Naked Jungle, The (1954)

[bunniefuu]

( wild tribal theme playing )

( calm, mysterious theme

playing )

( cawing )

That's a Siji bird.

Kind of rare.

You usually don't see them

this far down the river.

Something

must have scared it.

Us, perhaps.

No, they are used

to my boat.

Although the jungle

doesn't often see

someone as pretty as you.

Are you flirting with me,

captain?

( laughs )

Wouldn't dare,

Mrs. Leiningen.

Very tough man,

your husband.

I haven't had a chance

to ask you before,

but how well do you know

Mr. Leiningen?

I brought him up river

on this same boat,

about 15 years ago.

1886. July '86.

What kind of man

is he?

I beg your pardon?

What is

Mr. Leiningen like?

I thought you were his wife,

Mrs. Leiningen.

I am.

But I've never seen him.

You've never seen

your husband?

I know it's not polite

to ask questions, and I won't.

So I better get back

to my work before


I can't stand it.

The captain's confused.

I've been asking questions

about my husband

and now it's your turn.

We're getting close

to your husband's land.

It begins just beyond


that next bend.

I'd better start getting

my things together.

Oh, there's no hurry.

We won't reach his dock

until tomorrow.

Is it that large?

There's more to it


than size.

This is another world,

Mrs. Leiningen.

Beyond that next bend,

your husband has more power

than a king.

( animals calling )

You know about me,


don't you?

You haven't mentioned it

the whole trip,

but I think you know

all about me.

( chuckles )

Your name was Joanna Selby.

You're 25 years old.

You come

from New Orleans.

You married Mr. Leiningen

by proxy.

You've never seen

each other--

Oh, you know

a great deal.

When your part of the marriage

ceremony was performed,

Mr. Leiningen's brother

acted in his place.

When the marriage by proxy

was performed here,

I took your place.

I was very good.

I also performed

the ceremony.

You're almost

one of the family.

Well, as commissioner of

this area for my government,

I have to know

everything.

And besides,

I'm what you call nosy.

( laughs )

Will you be stopping off

at my husband's place?

No.

No, I have business

further upriver

I cannot delay.

A little while ago,

a bird flew over us.

Yes, I saw it.

There have been

many such birds lately.

My government wants to know

all about these birds.

Sounds very mysterious.

I hope it remains so,

only a mystery.

At any rate,

after tomorrow,

I will not see you again

for a while.

But I wish you

much joy

of our marriage

to Mr. Leiningen.

Thank you.

But you still haven't told me

anything about him, you know.

In a few days,

on my way downriver,

I will stop

and visit you.

By then you'll know more

about Leiningen than I do.

( ominous theme playing )

Mr. Leiningen will probably

be here soon.

Well, goodbye.

Goodbye.

Thank you.

( tense theme playing )

Ma'am...

you are

very welcome here.

We're very glad

you have come.

We hope to be

very much in love with you,

and you be

much in love with us.

( cheers in tribal dialect )

We think

you're very pretty.

( group cheers )

My name is Incacha.

I'm Mr. Leiningen's

number one man.

Whatever you wish, it is me

you will ask. I--

Well, where is

Mr. Leiningen?

Whatever you wish,

it is me you will ask.

-I will see it is done.

-B-B-But--

But where is

Mr. Leiningen?

I am Incacha.

I'm Mr. Leiningen's

number one man.

And I'm Mr. Leiningen's

number one wife.

I expected him

to meet me here.

Where is he?

Ma'am, he's...

He's coming

from the jungle.

He's very dirty.

He does not wish to see you

like a dirty man.

Please...

you will come?

( whimsical theme playing )

Thank you.

His name Mayi.

You want him?

What about his family?

Oh, they glad to lose boy.

Make plenty.

Mayi.

Up.

( indistinct talking )

Boys, unload the things.

Give him a bath.

We give him a bath.

We give him two baths.

Your servants, madam.

Zala,

your number one girl.

( squawks )

Do you speak English,

Zala?

Yes, ma'am.

I hope you and I are going

to be very good friends, Zala.

Yes, ma'am.

( pleasant theme playing )

What was Mr. Leiningen

doing in the jungle?

Yes, ma'am.

Is that all the English

you know?

Yes, ma'am.

( humming )

Beautiful!

I like these clothes.

( horse whinnies )

Take them away!

Let us go.

Let us go.

Let us go!

