LAWRENCE TIERNEY IN 'FEMALE JUNGLE' WITH JAYNE MANSFIELD

Title: FEMALE JUNGLE Year: 1955 Jayne Mansfield, Lawrence Tierney Rates: ***1/2

Iconic tough guy Lawrence Tierney, ten years after his hey-day and with only a handful of roles rolling into the mid-1950's, plays a cop who gets drunk in a bar one night, and escorts a lovely lady to her cab...

She's killed and now Tierney's Detective Jack Stevens wanders the night retracing his steps. Meanwhile we're introduced to more people from the bar including a lovely waitress played by Kathleen Crowley and her husband, unassuming Burt Kaiser (who also wrote, produced and is good actor for being completely unknown), a frustrated artist who draws caricature for very little pay...

Lawrence Tierney, John Carradine and Burt Kaiser in FEMALE JUNGLE

So let the melodrama begin: John Carradine happens by the married couple's apartment to have his picture drawn. After husband and wife argue, she goes to Carradine's mansion where he plays classical music much too loud. And when his own music isn't blaring, the movie soundtrack is... In fact, each time the sinister looking JC takes a step, a foreboding, accusational score pounces forth, screeching out: "He's just GOT TO BE the killer..."

Of course with anything that obvious, he might also be a red herring... And so the question remains: who done it and who'll get it next?

Burt Kaiser and Jayne Mansfield in FEMALE JUNGLE

Originally and more logically titled THE HANGOVER, befitting Tierney's character and circumstance, FEMALE JUNGLE is part mystery, part Film Noir and lots of pulpy fun...

And Jayne Mansfield, who graces most of the posters yet isn't in the film but ten minutes, not only steals her scenes but completely owns them. Although throughout the added ingredients that come and go, Tierney, surprisingly subdued here, carries the picture along with Burt Kaiser's frustrated artist, who remains mundane and yet mysterious.

Credits for FEMALE JUNGLE

Credits for FEMALE JUNGLE

Lawrence Tierney and Burt Kaiser in FEMALE JUNGLE

Lawrence Tierney in FEMALE JUNGLE

Jayne Mansfield and Burt Kaiser in FEMALE JUNGLE

Jayne Mansfield in FEMALE JUNGLE

Lawrence Tierney in FEMALE JUNGLE

Lawrence Tierney in FEMALE JUNGLE with Burt Kaiser

John Carradine in FEMALE JUNGLE with Burt Kaiser

Kathleen Crowley in FEMALE JUNGLE with Burt Kaiser

Kathleen Crowley in FEMALE JUNGLE with John Carradine

Lawrence Tierney in FEMALE JUNGLE with James Kodl

Kathleen Crowley in FEMALE JUNGLE

Lawrence Tierney in FEMALE JUNGLE

Lawrence Tierney in FEMALE JUNGLE with Burt Kaiser

Kathleen Crowley in FEMALE JUNGLE

Kathleen Crowley in FEMALE JUNGLE with John Carradine

Producer/Writer/Star Burt Kaiser with Kathleen Crowley in FEMALE JUNGLE

Jayne Mansfield phones in a cameo in FEMALE JUNGLE

One not hit obscure Film Noir wonder Burt Kaiser in FEMALE JUNGLE

Lawrence Tierney and John Carradine in FEMALE JUNGLE w/ Burt Kaiser

Lawrence Tierney in FEMALE JUNGLE with Burt Kaiser

Lawrence Tierney in FEMALE JUNGLE

Lawrence Tierney in FEMALE JUNGLE

Kathleen Crowley in FEMALE JUNGLE with John Carradine

Producer Burt Kaiser and director Bruno VeSota in FEMALE JUNGLE

Lawrence Tierney in FEMALE JUNGLE with Jayne Mansfield

Lawrence Tierney in FEMALE JUNGLE with Duane Gray

Lawrence Tierney in FEMALE JUNGLE with John Carradine and Burt Kaiser