Raised by lions, captured by man—Kaspa faces civilization in a jungle-to-circus odyssey.
KING OF THE JUNGLE
Chaos Riding Rampant in a Raging Stampede of Lions, Tigers, Elephants, Apes...Charging Busses, Smashing Stores, Invading Homes...Mammoth Spectacle Never Before Filmed
A white youth who is raised in the jungle by the animals is captured by a safari and brought back to civilization as an attraction in a circus.
Quick Answer
King of the Jungle is a 1933 American action-adventure film directed by Max Marcin and H. Bruce Humberstone about a boy raised by lions in Africa who is captured and brought to civilization as a circus attraction.
Programmer's Pick
If you've ever wondered what Tarzan would look like with a dash of circus spectacle and a penchant for roaring at city folk, King of the Jungle is your ticket. Buster Crabbe’s Kaspa proves that a leopard skin is all you need to make waves in San Francisco—or at least make the neighbors nervous.
— SassyFlix Programmer
Overview
Details & Specs
- Directors
- Max Marcin, H. Bruce Humberstone
- Writers
- Charles Thurley Stoneham, Max Marcin, Philip Wylie, Fred Niblo Jr.
- Release
- 1933
- Runtime
- 1h 13m
- Country
- United States of America
- Language
- English
- Also Known As
- O Homem Leão, Aslan Adam, The Lion's Way, King of the Jungle (original title)
Why This Matters
Released during the pre-Code era by Paramount Pictures, this 1933 adventure film features Buster Crabbe and an ensemble cast, reflecting early Hollywood's approach to jungle-themed stories before the enforcement of stricter content regulations.
Cast & Crew
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Why Cult
Kaspa’s upbringing among wild lions puts a fresh spin on the orphan-in-nature trope, with animal communication by roaring.
The film leaps from African wilds to American circus tents, exploring how a child of the jungle navigates the absurdities of civilization.
Expect lions, tigers, elephants, and plenty of animal-centric set pieces, from jungle raids to circus performances.
Packed with period adventure tropes and pre-Code oddities, the film offers a wild ride for fans of early cult cinema.
Scene Gallery
Questions from the Vault
When was King of the Jungle released? +
King of the Jungle was released in 1933.
Who directed King of the Jungle? +
King of the Jungle was directed by Max Marcin and H. Bruce Humberstone.
How long is King of the Jungle? +
King of the Jungle has a runtime of 73 minutes.
What genre is King of the Jungle? +
King of the Jungle is an action-adventure film.
How does Kaspa communicate with the lions? +
Kaspa has learned to communicate with the lions by roaring, a skill developed during his years growing up among them.
How does Kaspa arrive in America? +
Kaspa is captured after helping the lions raid a cattle ranch and is sold, along with his lion family, to an American circus manager who brings them to San Francisco.
Trailers & Clips
