The Lost Volcano (1950) - full transcript

Daniel.

I'm afraid we can't reach the
station tonight, sun's going down.

Tell the men to make camp.

Yes, bwana.

Daniel.

Get the cooking fire started.

We'll turn in early and
break camp before dawn.

Will do, bwana.

Oto, bring it down.

What happened, Daniel?

Where's the guard?



Who opened the cages?

Don't know, bwana.

Look, bwana!

What happened, what happened?

Nuku said white boy came,
knock him down, named Bomba.

Live other side, big mountain.

Maybe bwana heard about him.

Yes, I've heard about Bomba
and all the other local legends.

But ask him what really happened.

Please, bwana, Bomba real man.

They go off that way.

Nevermind, nevermind,
the damage is down now.

We'll have to re-outfit
and start all over again.

Tell the men to go back to sleep.



David, dear, don't you think
you could eat a little more slowly?

Yes'm, I guess I could,

but I've got an awful lot
of things to do today.

No doubt, but they can't
be as important as all that.

He is very young, Madame,
and the young are always hungry.

Is that not so, David?

I am.

But you oughta see those
leopard cubs of mine

go after that nursing bottle you fixed up.

Jam pots empty, Nona.

Then go and fill it yourself, David.

Nona hasn't had a bit of breakfast yet.

- Please, Madame.
- Sure, Mom.

Let me.

Nona and I understand each other, Mom.

All the more reason why
you shouldn't take advantage.

Not even any thanks, David?

It is nothing.

Gee, Nona, you're swell.

When I get those cups
weaned, you can have one.

It's Daddy, he's back!

Give the men a week in the villages

then I want 'em back to make safari again.

Will do, bwana.

Daddy, you're back!

Well, Dave, how's my boy?

Oh, just fine.

Paul.

Hello, Rose.

Mm, it's good to be back.

What's the matter, Daddy?

Didn't you catch any animals?

Oh, I caught 'em all
right then lost 'em all

within three hours of home.

Lost?

How on Earth lost?

That's what I'd like to know.

Most mysterious thing I'd
ever have happened to me.

Hello, Nona.

Someone slipped into camp
and opened the cages.

- Thank you, dear.
- Didn't you have a guard?

Sure, sure, but he told some crazy story

about that imaginary character, Bomba.

I bet it was true, Daddy.

Bomba said it's not right to
put wild animals in cages.

Now, look here, young fellow.

Didn't we agree that you
weren't to bring up the subject

of your supposed friend Bomba anymore?

Yes, sir, but I didn't
bring it up, you did.

I'm afraid he's got you there, dear.

I guess he has, at that.

Anyway, I want you to
stop making up fairy tales

about this imaginary jungle boy.

He isn't imaginary, honest.

He lives in the mountains and
sometimes he comes down to play with me.

- He says he gets lonesome.
- That's enough, David.

The story about Bomba's a
myth, there is no such person.

I beg Monsieur's pardon,

but if David says there
is such a person as Bomba

you may be sure that there is.

Don't tell me you know who him too.

No, but I know David.

You don't think I'd lie to ya, do ya?

Of course we don't, David.

We just think that you, well,
you heard so much about it

from the natives that
you really believe it.

That's not good son, can't you see that?

Well, I guess so, if you say so.

It's Oto!

Hi, what you doing today?

Well, how'd you manage to
train that little fellow, son?

I didn't train him, he's.

I'm afraid you'll get
mad at me if I tell ya.

Nonsense, why should I?

Because he belongs to Bomba.

He sends him to tell me
when he's coming to see me.

David.

Go to Bomba, Oto.

Tell him I can't play with him anymore.

You really believe he's out there
waiting for you, don't you, David?

Yes, sir.

But I'll try not to if
you don't want me to.

If there is such a boy,
why don't you bring him here to meet us?

I tried, but he doesn't like grownups.

Suppose you try once more,
but if he won't come to meet us

tell him you'll never be
able to see him again.

Oh boy, maybe that'll do the trick!

Come on, Oto!

Ruth, we've got to
send David to Cape Town

and put him in a good boys' school.

Being alone this way
is forcing him to live

too much in his imagination.

You don't suppose there is such
a person as Bomba, do you dear?

Of course not.

There are thousands of legends
just like this one all over Africa.

Babe left alone by dying parents.

Raised by apes or wolves
or woodchucks or something.

All of them legends and all of them phony.

No one follow, David?

It wouldn't matter if they did.

I backtracked like you showed me.

David learn quick.

Ah, anyone could do that.

But I can't get the hang of
this swinging business right.

Bomba show.

You watch.

Hold tight.

Way back.

Push, watch.