Mr. Leiningen?

Yes, ma'am.

( men arguing

in tribal dialect )

We will keep them here

tonight.

No. They must go back

to the village house.

It is tribal law.

It is tribal law!

Take them away.

( dark, enigmatic theme

playing )

( giggles )

( giggles )

Leiningen, madam.

I'll be right out.

( delicate romance theme

playing )

You're not dressed,

madam.

I should come back

another time.

I'm not undressed.

And we are married.

Madam...

My name is Joanna.

I know that, madam.

Leave something on me.

I'm getting chilly.

You have

a sense of humor.

I don't like humor in a woman.

It's been my exp--

I'm just trying

to be friendly.

And you interrupt.

You don't like

being interrupted?

No.

But never mind.

You'll get used to me.

I hope so.

Frankly, you're

not what I expected.

Am I worse or better?

Just... more.

More than I expected.

I think if I study

that awhile,

it might turn out to be

a compliment.

Are you making fun of me,

madam?

I'm sorry.

I know this must be

as difficult for you

it is for me.

We haven't made

a very good start, have we?

No.

But then I might not be

what you expected.

A little dirty.

Uncouth, perhaps.

Not quite the gentleman

you might have pictured.

I hope we're not

going to quarrel.

I am your wife,

and I intend to fulfill

all my marital obligations

as happily as I may.

I want to please you.

May I speak very frankly,

madam?

Please do.

You know my situation here.

This plantation is a long way

from civilization.

I could not leave it

to find a wife.

But I wanted a wife.

Your brother explained

all that to me.

You want children.

So do I.

You're very...

Bold?

Never mind.

What I want to say

is this--

Our contract,

marriage by proxy,

is not an uncommon way

to get a wife in the jungle.

Only you are uncommon.

How did my brother

find you?

He advertised

in the New Orleans papers.

You'll be flattered

to know

there were

nearly 50 applications.

He picked you.

Not exactly.

I didn't apply.

You see, I've known

your brother for many years.

He asked me to read

the applications

and help him choose

a wife for you.

I became interested.

Finally decided I'd be much

better for you

than anyone else.

Your brother

didn't agree with me,

but I managed

to convince him.

It wasn't easy.

Very stubborn man,

your brother.

You might not

believe that.

It runs the family.

Really?

I know why

my brother picked you.

But what made you decide

to marry a man

you'd never met?

I think it was your letters

that decided me.

Your letters

to your brother.

I could tell

how lonely you were.

I knew you needed me.

I don't need anyone.

Not even for children?

I suppose I'm to consider

myself fortunate

you came down here.

Perhaps not right now,

but when you know me better

you will.

Perhaps when you know

me better,

you won't care to stay.

If I had thought there'd be

any doubt about it,

I would never have left

New Orleans.

You're here

and you're welcome.

We do things by schedule

in the tropics.

We eat early,

we go to bed early.

Dinner's at 7.

What time is bedtime?

Whenever you wish,

madam.

I wouldn't want to upset

your schedule.

( chirping )

Your coffee smells much

stronger than

New Orleans coffee.

It is.

The dinner was wonderful.

Very good chicken.

It was lizard.

The climate's

very pleasant here.

It's not nearly as hot

as I thought it would be.

This is winter.

That's right.

We are pretty far south.

How far?

Does it matter?

Not really.

I was just trying

to make conversation.

Why?

I can't think

of a single reason.

My brother wrote me

that you play the piano.

I'd like

to hear you play.

We'll have our coffee

in the other room.

I'd like to hear it played

before the termites get at it.

I had it brought upriver,

2000 miles.

For me?

No. For anyone

who could play it.

I wanted someone

who could.

( plays simple melody )

Play.

What would you like

to hear?

I know nothing

about music.

( plays Chopin prelude )

What made

you stop playing?

It's too sad.

I'll play something else.

I'd like

my coffee now.

Would you mind?

One lump or two?

Two.

Black.

Do you speak

any languages?

Aimeriez-vous parler

en français?

Would you like to converse

in French?

I don't speak French.

I was merely

trying to see

if you were everything

my brother said you were.

Yes.

I am exactly

as represented.

I speak several languages,

play the piano,

converse intelligently,

and have very nice teeth.

Would you care

to count them?

Why, that's what you do

with horses when you buy them,

isn't it?

You count their teeth.

Fortunately,

I have all mine.

You also have a temper.

