Savage Drums (1951) User Reviews (4)

Just about watchable

[keith-moyes-656-481491 · 5/10 · 21 February 2015]

I acquired this picture as the make-weight on a DVD double bill with Jungle Hell. It is actually the better picture of the two, although that is not saying much.

The movie starts in America, with Sabu as a boxer heading for a world title fight. However, the character's boxing background is of no significance and plays no part in the subsequent plot. This is symptomatic of the main problem with the picture: it takes forever to get started. It was only at the third attempt I actually got past the seemingly endless prologue and watched the movie through to the end.

However, when the movie does finally spark into life there is a surprising amount of action for what is essentially a 'no budget' B picture.

The story takes us to an island in the South China Sea where Sabu is crowned king and leads his people in their resistance against communist invaders and local traitors. A treaty with America ensures their future freedom and prosperity.

The invaders are not numerous but there are more of them than I expected. There is a fair bit of outdoor shooting, both on location and on the back lot so the picture never gets too claustrophobic. The biggest surprise was a couple a long tracking shots, including an unexpectedly elaborate track and crane in the coronation scene.

Perhaps the most revealing thing about this movie is that its director, William Berke, was banging out 8 or 10 of these movies a year for most of the Forties. Perhaps the true benchmark for these programmers would be weekly episodes of a TV series rather than other feature films.

This is far from being a good picture and there is no reason for anybody to go out of their way to see it, but at least it is a genuine movie, not a con trick, like Jungle Hell, which is frankly unendurable.

'Just about watchable' may seem like damning with faint praise, but in the context of these bottom of the barrel pictures it is almost a compliment.

From the front lines to the boxing ring to the throne.

[mark.waltz · 5/10 · 24 December 2023]

The only leading role I recall seeing Sabu in where he actually wears modern clothing rather than a sarong or some sort of wrap around diaper cloth. He's the prince of a small island off the coast of China, second son of the deceased king, and reunited with his brother (Paul Marion), the current king who has just married Margia Dean. But she's behind an attempt of "The people's government" (aka commies) to plan a takeover along with foreigner Steven Geray and her lover, Ray Kinney.

Marion is assassinated, and Sabu (who has no interest in being king) must take over, accompanied by his boxing pals Sid Melton and Robert Easton, with Melton an obvious "New Yawka" who refers to a small snake as a "Boa Constructor". Easton, with his southern drawl, is like Huntz Hall to Melton's Leo Gorcey. Beautiful Lita Barton is the dancing girl who's been in love with Sabu since childhood and dignified H. B. Warner plays Sabu's adviser who desperately wants to prevent takeover. Francis Pierlot as a wise blind man has a touching smaller part.

I really enjoyed this B film that came out of independent producer Robert Lippert's newly created self named studio, with Sabu as usual charming and sweet. The script isn't very realistic, but it has plenty of energy, comedy, suspense and romance, a good physical production and a lack of unnecessary stock footage to overemphasize the exotic jungle setting. For once, the comic relief isn't annoying, even though Melton and Easton are intentionally silly. Kids will love the cute spider monkey that hangs out with the good guys.

Silly little jungle film

[searchanddestroy-1 · 18 August 2008]

I did not expect much from director William Berke, escaped from RKO Pictures to Lippert Company. Cheap movies, fast shot, with nonsense but nevertheless not really tedious. Let's let him this!!

Sabu plays here a prizefighter whose brother, king in exile of an island in the Pacific Ocean, is killed by some henchmen hired by the local tyrant - of the island, I mean. Before his brother was killed, Sabu refused to return home to help his people;after all, he considered himself only as a poor prizefighter...But the killing of his brother changes everything and our hero gets back to waste is home land from - guess what - Communism...

Steven Geray - the unforgettable rogue cop of "So dark the Night" - is excellent as the dictator - RED dictator.

There is enough action to stay awake in this little flick.

Cold War stinker should have never thawed out.

[bkoganbing · 3/10 · 18 November 2013]

Talk about different career paths, brothers John Mansfield and Sabu take about as different careers as you can get. Mansfield is the king of his small Asian island nation located off the coast of Indo-China (dare you to find it on a map) and he's in America visiting his brother. Sabu has moved there and joined the Marines and saw war service. Now he's a contender for the lightweight championship and he's being managed by Sid Melton and with corner man Robert Easton.

When the king is assassinated at the boxing arena by the Red Chinese, Sabu gives up his boxing career to become king and push for a treaty with the USA. But the Communists with their man on the scene Steven Geray don't want that. With their own fifth columnist ready to rule, the Chinese invade. But the king with that Marine training leads a counter revolution and saves his island nation from Red domination.

It's a Lippert Picture folks so never expect too much from them. Savage Drums was really a Cold War stinker. Don't thaw this one out from the deep freeze. Even Sabu's friends and fans should be embarrassed.