Skip to main content
Adventure Cult Classic

On Wongo, the beautiful women and brutish men meet their matches when handsome strangers and ape-men arrive.

THE WILD WOMEN OF WONGO

1958 · 1h 11m · NR · Adventure / Comedy / Fantasy · IMDB TMDB

Men, women and apes live together as three different tribes on the tropical island of Wongo. When the tribes discover that they live together on the island, ape-men start planning a raid on the tribe in order to capture mates.

Quick Answer

What is The Wild Women of Wongo about?

The Wild Women of Wongo is a 1958 American adventure comedy fantasy film directed by James L. Wolcott about a tribe of beautiful women and brutish men whose world is upended when a handsome prince arrives seeking help against invading ape-men.

Programmer's Pick

If you like your cult cinema with a dash of jungle absurdity, The Wild Women of Wongo delivers. Gorgeous women, brutish men, and invading ape-men make for a psychotronic cocktail only 1958 could shake up. Just don't ask the crocodile god for dating advice.

— SassyFlix Programmer

Overview

On the fictional island of Wongo, Mother Nature’s experiment has gone awry: the men are brutish and unattractive, while the women possess striking beauty. Meanwhile, on the neighboring island of Goona, the situation is reversed—handsome men and less-than-lovely women live unaware of Wongo’s existence. This odd balance is disrupted when ape-men from across the sea attack Goona, prompting the king’s son to journey to Wongo for help. His arrival coincides with the Wongo men’s bride-picking ceremony, causing the women to question their own lives and traditions. With a mix of fantasy and camp, the film sets the stage for a clash of cultures, beauty, and primal instincts.

Details & Specs

Director
James L. Wolcott
Writer
Cedric Rutherford
Release
1958
Runtime
1h 11m
Country
United States of America
Language
English

Why This Matters

This 1958 low-budget adventure film is notable for its stereotypical depictions of fictional tropical islanders, reflecting period attitudes and approaches to exoticism in American cinema.
— SassyFlix Curator

Why Cult

Mother Nature’s Experiment

The film opens with a cosmic mix-up between Mother Nature and Father Time that creates two wildly mismatched tribes.

Ape-Men Invasion

Ape-men from across the ocean attack, setting off the chain of events that brings the Wongo and Goona tribes together.

Gender Role Reversal

Wongo flips beauty standards with beautiful women and brutish men, while neighboring Goona turns the tables.

Cult Camp Value

Packed with psychotronic charm, bare-chested antics, and a crocodile god that’s part stock footage, part rubber prop.

Scene Gallery

Questions from the Vault

When was The Wild Women of Wongo released? +

The Wild Women of Wongo was released in 1958.

Who directed The Wild Women of Wongo? +

James L. Wolcott directed The Wild Women of Wongo.

How long is The Wild Women of Wongo? +

The Wild Women of Wongo has a runtime of 71 minutes.

What genre is The Wild Women of Wongo? +

The Wild Women of Wongo is classified as an adventure, comedy, and fantasy film.

Where can I watch The Wild Women of Wongo? +

You can watch The Wild Women of Wongo on SassyFlix.

Trailers & Clips

The Wild Women of Wongo trailer
Official Trailer
Sign in to play