Yes, I know!

And you don't like a woman

with a temper, do you?

I don't mind.

I have a temper myself.

You surprise me.

You're very beautiful,

intelligent, accomplished.

There must be something

wrong with you.

I'm not that lucky,

to get a perfect woman

just like that

out of the grab bag.

There's something wrong

somewhere.

I thought

you didn't like me.

I thought you were

disappointed in me.

Instead,

you're afraid of me.

You think so?

You're looking

for a fault in me,

anything so you can

ignore me.

( plays joyful, breezy music )

You know a lot about men,

don't you?

You wanted an ornament.

Something nice-looking to go

with the rest of

the furniture.

Brought up the river

with great difficulty,

just keep it dusted

and see that the termites

don't get at it.

That's the kind of a wife

you wanted.

Instead, you got a woman,

and you're afraid of me.

I said

you know a lot about men.

More than you know

about women.

Where did you learn?

From what man?

That's it, isn't it?

That's what's wrong.

You've been

with another man.

I was married.

Didn't your brother

tell you?

No.

He left that out.

Everything else

about you...

everything...

...all but that.

I made a point of letting

your brother know.

He should have told you.

Perhaps he knew me better

than I thought he did.

How long

were you married?

Nearly a year.

He was k*lled.

How?

He drank.

He was very g*y, very charming

and usually drunk.

One night he went out riding,

very g*y, very charming

and very drunk.

The money you sent

to pay my debts, paid his.

So he was no good.

He was the kindest man

I've ever known.

He was a weakling.

You didn't like him.

I loved him.

How many others

have there been?

Madam...

you've seen my house.

It took me seven years

to build,

to make it what it is

in the heart of the jungle.

They laughed at me

up and down the river.

But it's

what I wanted.

I wanted it to be filled

with beautiful things.

I wanted a family

I could be proud of

in this house

that I'm proud of,

in the land that I took out of

the river and the jungle,

with my bare hands.

The only condition I ever made

about anything

I brought up the river,

was that it be new,

worth the effort.

Madam, this piano

you're sitting at

was never played by anyone

before it came here.

If you knew more about music,

you'd realize that

a good piano is better

when it's played.

This is not a very good piano.

I'm not finished

with you, madam.

Yes, you are.

Good night,

Mr. Leiningen.

( intense tribal

music playing )

Attention!

Attention!

She sinned.

Now, begin.

Go back to the house,

madam.

I heard the music.

If it's some kind

of native ceremony,

I'd like to watch.

This is no place for you.

Will you do as I say?

I'd like to watch.

Then watch.

That's the boy

they brought in last night.

He's trying

to k*ll him.

Why don't you stop it?

He stole the man's wife.

Now he's being punished.

I can't stop it.

No one can.

( blowgun shoots )

( man grunts )

( excited chatter )

( yells )

He is dead!

He is dead!

It's over, madam.

I suggest you pay attention

to what I say in the future.

Have you no heart,

no feelings at all?

And you!

I thought you were decent

and gentle.

You're as bad as your master.

The dead man was his son.

( singing spiritual song )

Yes...

...you made another mistake.

Perhaps

your worst mistake

was leaving New Orleans.

You'd better see exactly

what you're up against

down here.

Come with me, madam.

Without these locks

my whole plantation

would be 6 feet

under the river,

where I got it from.

It took me five years

to get a foothold here.

I started with 20 acres

and four men.

I nearly forgot the English

language in that time.

I was 19 years old.

My irrigation moat,

built by men who had never

seen one in their lives.

I had 100 men

by that time.

I used to lose

two or three a week.

Headhunters.

And this is

what we get.

Eight hundred Indians

working for me

on nearly 200,000 acres

of river bottom,

eaten by flies, worms, lice.

A half a dozen diseases

men get in the jungle,

all for that.

So that your friends

can drink chocolate

with their breakfast

in New Orleans.

Go ten miles in any direction

from here and it's civilized.

But go ten paces

beyond where I stopped

and you're in the bush,

the living jungle,

where no man has a name

and the only law

is to stay alive,

even if you live

like a beast.

In the jungle,

man's just another animal.

I don't believe that.

Kutina!

Come here.

This is Kutina.

He's one of the first four men

who worked for me.

Kutina,

this is Leiningen's woman.

I like you.

He says he likes you.

He's more civilized

than the rest.

He's like Incacha.

