dates | |
Running time | 12 chapters (196 minutes(serial)[1] 100 minutes(TV)[1] |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $180,292 (negative cost:$206,191)[1] |
Stirling was immediately popular inThe Tiger Woman.Due to her impact,Zorro's Black Whipwas quickly put into production with her as the main star.[2]
Linda Stirling is ajungle girllost in the South American rainforest and ruling a native tribe. The serial's plot is a variant on the common serial andB-Western"land grab" plot - in this case, the villains attempt to run the natives off the land so that they can claim its valuable oil reserves.
Plot
editEvil oil speculators in South America attempt to drive away anative tribeand their leader, the Tiger Woman. The Tiger Woman, a white woman, might be the lost heiress to a vast fortune, and later plotlines in the serial are built around determining her true identity.
Cast
edit- Linda Stirlingas Tiger Woman/Rita Arnold
- Allan Laneas Allen Saunders
- Duncan Renaldoas José Delgado
- George J. Lewisas Morgan
- LeRoy Masonas Fletcher Walton
- Crane Whitley as Tom Dagget
- Robert Frazeras Ramgah, High Priest
- Rico De Montez as Tegula
- Stanley Priceas Mack, Dagget's Clerk
Production
editThe Tiger Womanwas budgeted at $180,292 although the finalnegative costwas $206,191 (a $25,899, or 14.4%, overspend). It was the most expensive Republic serial of 1944.[1]This serial had the third biggest budget of the sixty-six Republic serials (exceeded only byCaptain America(1944) at $182,623 andThe Lone Ranger Rides Again(1939) at $193,878) although it is only the fifth most expensive in terms of the actual production cost. The other four, however, were all 15-chapters long, compared toTiger Woman's12-chapters, so this is, per chapter, the most expensive of all Republic serials.[1]
It was filmed atLake Sherwood, Californialocations[3] between 20 January and 25 February 1944 under theworking titleTiger Woman of the Amazon.[1]The serial's production number was 1298.[1]The Tiger Womanwas Republic's attempt to create a newPearl Whitewith their recent discovery of Linda Stirling.[4]
Stedman notes several errors in the production: The Tiger Woman costume is made from leopard fur. When outside, the natives are dressed as Navaho but, when inside, they are dressed as Aztecs. The chorus girl line, and their "harem-girl" costume, during an execution is frowned on. The men in the serial do not remove their hats whether inside or out.[5]However, in South America "Tiger" refers to any big cat.
Stunts
edit- Babe DeFreest as Tiger Woman/Rita Arnold (doubling Linda Stirling)
- Tom Steeleas Allen Saunders/Tunnel Thug/Road Block Thug/Ambusher (doubling Allan Lane)
- Ken Terrellas José Delgado/Morgan/Mack/Fletcher Walton/Bolton/Depot Thug/Oil Truck Driver (doubling Duncan Renaldo, George J. Lewis, Stanley Price & LeRoy Mason)
- Eddie Parkeras Tom Dagget/Office Thug/Depot Thug/Trooper/Travis/Oil Truck Thug (doubling Crane Whitley)
- Duke Greene as Gentry/Steward-Thug/Motor Boat Thug/Truck Driver/Shack Heavy/Ambusher (doubling Kenne Duncan)
- Carey Loftin as Thug
Special effects
editThe special model effects were produced byTheodore Lydecker.
Release
editTheatrical
editThe Tiger Woman's official release date is 27 May 1944, although this is actually the date the sixth chapter was made available to film exchanges.[1]The serial was re-released on 17 January 1951, under the new titlePerils of the Darkest Jungle,between the first runs ofFlying Disc Man from MarsandDon Daredevil Rides Again.[1]
Television
editThe Tiger Womanwas one of twenty-six Republic serials re-released as a Century-66 film on television in 1966. The title of the film was changed toJungle Gold.This version was cut down to 100-minutes in length.[1]
Critical reception
editStedman believes that, when compared to the earlier Witney-English serials,The Tiger Womanis a poor serial.[5]
Chapter titles
edit- The Temple of Terror (24min 52s)
- Doorway to Death (15min 33s)
- Cathedral of Carnage (15min 32s)
- Echo of Eternity (15min 34s)
- Two Shall Die (15min 34s)
- Dungeon of the Doomed (15min 33s)
- Mile-a-Minute Murder (15min 33s)
- Passage to Peril (15min 33s)
- Cruise to Cremation (15min 33s)
- Target for Murder (15min 33s)
- The House of Horror (15min 33s)
- Triumph Over Treachery (15min 34s)
This was one of the two 12-chapter serials produced by Republic Pictures in 1944. The other, also starring Linda Stirling, wasZorro's Black Whip.As was customary for Republic, two 15-chapter serials were also released in this year.[1]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^abcdefghijklmnoMathis, Jack (1995).Valley of the Cliffhangers Supplement.Jack Mathis Advertising. pp. 3, 10, 76–77.ISBN0-9632878-1-8.
- ^Cline, William C. (1984). "5. A Cheer for the Champions (The Heroes and Heroines)".In the Nick of Time.McFarland & Company, Inc. pp.88–89.ISBN0-7864-0471-X.
- ^p.21-22 Schneider, Jerry L.Edgar Rice Burroughs and the Silver Screen:Vol. IV: The LocationsLulu
- ^Harmon, Jim;Donald F. Glut(1973)."1. The Girls" Who Is That Girl in the Buzz Saw? "".The Great Movie Serials: Their Sound and Fury.Routledge.pp. 18–26.ISBN978-0-7130-0097-9.
- ^abStedman, Raymond William (1971)."5. Shazam and Good-by".Serials: Suspense and Drama By Installment.University of Oklahoma Press. pp.134.ISBN978-0-8061-0927-5.
- ^Cline, William C. (1984). "Filmography".In the Nick of Time.McFarland & Company, Inc. pp.237.ISBN0-7864-0471-X.