Okay.

Hold tight, lay back, push.

Ruth, we've got visitors!

You're Paul Gordon?

That's right.

I'm Dr. Charles Langley.

I've been doing some work at
the Cairo Museum, ethnology.

It's a pleasure, doctor.

This is Mrs. Gordon.

How do you do, Mrs. Gordon?

How do you do?

Mr. Higgins and Mr. Bolton,
my very competent guides.

- How are you?
- Hello.

Without them, I daresay I
should never have found you.

I suggest we get in out of this sun

and I'll try to scare
up a few refreshments.

Not right now, thank you, Mrs. Gordon.

I would like to discuss a little matter

with your husband though that
I think will interest him.

Well, let's go inside.

Recent seismograph records
point to this district

as the possible location
of a long lost volcano.

Hey.

How's about going up that old
volcano hill again today, Bomba?

Too late today.

Too far from David's home.

Ah, please, Bomba, we could hurry.

Hill not good now, make noise sometime.

Thunder.

Ah, I ain't scared of
any little old noise.

Animals scared.

Bomba not like.

I just thought maybe we
could get another knife

or something up there for my father.

Bomba not find things for father.

Father bad.

He's not really bad, Bomba.

It's just that he doesn't
understand things like all grownups.

Father put animals in cage.

He thinks they're dangerous to people.

That cat not hurt you.

Well, I better get back on home.

Our present location is about here

and just there is the crater of Kulari.

Yes, but there's nothing
mysterious about Kulari.

It's still active and charted
on every map of Africa.

Of course, but in Kulari's shadow

and partially buried
beneath it's lava flow

I'm hoping to find our lost volcano.

I' thought if anyone could tell
us about it, you'd be the man,

living with it right in
your backyard so to speak.

That area's practically inaccessible.

I've never been in

although I promised myself I'd
explore it one of these days.

Good, then that's settled.

You may start outfitting a safari at once.

Oh, I'm afraid not, sir.

Well, you see, my wife and
I planned a trip outside.

It may be a foolish question, doctor,

but what would be gained by
finding this lost volcano?

I have reason to believe,
or at to least suspect,

that the ruins of an ancient
city lie buried beneath it.

The remains of an old
cultural development.

If I am right, it would be the
biggest find in a generation.

I'd certainly like to help
you, Dr. Langley, but I.

You see, doctor, we have a
young son and lately we've come

to feel that this solitude
is not good for him.

He should be in a school
with boys of his own age.

Won't you change your mind and
go with me to meet my father, Bomba?

No.

Please, Bomnba.

Daddy doesn't believe there
is any such person as you.

Bomba not care what father think.

Well then, I guess I
won't see you anymore.

Why you not come back,
not like Bomba now?

Well, my father won't let me
unless I bring you home with me.

Why don't you come back with me, please?

One time men try and catch Bomba.

Like animal.

My father wouldn't do that.

Father trap animals.

Then I suppose we might
as well say goodbye.

Goodbye.

Goodbye, it's been a lotta fun.

I'll never forget you, Bomba, and I.

Oh, gee whizz!

Who are you?

I am Nona.

What you do here?

That belong David, put it back.

You want Bomba take?

You not afraid, Bomba.

Yes, I am, very much afraid.

Why you here watching Bomba?

To make sure that
there is such a person.

David's father thinks he is lying.

David not lie, not know how.

That's why I need these things,
to show him, so he'll have to believe.

Nona like little David?

Very much.

Bomba like David, Nona
like David, Bomba like Nona.

You mean I may go now?

Go now, Nona good friend.

Oh, hello, David.

Come on in and meet these gentlemen, hmm?

This is Dr. Langley, son.

How do you do, David?

How do you do, sir?

And Mr. Higgins and Mr. Barton.

- Hi, son.
- Hello, David.

Well, where's your friend Bomba?

Didn't you bring him back with you?

No, sir.

He wouldn't come.

Did you explain that this means
you won't be able to see him again?

Yes, sir, but he was afraid
you'd put him in a cage.

Like the animals.

Looks like you're right
about the school, Gordon.

That certainly messes up my plans.

David, I think you'd
better go to your room

and stay there until
you're ready to admit

that this whole thing is a mistake.

Don't any of you believe
I'm telling you the truth.

I believe you, David.

This Monsieur will have to
admit that he's made a mistake.

Nona.

I followed you in the jungle.

There is such a person as Bomba.

I met him and talked to him.

You what?

Perhaps Monsieur will believe his eyes.

These are his gifts from his friend.

You.

You mean he actually wears these things?

Sure, Daddy.

It'd be awful hard
swinging through the trees

on vines with shoes on and things.