He has Mayan blood.

They were one of

the most intelligent races

in the history

of the world.

They were mathematicians,

architects, builders.

But they stayed

in the jungle too long.

Kutina, show Leiningen's

ma'am your treasure.

All right.

Kutina treasure.

Go back to work.

Yes.

After this, madam,

stay in the house.

That's where civilization

ends down here.

( squawk )

Shut up.

Something wrong

with that bird.

Hasn't said a word

for three days...

...till now.

At that, he's said

more than you have.

Everything I say seems

to make things worse.

I'm trying

not to irritate you.

I've noticed that.

I find it irritating.

I'm very tired.

Good night.

Madam.

That perfume

you're wearing...

is it one of those I had

brought up the river for you?

No, it's my own.

Why aren't you in bed?

Make faster?

No. Go to bed.

( melancholy theme playing )

( thunder crashing )

( wind blowing )

It wasn't locked.

It never has been.

I didn't think

it was necessary.

My perfume...

The perfume

I wanted you to wear!

Isn't it good enough

for you?

Have you even tried it?!

You're my wife!

Maybe you forgot that.

Leiningen's woman.

( serious theme playing )

I'm sorry for you.

This...

won't happen again.

It doesn't matter.

That isn't what I meant.

I'm not interested

in your opinion of me.

I want you to leave.

I'll see

that you get money,

enough to make it all right

that you came all this way,

but I want you

to leave.

I'll send

runners downriver

and the boat will be

back for you in a few weeks.

And that'll be

the end of it...

Yes.

I made a mistake marrying

someone I'd never met,

but you made a mistake

coming here.

No. I was looking

for something,

and I was willing to risk

anything to find it:

The strength and purpose

that was missing

in my first husband.

He was a weakling.

So are you!

Your weakness is your pride.

Yes, I'm proud.

Too proud to take

another man's leavings.

Maybe you don't realize

what it meant

to me to have you

come here.

I told you I was 19

when I came out here.

Before that I had no time

for women. Afterwards...

In the jungle they have

a name for the man

who goes into

the native villages at night.

No one calls me

by that name.

You said I didn't know

anything about women.

You were right, madam.

I know nothing about women.

Nothing at all.

I thought about that

when I saw how you were.

I couldn't understand

why it was so important to you

that I'd been married before.

Then I realized.

That's why I'm sorry for you.

I'll have this fixed.

Afterwards...

until your boat comes,

whether you lock it or not

doesn't matter to me.

( birds squawking )

( plays up-tempo drumbeat )

( speaking tribal dialect )

Christopher.

Commissioner, how are you?

It is good

to see you again.

It's always a pleasure

to have you with us.

But what brings

Gruber here?

He complains

you're stealing his workers.

The only workers

I've ever known Gruber to lose

were the ones

he worked to death.

( chuckles )

Have him line up his men.

I'll show you which are mine.

Bring all the men

together here quickly.

Come here.

Line up outside.

Let's go!

Well, point out the men

you say are yours.

These two are mine.

I see

how you recognize them.

If I ever catch you

whipping your men, Gruber,

you'll leave South America

that same day.

I've got

their contracts here.

You'll find their crosses

and their thumbprints

alongside their names.

I have to ask you this--

Where did you get

these two men?

Where I get all my men.

They came out of the jungle.

Make him show you

their contracts.

I make no contracts

with my men.

Then how do you

keep them?

They just stay.

Perhaps because

I have no bullwhip.

According to Gruber's book,

they're his men.

I have to

turn them over.

First I have to hang them.

Hang them? For what?

m*rder. They k*lled

one of my men.

He's trying to trick me.

Where's your evidence?

Incacha,

bring Kutina here.

( crowd murmuring )

Here's what's left of it.

This head is

several years old.

It's ridiculous.

If you insist,

we'll take the head downriver

and have the experts

go over it.

No.

Mr. Leiningen

is a man of honor.

If he says these men

are to be hanged...

then let them hang.

Bring the rope. Do not delay.

Come quickly. Good.

( shuddering )

Be brave.

Well, it looks like we're all

ready for the hanging.

( laughs )

( both gasp )

No! Stop!

Let then down!

Slack that rope!

Let them down, I say!

Let them down.

I thought

you were bluffing.

I wouldn't have let it

go this far.

If you're serious

about hanging them,

they have the right

to a trial.

If Leiningen doesn't

hang these men,

I want them back!

