Kirsten Hughes in Jane and the Lost City (1987)

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Review

Jane and the Lost City (1987) is one of those films I found in a video store years ago, thoroughly enjoyed, and assumed that the whole world knew about it. It was released on region 1 DVD this week, and I eagerly awaited it.

To me surprise, there are no reviews on line, and only 21 voters at IMDB have it at 5.8/10. Jane was a comic strip in the London Daily Mirror during WW II. Jane and the Colonel were British intelligence/spies, doing battle with their Nazi counterparts. Jane had the habit of getting her dress torn off by men, women, animals and even inanimate objects. There is no real exposure, but, through much of the film, Kirsten Hughes, as Jane, reminds me of 40s and 50s pin-ups.

In Jane and the Lost City, Jane and the Colonel are off to Africa, find the "Lost City," persuade the ruling tribe of Amazons to give them the treasure of huge diamonds to finance the war effort, and get revenge on the Nazi spies led by Lola Pagoda (Maud Adams).

They meet handsome Jungle Jack (Sam Jones) shortly after arriving, and he helps them with the quest, and falls madly and mutually in love with Jane. Both Jane and the Colonel are incredibly inept, but as lucky as they are bungling. The colonel's butler, Tombs, is the brightest of the lot.

I find this film a total delight, and the DVD transfer is gorgeous. I do wish they had included some special features -- especially a history of the comic strip, but it is still worth seeing. I would imagine the critical average would be 2 1/2 stars, as it is a quirky comic comedy, but I see it as 3 to 3 1/2 stars.

Written by: Tuna ...courtesy of Scoopy.net