Reversion to type, aye, Gordon.

A perfect tree dwellers wardrobe.

The handle of this knife
looks like it was made of gold.

Yeah, it is.

And those two big stones are
emeralds or I'm an ostrich.

There are no emeralds in Africa.

It would be more accurate to
say none of them found so far.

Did your friend Bomba make this, son?

No, sir, we found it.

He took me back in the hills to a
place where some people used to live.

Are there any more such
trinkets lying around?

Yes, sir.

Knives and spears, and
bands for your arms.

And some things kind of like crowns.

Look at the inscriptions
on there, Gordon.

They all have stones on 'em like these?

No, sir, some of them have red
ones and some white like glass.

Were there houses of any kind
around where you found it, son?

Yes, sir.

Most of them were buried and
there were some caves like.

This sounds very much like
our city of the lost volcano.

Could you find your way
back in there do you think?

Sure, easy.

But I promised Bomba I'd
never show it to anyone else.

As long as there's a way in

I've no doubt you could
find it, couldn't you?

You forget, doctor, I'm
taking David outside to school.

But there's no need for that now

that you know the jungle boy is a reality

and no longer an hallucination.

All the more reason to
get David away from him.

Out from under his influence.

Swinging through the trees on vines.

Gordon, you're passing up
the opportunity of a lifetime.

I realize that, doctor.

But I won't have my son grow
up to be some sort of ape man!

Couldn't you take the boy in Mrs.
Gordon so your husband can stay here?

If my husband stays
here, I stay with him.

If I go out, we both go.

It's always been that way with us.

Aren't you overlooking
the obvious solution?

Fred and I are going back
to civilization tonight.

Why doesn't he come with us?

Sure, your maid could go
along to take care of him.

You remember your manners
now, David, don't you?

And study hard too.

Here we go.

That a boy.

Be a good boy, darling.

- Bye bye.
- Bye.

So long, son.

Goodbye, Daddy.

Bye!

I'm gonna miss him, Paul.

It won't be for long, dear.

I hope we're not making a mistake,
sending him off alone with Nona.

From what I've seen, she'll
take better care of him

than a squad of marines.

He'll be all right.

First of all, we'll make a list
of the supplies we'll need.

You were in this volcano
country once, Fred.

Which way does it lie from here?

Oh, off to the right
there about 20-25 miles.

That must be a different one.

The one I went to is way off that way.

Yeah.

Yeah, it must have been a different one.

That's strange, the lights
on the jeep just went out.

That's nothing to worry about, Ruth.

I often drive without lights
when there's a full moon.

Mr. Barton, did you know
you'd gotten off the road?

Sure, taking a shortcut.

Perhaps it would be safer if we
took the longer way, Monsieur.

Leave everything to us,
Miss, we know what we're doing.

David.

I seemed to misplace your jungle clothes.

You gave 'em to me.

Here.

Mr. Barton, you can't get to
the river landing this way.

You'll wind up way back in the hills.

Yeah, I know.

Then we'll let you show us
where that lost volcano is.

I couldn't do that.

I promised Bomba I
wouldn't show it to anyone.

There's lot of ways of making
little boys forget promises like that.

Monsieur Barton, I wish
you would turn the car back

and return to the station at once.

Why don't you sit back and relax?

You're in no spot to give orders.

Tell your friend to
stop the car, Monsieur!

Yeah, yeah, sure, Bart.

Bart, do what you she says,
stop the car.

She's not kiddin'.

Okay, lady, I'll stop.

Run, David, run!

Relax and sit down, both of you.

Nobody's gonna get hurt
if you behave yourselves.

Look, Monsieur, what is that?

Stop her, Fred, before she
gets back to the station!

What wrong?

Why men try shoot Nona?

Oh, run, they'll kill both of us!

Man gone, why he try kill?

They're stealing little
David, he and the other man.

Stealing little David?

He's in great danger,
they may even kill him.

Nona go tell father,
Bomba go follow David.

Men not hurt.

Did you get her?

I would have.

Some sort of a human
ape swung out of a tree,

knocked me flat and then beat it.

Bomba!

You let him get away too?

What could I do with this?

Probably heading back
to the station for help.

So what, they can't outrun the jeep.

Lets get started.

Now there's a rough idea
of what we need, Dr. Langley.

I can supply most of it myself.

If you'll excuse me,
it's way past my bedtime.

Good night, Mrs. Gordon.

- Good night.
- We won't be long, dear.

Nona!

What's happened, where's David?

Those men, they've stolen David!

What are you saying?

Get a hold of yourself, Nona.

Why should they want to kidnap David?

They intend to make him lead them
to the lost volcano, to the treasure.