The law is not clear

in a situation like this.

I'll have to look it up when

I get back to the home office.

Get along quickly,

now. Upriver!

I couldn't let you

hang them, Christopher.

I didn't think you could.

I had to stop you.

I was counting on it.

( commissioner chuckling )

( chuckles )

( playing stirring

piano music )

( music stops )

Finish it.

I can't.

Then start again.

I'd rather not.

I'm sure the commissioner

would be disappointed

not to hear more.

Perhaps Mrs. Leiningen

is tired.

It takes time

to get used to our climates.

I'll be

looking forward

to a full recital

on my next visit.

I'm sorry,

but I won't be here.

Madam had such a full life

in New Orleans,

she finds our country

somewhat dull.

She's leaving.

I am sorry. I...

thought you would love

our country.

Oh, I do.

It's everything

I expected it to be.

Beautiful.

Then why

do you leave us?

Mr. Leiningen thinks

I don't belong here.

The commissioner

is not interested

in our differences, madam.

I don't want the commissioner

to think I'm leaving

because I don't like

his country.

Your reasons are unimportant

to the commissioner.

Forgive me,

that is not correct.

I would be desolate

to think

Mrs. Leiningen was unhappy

with my country.

I shall always remember it,

and your kindness.

Good night,

and goodbye.

Only good night,

Mrs. Leiningen.

May I say something?

You may not.

Will you have

a good crop this year?

-Do you really care?

-No!

But conversation is better

than quarreling.

Each year, my friend,

I have seen you

get a little more lonely,

and a little harder.

You're turning to stone.

I expect a better

than average crop, thanks.

No. No more. I have to start

early tomorrow.

Where to?

The Rio n*gro basin.

I was halfway there when I met

Gruber coming downstream.

He was foaming

at the mouth,

so I thought I'd better

come back with him.

I can handle Gruber.

Don't worry about me.

I was worried about Gruber.

( scoffs )

What's going

on at the Rio n*gro

that it needs you?

Well, we've had

some strange reports recently.

Nothing definite.

Trouble?

I think so.

Your servants...?

They've gone to the village.

You can talk.

Siji birds have been seen

as far west as Ecuador.

Even the monkeys are moving

out of the Rio n*gro.

Something is

driving them out.

And I think

it's something big.

What?

Marabunta.

( suspenseful theme playing )

You really think

it's that?

I'm hoping not.

It hasn't happened

in years.

I looked it up before I left.

Twenty-seven years ago

was the last time.

A hundred years

would be too soon.

I have to

go and see.

How were you

planning to go?

Upstream to the mouth

of the Baramura,

then across

to the big river.

I'll go with you.

We can take the woman

as far as the Baramura.

She can get

the mail boat there.

You want her to go that badly?

If it's marabunta

in the Rio n*gro,

she'll be glad to go.

Perhaps it is best

for her to leave.

I don't think I'm mistaken

about what is happening.

You sound frightened.

I am.

Not you,

huh?

What would it take

to frighten you, Leiningen?

I haven't seen it yet.

And you've seen

everything, eh?

Everything but marabunta,

I think.

( knocks on door )

Who is it?

Leiningen.

May I come in?

The door's open.

Please don't be

disturbed.

I'm not,

Mr. Leiningen.

My name is Christopher.

I haven't asked before,

but I hope you've been

comfortable here.

These rooms...

These rooms used to be mine.

I thought you might like them.

I do.

Perhaps while you're here,

you'll open that door for me.

It seems to be stuck,

and you're very good

at opening doors.

It's rusted.

Things rust...

...very quickly here...

...or rot away.

The jungle's corrosive.

It swallows up everything.

Even men,

sometimes.

You've been reading...

Joanna?

I found it in your library.

Poetry.

I don't read much myself.

I bought all those books

by weight.

Eight hundred pounds of books

is what I ordered.

Well, whoever selected them

for you has very good taste.

It was you, wasn't it?

Why lie about it?

Are you afraid I might think

you weak for reading poetry?

Perhaps.

As Fontaine says

somewhere in there,

"Each man is three men--

"What he thinks he is,

"what others think he is,

and what he really is."

And which Leiningen is this?

The last.

The real Leiningen.

Uncertain...

complex...

a little pompous, even...

Even laughable, sometimes.

I've never laughed at you.

I know...

and I've appreciated it...

in my fashion.

