The Second Jungle Book: Mowgli & Baloo

The Second Jungle Book:
Mowgli & Baloo

DVD cover
Directed by Duncan McLachlan
Produced by Raju Patel
Mark Damon
Written by Bayard Johnson
Matthew Horton
Based on The Jungle Book
by Rudyard Kipling
Starring
Music by John Scott
Cinematography Adolfo Bartoli
Edited by Marcus Manton
Production
company
MDP Worldwide
Distributed by TriStar Pictures
Release date
 May 16, 1997 (1997-05-16)
Running time
 90 minutes
Country United States
Language English
Box office $346,056[1]

The Second Jungle Book: Mowgli & Baloo is a 1997 American adventure film starring Jamie Williams as Mowgli, with Roddy McDowall and Billy Campbell in supporting roles. It is a live action adaptation of Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book (not based on The Second Jungle Book, as its title would suggest). The film was adapted for the screen by Bayard Johnson and Matthew Horton.[2][3]

It was shot in Kandy Mountain, Sri Lanka and features some well known Sri Lankan actors like Wijeratne Warakagoda, Sunil Hettiarachchi and Raja Sumanapala.

Plot

India, 1890. Mowgli (Jamie Williams) is a 10-year-old boy has been brought up in the jungle of India by his animal friends: the wolf pack, Baloo the bear and Bagheera the panther. However, Mowgli also has enemies in the jungle: Shere Khan the vicious tiger (who killed the boy's father) and the Bandar-log (who are hated by nearly all animals of the jungle).

After being found by Shere Khan and running away, Mowgli hears a train coming his way on the train tracks. The conductor stops the train when Mowgli is seen by humans. An American circus scout named Harrison, who is traveling through India along with Chunchandra, also takes a look at Mowgli. He thinks of bringing the man cub to America and taking him to the circus. Mowgli runs away and steals Chuchandra's pet monkey Timo. Mowgli bonds with Timo, which forces the wolf pack to exile him, as Timo is thought to be a relative to the Bandar-log. The next day, Mowgli enters the Ancient city and finds Timo being kidnapped by the Bandar-log. When he and Baloo attempt to rescue him, Baloo is caged by the Bandar-log.

Meanwhile, Harrison has sought the help of a wealthy jungle guide named Buldeo. Buldeo is none other than Mowgli's paternal uncle: he knows that with Mowgli alive, he may be denied access to his late brother's wealth. The men soon meet a snake charmer, Karait, and his pet python, Kaa. Buldeo leads the men into to jungle to capture Mowgli, but secretly has plans to murder him. Using Kaa, the men kidnap Mowgli and take him to their camp. That night, Mowgli escapes during a battle with Shere Khan. Buldeo finds the boy and almost kills him, but fails due to Harrison's intervention. Mowgli is then placed in a cage.

The next morning, Baloo breaks out and escapes from the city to arrive and free Mowgli. Mowgli and Baloo arrive at the ancient city where Mowgli finds Timo and also meets King Murphy, who wishes the boy to become king. The four men arrive to find Mowgli. Harrison is the first to find him. When he attempts to help the boy, Buldeo intervenes, injuring Harrison. He then attempts to shoot his nephew. Mowgli's friends arrive and Buldeo goes to hide in a cannon. Later, Karait comes to help Mowgli using Kaa. Harrison now realizes that the circus is no place for the boy. Chuchandra is reunited with Timo as well. The Bandar-log are sent by King Murphy to light the cannon which Buldeo is hiding in - he is sent to the other side of the jungle where he hangs upside down from a tree and faces possible death by Shere Khan. Mowgli now runs with the wolf pack.

Cast

Reception

The film received negative reviews from critics.

References

  1. ↑ The Second Jungle Book: Mowgli and Baloo (1997) - Box Office Mojo
  2. ↑ "Are Films Using Names in Vain?". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2010-11-22.
  3. ↑ Barnes, Mike (2016-02-12). "Bayard Johnson, 'Tarzan and the Lost City' Screenwriter, Dies at 63". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2016-03-05.
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