Call your men, Paul,
get them on their trail!

I sent the men back to
the villages, all of them.

I'll have to go alone.

You're not going alone, Gordon.

I'm responsible for those men being here.

Where did you see them last?

I could not describe the
place, I'll go with you.

You're in no condition
for that sort of thing.

They have David, Monsieur.

I will take you to the place.

Better try to get some sleep, kid.

Gonna have a big day tomorrow.

Yes, sir.

It's sort of uncomfortable
tied up this way.

It's your own fault for
trying to get away from us.

It is about here that
I jumped from the car.

But the tire tracks continue on.

Look, there's the print of a human foot.

Bomba!

He said he would follow to protect David.

For a lad who's
supposed to be half animal

this Bomba seems a friend worth having.

Yeah, yeah, don't rub it in, doctor.

This way.

David rest now.

When sun come, we go to father.

Do you think we're far enough away?

Won't they find us?

Not find, Bomba watch.

Hey, what happened?

What are you shooting at?

I didn't shoot.

Bart, snap out of it, the kid's gone.

What happened?

I don't know, something
hit me from behind.

I don't know what it was.

It's been cut.

Must be that monkey man,
there's his footprint.

They'll head back to the station and...

No, they'll hole up for the night.

We'll be waiting for 'em in the morning.

David, wake up now.

Put on.

Bomba go high, see all safe.

Don't be a fool.

He knows the way to the lost volcano.

Tie his ankles.

Keep an eye on him, I'll get the jeep.

Ruth, you and Nona better rest a
while and then go back to the station.

I couldn't, Paul, I'll be all right.

Darling, this is too much for you.

I know, but I couldn't stay alone
not knowing what's happened to him.

She's better off trekking
along with us, Gordon.

Come on.

Listen.

I thought I heard the
sound of a motor starting.

It is a motor!

And not far from here.

This is their camp.

They must have been
here a few minutes ago.

It's David's, Paul!

What have they done to him?

- What have they done?
- Easy, Ruth, easy.

We know he's still with them at
least and nothing's happened to him.

We also know they are not very
far ahead, and we are wasting time!

Yes, Paul, hurry!

So you've finally come to, have you?

How would you like it if I
dragged you in out of the sun?

Bomba like.

Suppose you tell me where the kid is.

All right, you can probably
lead us to the volcano

as well as he can, maybe better.

Bomba not take you to volcano.

You're not in very good shape to refuse,
now are you?

If you kill Bomba,
you never find volcano.

You think it's hot out here in the sun?

Wait till my partner gets back.

You'll find out what real heat is.

Sounds like the jeep's comin'.

It won't be long now.

No, not long.

Barton, Barton!

Barton!

Barton, help!

Help, Barton!

Barton, help!

Help!

Barton!

Barton!

Barton!

Barton!

What happened to you?

Where's the jungle boy?
Did you let him get away?

He set a python on me.

Oh now, come on.

Pull yourself together
and tell me the truth.

What actually did happen?

I am telling you the truth.

Python, dropped out of a tree on me.

Where'd it go?

I don't see any snake.

Nevermind that snake.

Let's get on the track of the ape man.

We won't have to trail him.

He couldn't have gone to the
station or I would have seen him.

Come on.

How are we gonna get past him
to get back to the station, Bomba?

Not go station, go my place, safer.

We could go faster on the vines,
Bomba, and throw 'em off the trail.

Lose trail soon, cross water.

Judging by the tracks,
the four of 'em are still together.

What have you found?

Looks like someone was
tied up and then cut loose.

That doesn't tell us much.

No.

The best thing we could do is to
keep on following the jeep tracks.

Come.

Let's take a swim first.

No, not now.

Come back!

Come and catch me.

Go back now.

Not yet, Bomba, please.

No, David, look!

David, go, swim!

Bomba, Bomba!

It's like the terrain
got to rough for the jeep

and they've gone on afoot.

And I can only find the
tracks of the two men.

Then we'll follow their
tracks, lead the way, Gordon.

Following tracks through this sort
of growth is a mighty slow process.

But we can't stop now,
Paul, we've got to find them!

Of course, dear, but my suggestion is

that instead of following
tracks we spread out,

cover as wide a ground as possible.

Right, but we better stay
within hailing distance.

Yeah.

David.

David!

Doctor!

Yes, yes, Nona.

I just saw the Monsieur
and they have little David,

and they were going to the jeep!

Go tell Mr. Gordon, I'll follow them!

Monsieur Gordon!

Which way do we go from here?

Answer him.

Up through those mountains.

That doesn't look like
a lost volcano to me.

The lost one's this side
and over to the south.

