Directed by Zoltan Korda, this is a starchy affair in which animal magic, preachy parable and jungle adventure have been loosely combined, missing the wisdom, drama and humour of Rudyard Kipling's classic stories. Sabu stars as Mowgli, the child raised by wolves, whose animal friends Baloo, Hathi and Bagheera protect him as he trails man-eating tiger Shere Khan (here a dog in a striped suit) and faces sundry human villains. Much of it seems rather stilted today, though the Technicolor jungle built in Los Angeles (where a panther mauled a crew member and pythons caused panic) remains a captivating fantasy world. Fans of the Disney cartoon version should certainly take a look at its live-action predecessor: heavy going for all its beauty, but still superior to Disney's own live-action adaptation with Jason Scott Lee.

Mowgli, lost in the jungle when a toddler, raised by wolves, years later happens upon his human village and reconnects with its inhabitants, including his widowed mother. Continuing to maintain a relationship with the jungle, adventures follow.