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Parents' Guide to

The Jungle Book

By Nell Minow, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 7+

Kids will like that Mowgli can talk to animals.

Movie NR 1942 108 minutes
The Jungle Book Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

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age 7+

Based on 2 parent reviews

T K.
T K. Adult
December 25, 2017
age 7+

Underrated, ahead of its time...

watching this movie, it is hard to imagine it was made in 1942, during the War... many reviews say that the fun factor is missing...perhaps a younger, cuter, Mowgli as in 2016 version would have added to the fun. Sabu is perhaps a bit too old for the role (he was 18), but the producers probably were trying to capitalize on his star value after Thief of Bagdad, and his success in the better rated Elephant Boy (made when he was a cute 13 year old), which is based on the Toomai of he Elephants chapter of the Jungle Book.
SonofKatieElder
SonofKatieElder Parent of 9-year-old
January 4, 2012
age 7+

You are never to young or too old to enjoy the wJungle Book

Disney has created a fun interpretaion of Kipling's masterpiece. That said I'd encourage everyone with children of around 10 upwards to read the book. Kipling uses archaic language sometimes which may be difficult for younger children, YET somehow he manages to bring his characters to life in a magical manner. Jungle Book is a collection of short stories including the magnificent mongoose Rikki Tikki Tavi. You are never to young or too old to enjoy the wonderful book (or even the DVD)
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In this film version of Rudyard Kipling's book, Mowgli's father is killed by Shere Kahn, the tiger. The toddler boy wanders into the jungle, and is raised by wolves. Mowgli (Sabu) returns to the village in his early teens. Once his mother recognizes him, she socializes him and teaches him the native language. Intent on killing Shere Kahn, Mowgli buys a knife from Buldeo (Joseph Calleia), who hunts for reasons of pride instead of need. Though Buldeo tells his daughter Mahala not to talk to Mowgli, she goes with him into the jungle, where he shows her an abandoned palace filled with gold and jewels. A cobra warns them that the jewels are deadly. Mahala takes one coin, and when her father finds it, he wants Mowgli to show him how to get more. Other locals find out and want to find the palace, too. They find the place, but a battle over the treasure ends in deaths and a fire. Mowgli saves his mother, and returns to the jungle forever.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (2 ):
Kids say (1 ):

Visually lush and striking (it was produced by some of the same people who made Thief of Bagdad), this version is in sharp contrast to the Disney animated movie. It has a real sense of the danger in the jungle and the different kinds of dangers in the "civilized" village.

Like other "fish out of water" stories, this movie provides an opportunity to deconstruct "civilization" a bit by looking at it from the perspective of an outsider. Mowgli compares of the values of the "wolf-pack" and the "man-pack," and finds it hard to understand why someone would take something of no inherent value (money) in exchange for something of value (a knife), or why someone would kill an animal to display its hide. Children will enjoy Mowgli's ability to talk to animals, and the way he treats them with respect and affection. He is clearly more at home with the animals than he is with the humans.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how this movie compares to Disney's animated and live-action versions, and also how it compares to Kipling's orginal story.

Movie Details

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