Hang on to him, I'll get the jeep.

There's another lake up there
and it's too rocky for a jeep, maybe...

Maybe we'd better walk.

We'll ride as far as we can.

Every little bit helps, come on.

You're wrong, Barton.

You're not going anywhere.

Come on over here, David.

Yes, sir!

Get down, get down!

Paul, the jeep!

Bomba!

Oh, I was afraid they'd kill
you like Monsieur Langley!

Not hurt much.

Take care of him, Ruth,
I'll follow the jeep.

Not follow jeep.

But they've got David.

Jeep go long way to lake.

Bomba know short way.

What about Dr. Langley?

We'll have to come back for him later.

What's wrong with that water out there?

Looks like it's boiling.

Bomba says it is boiling.

It comes up like that from the bottom.

Nevermind the water.

How do we get up there where we're going?

I've only been in here once,
but I guess I can find my way in again.

You'd better.

Yes, sir.

Paul, that lake looks dangerous.

David not go that way, go there.

Radiator's still hot,
they can't be far away.

You wait, Bomba follow.

Hey kid, how much farther
is it to these caves?

Oh, it's quite a little ways up there.

Hey.

Hey, wait a minute.

Hey, mister, you're not
supposed to bother those things.

No, just watch.

Emeralds, must be worth a fortune.

Don't try it kid, we like this sample.

Rifle's jammed, it's useless.

Men gone, we follow.

Well, that's a pretty tough climb.

Ruth, you and Nona had better stay here.

If you can make it, so can we.

Darling, look at those rocks.

They're almost straight up, I...

Ruth, you and Nona get back to the valley.

What are you gonna do?

You can't fight a volcano.

Don't argue, run, both of you!

Paul, look!

We gotta get out, Paul.

And David, he can't get out!

We'll all be buried alive!

Easy, Ruth, easy.

Bomba, can you get the
women back to the valley?

Bomba would not leave David.

Of course not, we couldn't.

Not leave David, we go now.

Bart, let's get out of here while
we still got a fighting chance.

Not yet.

There's probably more buried in here.

More bracelets and gold.

Oh, use your head.

What good is gold if we
can't get out with it?

What's the good of getting out if
you don't take the gold with you?

Come on, give me a hand
if you're in such a rush.

Were you lying about those
caves and all that jewelry?

No, sir, honest, I've been in there.

There's one farther up if
I can still get into it.

- You better get into it.
- Use some sense, Bart.

Suppose that volcano's...

The volcano's through erupting and
the show's over, now let's get going!

We'll never get out of here
now even if we find David.

One way out, up high.

Rocks not fill it.

They're still alive, David with them.

How do you know?

Footprints.

We not far behind.

What's the matter, kid?

I'm used to leaning on the rock.

That's about halfway knocked off.

I don't know if I can still make it.

You can still make it, go ahead, kid.

Maybe he can, but I can't.

I won't even try it.

Hold it, friend.

We started out this thing together.

We're gonna finish it together.

You crazy, you don't
need me from here on.

You're gonna go along that
ledge and find out if it's safe for me.

Easy does it now!

Go on, toss that rifle over the side.

All right, now the revolver.

All right, now let's follow the kid.

You wait.

Men, look up!

Bomba!

Throw rifle over side.

Throw rifle!

Back up.

Keep hands high on wall.

Over there.

Keep 'em up.

Oh, baby.

Not go that way.

Go this way.

Come on, follow him.

David all right?

- Fine.
- Good.

Bomba and David lead way, you follow.

Come.

Don't be scared, Mom.

Dr. Langley was right.

Not take, not belong you.

Come, not much time.

Hands off, Barton, let's go.

Just a few.

Just a few won't matter.

On your way!

Why not Gordon, they're
no good to dead men.

They're no good to
you for the same reason.

Come on.

Paul, what's become of Barton?

He's not here, he's
gone back for the jewels.

Keep going, I'll get him.

Go back, Barton, go back!

Paul, Paul!

It's all right, Madame, he is safe!

Come.

There's a way out, Paul.

Bomba's found a way out.

Bomba, look.

Bomba, Bomba, look!

Higgins!

You can't go in there.

Higgins, hurry, man, quick!

Higgins, look, man, look!

Hurry up, man, get outta there!

Higgins, get outta there, quick!

Higgins!

Station that way, not far.

Aren't you coming with us?

David know way, Bomba go his home.

But you'll come back
again soon, won't you?

David will miss you, Bomba.

Bomba miss David too.

Perhaps Monsieur Bomba will
come to the house sometime

to see his friends.

Yes, good friends now, Bomba like.

What did he say?

He said next time maybe
you'll believe David.