Walter Huston got to recreate his stage role of 'Deadlegs' Flint when Kongo was done as a sound film in 1932. The original production ran for 135 performances and then a silent version entitled West Of Zanzibar was done by MGM that starred Lon Chaney. So for those of you who marveled at Chaney's compelling performance in West Of Zanzibar, be advised that Huston actually created the part on Broadway.
The jungle sets used for Trader Horn's interiors and later for the Tarzan films are put to good use in Kongo. The rest of it revolves around Walter Huston's equally compelling performance as a crippled degenerate paraplegic who rules a jungle kingdom with some equally degenerate associates and who keep the natives in line with some old magician's tricks. That and a knowledge of the narcotic effect of some of the jungle plants.
Huston lives for only one reason to exact a terrible vengeance on another white overlord of some jungle turf, the man who crippled him and stole his wife at the same time, C. Henry Gordon. The instrument of his revenge will be Virginia Bruce who is Gordon's convent raised daughter who Huston lures into his jungle domain.
Lupe Velez is on hand as Huston's mistress of undetermined racial origin since she certainly doesn't look like any of the natives. Lupe does have a roving eye however since her sex life with Huston has to be somewhat limited. She gleefully aids in Huston's depravities however.
Kongo in one sense takes a really horribly racist point of view toward the natives. At the same time however it certainly doesn't show the whites as anything noble. Both Huston and Gordon aren't hypocrites, you won't see them mouthing any pablum about the white man's burden.
It's a dated film, but Walter Huston will keep you riveted to your seats with what he does with this part.
The jungle sets used for Trader Horn's interiors and later for the Tarzan films are put to good use in Kongo. The rest of it revolves around Walter Huston's equally compelling performance as a crippled degenerate paraplegic who rules a jungle kingdom with some equally degenerate associates and who keep the natives in line with some old magician's tricks. That and a knowledge of the narcotic effect of some of the jungle plants.
Huston lives for only one reason to exact a terrible vengeance on another white overlord of some jungle turf, the man who crippled him and stole his wife at the same time, C. Henry Gordon. The instrument of his revenge will be Virginia Bruce who is Gordon's convent raised daughter who Huston lures into his jungle domain.
Lupe Velez is on hand as Huston's mistress of undetermined racial origin since she certainly doesn't look like any of the natives. Lupe does have a roving eye however since her sex life with Huston has to be somewhat limited. She gleefully aids in Huston's depravities however.
Kongo in one sense takes a really horribly racist point of view toward the natives. At the same time however it certainly doesn't show the whites as anything noble. Both Huston and Gordon aren't hypocrites, you won't see them mouthing any pablum about the white man's burden.
It's a dated film, but Walter Huston will keep you riveted to your seats with what he does with this part.