( distant drumbeat )

I've...

written a letter...

to my brother

in New Orleans.

When you get there,

give it to him.

He'll make all the necessary

arrangements.

I'm leaving right away,

apparently.

Tomorrow. The commissioner

and I are going upcountry.

You'll go with us, and then

across to the big river.

You can catch a boat there

in two or three days

instead of waiting

until next month.

I...

I hadn't realized

that you were in such a hurry

to see

the last of me.

Oh, it's not that...

The hurry, I mean.

It's not wanting

to get rid of you,

it's just...

I don't like

what's happening to me.

I think you're sorry

about tonight.

I tried to embarrass you.

I'm not like that, usually.

I don't like to hurt things.

I...

I was hurt...

but I'm over it now.

But when you

get back home

you'll realize it was better

to end it before it began.

You'll be happier

with your own kind.

Perhaps I will.

Someday you'll find

what you're looking for.

I hope you will too.

Yes.

Well...

I wanted to say

these things.

We won't have time

to talk on the way.

Then this is goodbye.

I'm sorry it started

the way it did.

I don't know

what went wrong.

I guess I'd never be able

to get it out of my head

that you loved someone

before me.

I don't know how

to be second.

I can only be first.

That's very important,

I know.

Christopher...

You don't dislike me anymore?

I never did.

( tragic romantic theme

playing )

( distant drumbeat )

I'll be back

in four or five days.

Sooner

would be better.

There was drum talk

last night.

I heard it.

Something coming,

drums say.

Did they say what?

No.

Just something coming.

Very big trouble,

drums say.

More better

you come back quick.

I'll be back

as soon as I can.

Are you ready,

madam?

There are 14 varieties

of river bug

where we're going.

We're used to them

but they'll find

that dress you're wearing

very convenient.

I'll manage

to survive somehow.

Let's go, men!

( animals calling )

( gasps )

She's having

a bad time.

But not a single

complaint.

Stubborn.

Yes, a terrible fault.

Fortunately,

we do not suffer from it.

Madam, are you still up?

Yes. What is it?

I went through your luggage

and found these things.

Wear them tomorrow.

This is for the bugs.

The natives make it.

It doesn't smell very good,

but it works.

What do I do with it?

Just rub it in.

The effects last

two or three days.

Would you mind?

Thank you.

( moans )

( cries out )

( panting )

Something woke me up.

We as well.

It took us a while

to realize what it was.

The silence.

I have never

heard it before.

This silence.

There's one way of waking up

any life in there.

( excited chatter )

Quiet!

Nobody speak!

Nothing there.

There's something there

all right,

but it's not afraid

of g*ns.

What time is it?

Almost 4.

It's nearly light.

In the morning

we'll find out.

We're not waiting

for morning.

Get ready to move out,

away from the river.

We'll go cross-country

to the Baramura.

Men, let's go to the

Baramura village. Hurry up!

( tense theme playing )

( speaks tribal dialect )

Go on to the village.

Deserted.

Not a soul around.

This village has been here

for over 200 years.

How can it be?

There's no sign of a struggle

of any kind.

They weren't forced out.

They ran.

There's a canoe coming!

There's no one inside!

There's a canoe coming!

Get back.

Madam.

It's Gruber.

Looks like they caught him

while he was drunk.

We're going upriver.

Get in the canoe.

Quickly!

I don't know

much about you.

I'll have to

take your word.

Do you have courage?

Yes.

I mean

a lot of courage.

I'm not afraid.

She's not going with us.

We can't leave her

here alone.

They'll stay with her.

For about five minutes.

Till we disappear around

the first bend in the river.

We have to

take her with us.

What about the boat

I'm supposed to meet?

There won't be any boat.

Not now.

Where we're going, there won't

be anything left alive.

Hurry up, men!

Something strange!

Quiet!

Is there any high ground

near here?

Yes, that way.

We have to get up above

this green stuff.

Ashore.

( insects buzzing )

Stay here. Understand?

( ominous theme playing )

What is it?

Marabunta.

Soldier ants.

Billions and billions of them

on the march.

For generations

they stay in their anthills.

Then for no reason

they start to move,

gathering up others

as they go.

Until they become

a flood of destruction.

How do you stop them?

You don't.

You just get out of

their way.

They're moving southeast.

Toward my place.

They'll be there

in a week.

They must put out

an advance guard of some sort.

Look.

