Kathlyn Williams

Charles Clary

Tom Santschi

James Oliver Curwood

Edward McWade

John Brant, his only daughter, Gene, and Jan Karl, a farmhand, live on a farm in Central Africa, near the border of the jungle. The monotony of their lives is stirred by the arrival in the neighborhood of a hunting party, about to...

Colin Campbell

Thor, Lord of the Jungles

Interesting 3-reeler; certainly less than &quot;great&quot;, but a good relic, watchable

&quot;Thor, Lord of the Jungles&quot; (1913) with Kathlyn Williams, Charles Clary, Tom Santschi, Lafe McKee, and William Holland is a seminal jungle-on-film story that takes place in Africa and America. We begin in Africa where Lafe McKee is hired by Clary (owner of a circus) to capture animals for his circus. We also see that McKee&apos;s daughter, Kathlyn Williams, is in love with Tom Santschi, and he with her. Almost instantaneously we also see Clary make an underhanded pass at Williams which riles Santschi. Meanwhile, the hunters capture a lion whom they call Thor. Now the story begins to go. Even before things begin to happen we know where this is going to go. However, that&apos;s because we&apos;ve had over one hundred years to see this thing played out over and over. This film does it well.

This 3-reel Selig picture evidently was part of a series, for the original Moving Picture World review of 6 December 1913 opens with &quot;In &quot;Thor, Lord of the Jungle&quot;, the Selig wild animal series have reached an eminence not hitherto attained. Indeed, the term &quot;wild animal&quot; is not truly expressive of the range and values of this remarkable three-reel film subject, in which a mighty lion figures prominently and thrillingly.&quot; The print I watched is from Grapevine, and the quality is, well, mostly satisfactory, though there are stretches and scenes that are very washed out. Retained is the original blue tinting, which, unfortunately, would have been better served had those scenes been cleaned up in B &amp; W so as to not be as light as they now are - or, of course, restored to the original palette as seen with the original tints. Good story with some creaky acting. What was uninviting was an organ score that, though plausible for the action occurring, nevertheless was grating on my nerves. I must admit that this is a fun film for seeing how it was 107 years ago when it came to satisfying the general public with subjects on film, and the film is &quot;good&quot; for its day, but it certainly isn&apos;t &quot;very good&quot;, and it doesn&apos;t come anywhere near &quot;great&quot;. Memorable as a relic. Thor, by the way, is a beautiful animal. Looks about as wild as my next door neighbor&apos;s cat. Kathlyn Williams gives a summary performance, but it&apos;s not necessarily memorable. Best performance was the hunchback at the American circus played by William Holland. He only acted in one feature film and four short films, including this one. Except for this one, all the others were with J. Warren Kerrigan and Lois Wilson in 1915.

"Thor, Lord of the Jungles" (1913) with Kathlyn Williams, Charles Clary, Tom Santschi, Lafe McKee, and William Holland is a seminal jungle-on-film story that takes place in Africa and America. We begin in Africa where Lafe McKee is hired by Clary (owner of a circus) to capture animals for his circus. We also see that McKee's daughter, Kathlyn Williams, is in love with Tom Santschi, and he with her. Almost instantaneously we also see Clary make an underhanded pass at Williams which riles Santschi. Meanwhile, the hunters capture a lion whom they call Thor. Now the story begins to go. Even before things begin to happen we know where this is going to go. However, that's because we've had over one hundred years to see this thing played out over and over. This film does it well.

This 3-reel Selig picture evidently was part of a series, for the original Moving Picture World review of 6 December 1913 opens with "In "Thor, Lord of the Jungle", the Selig wild animal series have reached an eminence not hitherto attained. Indeed, the term "wild animal" is not truly expressive of the range and values of this remarkable three-reel film subject, in which a mighty lion figures prominently and thrillingly." The print I watched is from Grapevine, and the quality is, well, mostly satisfactory, though there are stretches and scenes that are very washed out. Retained is the original blue tinting, which, unfortunately, would have been better served had those scenes been cleaned up in B & W so as to not be as light as they now are - or, of course, restored to the original palette as seen with the original tints. Good story with some creaky acting. What was uninviting was an organ score that, though plausible for the action occurring, nevertheless was grating on my nerves. I must admit that this is a fun film for seeing how it was 107 years ago when it came to satisfying the general public with subjects on film, and the film is "good" for its day, but it certainly isn't "very good", and it doesn't come anywhere near "great". Memorable as a relic. Thor, by the way, is a beautiful animal. Looks about as wild as my next door neighbor's cat. Kathlyn Williams gives a summary performance, but it's not necessarily memorable. Best performance was the hunchback at the American circus played by William Holland. He only acted in one feature film and four short films, including this one. Except for this one, all the others were with J. Warren Kerrigan and Lois Wilson in 1915.

John Brant, his only daughter, Gene, and Jan Karl, a farmhand, live on a farm in Central Africa, near the border of the jungle. The monotony of their lives is stirred by the arrival in the neighborhood of a hunting party, about to enter the jungle to secure wild animals for an American circus. Henry Barium, the young circus owner, heads the party. He prevails on old John Brant to accompany him on the trip and, in turn, agrees that Gene and Jan Karl shall join the expedition. Jan and Gene are "as good as engaged." as the saying goes. Young Barium pays marked attention to Gene as they journey, and Jan grows jealous. One day he comes on the young people when Barium is trying to force a kiss from Gene. In the trial of strength that follows, Barium is worsted. Gene, who loves Jan, does not show that worthy due appreciation of his interference, with the result that he leaves the expedition for the Transvaal mines. Next day a noble, shaggy-maned lion is caught. He is of such dignified mien and enormous size that he is named Thor, lord of the jungle. Other wild animals are secured and the party starts on the return journey. When the Brant farm is reached. Barium gains the consent of Gene to accompany him to America, where he promises to make her queen of the circus. John Brant strongly opposes Gene's departure; but in vain. On the voyage to America. Gene discovers the true character of Barium. He is both gambler and drunkard, and attempts to take liberties with her. On her arrival in America, she is penniless, and is forced to work in the Barium circus, where she learns still more of the owner's vicious nature. Her mail is secretly destroyed by Barium and she believes herself forgotten and forlorn. Barium hatches a plot for her undoing, but "Billie," the hunchback, who is devoted to Gene,, discovers it and saves her. He is aware that Gene spends much of her spare time near Thor's cage, and he plans so that Barium will join her there on a certain night. In the meantime, he files the bars of the big lion's cage, shortly before the meeting. Gene is ignorant of "Billie's" plans, and is shocked when Barium appears in a drunken state and attempts to attack her. She screams, and Thor breaks through the half severed bars and kills his master. The circus authorities decide on killing Thor; but Gene begs for his life. After much wrangling they consent and Thor accompanies Gene back to Africa and freedom.

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Thor, Lord of the Jungles

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