The Wild Man of Borneo

1941
Approved
1h 18m

IMDb RATING

YOUR RATING

Dan Dailey, Mary Howard, and Frank Morgan in The Wild Man of Borneo (1941)

In 1902, medicine show con man Dan Thompson settles down with the daughter he hardly knows in a New York theatrical boarding house full of eccentric characters. Forced to take a job in an ar... Read allIn 1902, medicine show con man Dan Thompson settles down with the daughter he hardly knows in a New York theatrical boarding house full of eccentric characters. Forced to take a job in an arcade sideshow, he tries to con daughter Mary and his fellow boarders into thinking he's on... Read allIn 1902, medicine show con man Dan Thompson settles down with the daughter he hardly knows in a New York theatrical boarding house full of eccentric characters. Forced to take a job in an arcade sideshow, he tries to con daughter Mary and his fellow boarders into thinking he's on the legitimate stage.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.1/10

202

YOUR RATING

8User reviews

See production info at IMDbPro

Photos10

+ 4

Top cast39

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Frank Morgan

J. Daniel Thompson

Mary Howard

Mary Thompson

Billie Burke

Bernice Marshall

Donald Meek

Professor Birdo

Marjorie Main

Irma

Connie Gilchrist

Mrs. Diamond

Bonita Granville

Francine Diamond

Dan Dailey

Ed LeMotte
(as Dan Dailey Jr.)

Andrew Tombes

'Doc' Dunbar

Walter Catlett

'Doc' Skelby

Joseph J. Greene

Mr. Ferderber
(as Joseph J. Green)

Phil Silvers

Murdock

Harold Entwistle

Old Man
(scenes deleted)

Sherry Hall

Passerby
(scenes deleted)

Edward Hearn

Ralph McCullough

Photographer
(scenes deleted)

Frank Pharr

Man with Dolls
(scenes deleted)

Henry Roquemore

Sheriff
(scenes deleted)

Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
The original play of the same title opened in New York City on 13 September 1927 at the Bijou Theatre, 209 W. 45th St. and ran for 15 performances.

Quotes
J. Daniel Thompson: A grifter with a conscience is like a doctor who can't stand the sight of blood... It's bad. Makes you worry. And a grifter should never worry. "Play your sucker hard, and leave him lay." That's our motto.

Crazy credits
Opening title card: The Good Old Days! when Roosevelt was president, and Dewey was an admiral... The medicine man! A grifter, a grafter, a fraud and a liar. he sold you a bottle to make you well, he took your money, and made you like it... the medicine man! his wagon roamed the countryside, his spiel was America's Anthem... in the good old days.....

Connections
Referenced in Mank (2020)

Soundtracks
The Arkansas Traveller
(1851) (uncredited)
Written by William Iucho
Played during the opening credits and during the first scene

User reviews8

Review

Featured review

4/10

Not so Wild, Frank Morgan

Snake-oil salesman Frank Morgan (as J. Daniel "Dan" Thompson) learns a wealthy sister-in law has died. He quits his crooked "Medicine Man" traveling show and goes to live with estranged 18-year-old daughter Mary Howard (as Mary) in her Twin Rapids mansion. Upon arriving, Mr. Morgan discovers Ms. Howard had to sell the furniture. The penniless pair move to a New York (36 East 17th Street) boarding house run by matronly Marjorie Main (as Irma). She and an eccentric group of theatrical supporting players help maintain interesting this farcical story. The writers give it a good sense of setting, with the characters involved in early 1900s theatrical antics. Examples include Morgan being rejected as a leading man for Sarah Bernhardt, appearing as a "black-face" voodoo native, and the development of motion pictures. However, the characters are patchy and the main story is drawn and inconsiderable.

**** The Wild Man of Borneo (1941-01-24) Robert B. Sinclair ~ Frank Morgan, Mary Howard, Billie Burke, Donald Meek