I'll be waiting

for them.

( fierce battle

music playing )

Leiningen come!

Leiningen come!

Zala, madam come!

Men, get the carriage ready.

Take care of the men

in the boat.

Yes.

Come, men, let's go.

( talking in tribal dialect )

Marabunta.

You'll want to

keep going downriver.

I have to

get to the telegraph.

I'll give you

some fresh paddlers.

What about you?

I told you, I'm staying.

This isn't something

you can fight.

You'll wind up

like Gruber did.

If there's a way of stopping

the ants, I'll stop them.

If you don't care

about yourself,

think of your men,

all your people here.

I am thinking

of them.

Fifteen years ago

they were savages.

I took them

out of the jungle.

If I leave now,

they'll go back,

and that'll be

the end of civilization

along the Rio n*gro.

I'm staying,

and so are they.

If you can hold them.

And I don't think

you can.

Marabunta!

Foreman, hold those men.

Yes. Stop! Do not move!

Come back here!

I'm running out of time.

If you don't mind,

I'll make this fast.

Madam, I'm sorry

for everything

that's happened.

If you're trying

to say goodbye,

-don't bother.

-Why not?

I'm staying here.

No, you're not.

Get in that boat.

No.

Your Indians, you want

to keep them here.

You need them

to help you fight

and they're starting

to leave already.

If I leave and they see me go,

what about them?

Will any of them stay

if I go?

You're quite a woman.

- You're right.

- What?

You've both gone mad.

Leiningen,

you're up against a monster

20 miles long

and 2 miles wide,

40 square miles

of agonizing death.

You can't stop it.

I can stop something

no bigger than my thumb.

They're organized.

They're a trained army.

They're not individuals.

They have generals

and they think.

That's the worst part

of these ants,

they actually think.

So do I.

I think you'd better

be leaving.

You saw what happened

to the jungle.

While you're

smoking a cigar,

they can eat

a full-grown bullock

right down

to the naked bone!

They'll pick

this plantation clean,

and you with it.

I'm staying,

if I can only hold

enough ground to stand on.

They won't leave you

that much. Not an inch.

No one has ever stopped them,

and a lot of men have tried.

Don't be a fool, Leiningen!

Get out!

Get out while you can!

While there's still time!

Leiningen,

don't be a fool!

Don't be a fool,

Leiningen!

( shouting in tribal dialect )

You are not good man,

Leiningen!

This plantation is no good,

Leiningen!

Leiningen inyete apichune.

Leiningen ei inyete apichune.

Koko biefono agarrito

waikimie...

What is he saying?

He say,

Leiningen not afraid.

Leiningen's woman

not afraid.

Mero-o-renyo hito,

monoki,

marabunta bi.

( shouting )

Now the ants come.

Omei petine

omei onepei!

Assikumo!

He say,

if you wanna go,

go then.

Back to the jungle.

Live like your fathers,

hunt each other

for heads,

or stay here

with Leiningen

and be brave,

like Leiningen's woman.

( clamoring )

( group quiets down )

( talking )

( tense action theme

playing )

( somber dramatic theme

playing )

Will your men stay?

They'll stay tonight

because they're ashamed.

They'll stay tomorrow

because they have to.

I burned their boats.

I wish you hadn't

done that.

So do I.

It's done.

We're locked in here.

Now we fight.

( suspenseful theme playing )

Huri, go up the tree there.

Satoro, go to the dam.

Sororo, go there.

Quabasa, go high

up in that tree.

( hectic theme playing )

Be sure and cut down

every branch

hanging over the moat.

Do you think this moat

will stop them?

Ants are strictly

land creatures.

They can't swim.

Right, Incacha?

Monkeys not swim also.

They cross rivers even so.

The intelligence of monkeys

is more than ants,

and less than man.

Is so. But when ants come,

monkeys run.

If they cross the moat,

we'll fire this brush

to protect us.

Get everybody inside the moat.

Post lookouts in the trees.

( blows horn )

( blows horn )

( blows horn )

( blows horn )

( blows horn )

Christopher?

Come in. You might as well

see this.

Caught him

this afternoon.

He's an advance scout

of some kind.

Handsome devil,

isn't he?

I've been studying

him all evening.

The face of my enemy.

Who knows?

Perhaps he's been

studying me.

Even alone

they look frightening.

Well, where they go,

no life is left but their own.

That's what

we're up against.

