Review for The Human Jungle - The Complete Series

Network have only gone and done it again. A classic early 1960’s TV series beautifully mastered to DVD and gathered together into a single set. ‘The Human Jungle’ heralds from ITV’s halcyon years where drama was well funded, generally shot on high grade film (it looks great here) and featured some great talent both in front of and behind the camera.


This little seen series gathered a whole generation of new fans when it was re-shown in full on Channel 4 during the 1980’s. Its reputation on archive TV forums is considerable too and, until now, the occasional YOU TUBE clip has had to suffice for those curious to see what all the fuss is about.


This heralds from the same time as ITV’s ‘Danger Man’ and ‘The Saint’ and, if you are a fan of either or both of those shows, you’ll recognise many of the same locations, actors, props and ‘style’, though ‘The Human Jungle’ doesn’t rely on international ‘spy’ plots for its excitement. It’s actually about a psychiatrist (Dr. Corder played superbly by Herbert Lom) with each episode featuring a single case.


Each episode filled a one hour slot (running in at 52 minutes each leaving space for adverts) and kicked off with an evocative title sequence showing a shadowy Dr. Corder shrouded in the smoke from his own cigarette, all set against the film-noirish opening theme penned by Bernard Ebbinghouse and recorded by none other than a young John Barry and his orchestra.


Corder himself is something of an enigma. We learn that he is a widower whose wife was killed in an air crash leaving him to bring up his (attractive) teenage daughter (Sally Smith) all on his own. He’s clearly wealthy with a Harley Street office and home and we learn that his father had been a Swiss brain specialist. He often conferred with a junior colleague (I guess a dramatic necessity to vocalise his thinking and to discuss back stories), a Dr. Jimmy Davis played by Michael Johnson, as well as his faithful secretary Nancy Hamilton (Mary Yeomans). Lom himself is perhaps best known now as Inspector Clouseau’s boss in the Pink Panther movies, Chief Inspector Dreyfus though he had enjoyed a long career in the cinema even prior to this role.


You get it all here … pop stars convinced that their doppleganger/alter-ego is shadowing them at every show, suicidal strippers, a champion ice-skater who suddenly can’t face the ice for fear of a crack appearing, a psychological analysis of all the contenders for an MD position at a large industrial firm on the brink of collapse, and much more. It’s festooned with great talent of the day including a young Richard O’Sullivan, Alfie Bass, Rita Tushingham , Joan Collins, Margaret Lockwood, and Roger Livesey.


The series ran for just two series (you get it all here) after which time the producers decided to focus on the increasingly popular hit series, ‘The Avengers’.
Apparently the series was so popular, and Dr. Roger Corder so convincing that hundreds of letters were sent by anxious viewers seeking advice. Psychology was a popular emerging practice at the time with lots of radical new thinking (R.D. Laing et al) helping put it firmly in the contemporary spotlight.



The series looks great, clearly filmed on 35mm with great care and attention put into maintaining ‘movie standard’ production values. As a result the series was syndicated across many other nations, which may account for the survival of the negatives to this day.


Extras are a little scant though there's a nice selection of production stills (including the above image of Joan Collins mid-costume change) as well as a booklet by the esteemed TV historian Andrew Pixley. Sadly, this didn't come with the check discs though anything researched and written by Andrew is always of the highest quality and well worth a read.


It’s a fabulous set and if, like me, you have never seen the series before, if you like great retro drama with real style then don’t hesitate to give it a go. You won’t be disappointed. For anyone who remembers the series with fondness, then it’s a no-brainer to put on the Christmas list.


Here’s a list of the episodes included.

Season 1: (30 March 1963 - 22 June 1963)
1.The Vacant Chair
2.The Flip-Side Man
3.Run With The Devil
4.Thin Ice
5.The Lost Hours
6.Fine Feathers
7.A Friend of the Sergeant Major
8.Fourteen Ghosts
9.The Wall
10.A Woman with Scars
11.The Two Edged Sword
12.Time Check
13.Over and Out

Season 2: (29 September 1964 - 21 December 1964)
1.Success Machine
2.Conscience on a Rack
3.Struggle For A Mind
4.Solo Performance
5.Enemy Outside
6.Wild Goose Chase
7.Heartbeats in a Tin Box
8.Dual Control
9.The 24 Hour Man
10.Ring of Hate
11.Skeleton in the Cupboard
12.The Quick and The Dead
13.The Man Who Fell Apart