If I were a sensible man,

Joanna, what would I do?

Fight or run?

You have to fight.

A man like you

doesn't run.

In any case,

you're not a sensible man.

You wouldn't have chosen

a wife by mail if you were.

I'm beginning

to think

the only sensible thing

I ever did was send for you.

Why do you

say that now?

Maybe because

it's too late.

The ants are advancing through

the cocoa plantation!

The ants are advancing through

the cocoa plantation!

Men, what is the matter?

Marabunta!

Upriver at cocoa fields.

What is it,

the ants?

They're on their way.

About ten miles from here.

Get my horse.

Bring me some fresh cigars.

( rousing adventure theme

playing )

They're headed this way

all right.

They travel

about 6 miles a day.

They'll get here

early tomorrow morning.

Keep the men here.

Fire a shot if you need me.

I'll be at the dam.

I want you to stay

at that wheel night and day.

Sure, sure,

till marabunta die.

Watch for them every minute.

They're quick.

An ordinary man

wouldn't last long.

Not enough meat.

You'd last

about half an hour.

So keep

your eyes open.

And listen for our signals,

we may want to flood them out.

( battle call )

Okima, from the cocoa field.

Marabunta catch him.

Signal the man at the dam

to let in more water.

Open all the gates,

tell him.

As long as it's deep,

we're safe.

Take the body back

to the village.

( blows horn )

( quiet suspense theme

playing )

( battle call )

( water splashing )

( elegant, pensive piano music

playing )

You were right

about that piano.

It's much better

when it's played.

It needs tuning.

Tell me

about women.

Where shall I begin?

Anywhere. I find

the subject interesting.

Well, there's very little

to tell really.

There are men

and there are women.

They're like...

oh, spoons.

If they are alike,

they go together quite well.

Tell me about spoons.

I do believe you're developing

a sense of humor.

( romantic theme playing )

More than that, Joanna.

Christopher.

Christopher, please...

...are you sure?

You're my wife, Joanna.

( buzzing )

( dire adventure theme

playing )

Marabunta! They're

coming across on leaves!

Come on!

( men shouting )

Sound the alarm.

They're trying to cross.

Signal the dam, more water.

( blows horn )

( blows horn )

( yelling )

My eyes!

My eyes!

( screaming )

We need more water.

( blows horn )

k*ll the ants!

Something's gone wrong

at the dam.

Oh!

( horse whinnies )

Fire the signal

to retreat.

( plays frantic drumbeat )

( blowing through shell )

( shouting in tribal dialect )

Come on!

Bring the oil!

( buzzing )

Hurry up!

( sighs )

Christopher!

Christopher!

Mayi.

Mayi, Mr. Leiningen?

Where is

Mr. Leiningen?

Christopher.

Why didn't you awaken me?

There was no reason to.

But the house.

What have you done

to the house?

Th-the furniture?

Burned.

Gone. Nothing left.

Except our friend here.

I built this place

out of my own will.

Like an Indian makes

a doll out of clay.

Now I've destroyed it

the same way.

It took me 15 years

to build my paradise.

Three days to turn it

into Hell.

I wanted wife and children

to hold what I built.

Here's my heir.

You've given up.

No, I've been beaten.

There's a difference.

I've lost everything.

Everything but you...

and in a little while,

maybe that too.

I'll never leave you now.

For whatever

it's worth to you

now that I have nothing else

to give...

I love you.

That's all I've ever wanted.

We'll start from here.

This is where we meet,

Christopher.

And where we say

goodbye too.

The ants are

still out there...

and we've nothing else

to burn.

Do you know

how to use this?

Yes.

Well, keep it with you,

every minute.

What for?

For yourself, in case

the ants get through.

What about you?

What are you going to do?

Up there:

We're completely surrounded.

Here's our one chance

to stay alive,

if I can blow it up.

It's a small dam

with sluices.

They keep back the river

when the water level rises.

It's up now,

2 or 3 feet.

That's enough.

Enough for what?

To flood what's left

of my plantation.

I'm giving back everything

I took from the river.

( courageous theme playing )

This oil will give me

some protection.

Open the gate.

Open the gate!

( splashing, crashing )

Here comes the water!

( excited chatter )

- Open the gate.

- Open the gate!

The water has gone.

They are opening the gates.

Christopher!

Christopher!

Christopher!

( cheering )

( triumphant theme playing )