Jane and the Lost City (1987) Poster

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5/10
My one word review - Uneven
bensonmum221 May 2006
Warning: Spoilers
Jane and the Lost City is the story of a band of plucky but incompetent band of Allies in a race to fortune in diamonds with an equally incompetent band of Nazis. Along the way, both groups run into a series of mildly amusing adventures and situations, including title character Jane's ability to lose her clothing at the most inopportune moments. As I've never seen the comic strip Jane and the Lost City is based on, I probably don't have the proper context in which to place this movie. That's no necessarily a bad thing as I also have no preconceived biases. The entire thing is played for laughs. Unfortunately, the comedy sequences in Jane and the Lost City are too uneven for me to rate the film any higher. While some of the comedy worked (the tango scene is hysterical), some of it fell flat (most everything Nazi henchman Hans did wasn't funny in the slightest). The acting is also uneven and ranges from really good (Graham Stark as the butler Tombs) to dreadful (Kristen Hughes as Jane). Overall, I like the idea behind Jane and the Lost City, but more consistency in the writing and acting would have made this one much better.
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4/10
Cheesecake, with extra cheeze!
BA_Harrison9 January 2021
My introduction to the WWII character Jane was with the early '80s BBC TV series, which combined live action with drawings to create a retro comic-book style. The overall effect was kinda cheap, but it did feature sexy Glynis Barber in her silky underwear, so all was not lost. Jane and the Lost City dispenses with the stylised visuals, but retains the overall comic-book atmosphere, with preposterous adventure, OTT characters and deliberately corny jokes. Barber doesn't reprise her role, Jane played on this occasion by the also rather attractive Kirsten Hughes (who frequently flashes her gusset, bares her butt, and exposes her cleavage).

It's a good job that Hughes is so appealing, because without her pleasing physical attributes, Jane and the Lost City would be quite unbearable. I get that the film is deliberately camp, but it simply isn't very funny, with some truly terrible performances, Sam Jones making for a wooden hero, and TV 'funny-man' Jasper Carrott failing to launch a career on the big screen by playing three characters, all of them badly. It mightn't have been such a disaster if they had upped the adventure angle, but the budget was clearly too tight for any impressive Indiana Jones-style cliffhanger escapades. What we get is less Raiders of the Lost Ark and more Allan Quartermain and the Lost City of Gold (trust me, that's not a good thing).

3/10 for Hughes in her underwear, plus an extra point for Fritz the Dachshund - I'm a sucker for a sausage dog.
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5/10
another copycat film
sandcrab2773 February 2019
Patterned after the book by H. Rider Haggard "King Salomon's Mines" follows along the lines of the original first 3 films but this one has used a comedic theme to help it along ... i found jane to be plenty erotic enough for heroine and defender of god and country ... i had a feww good laughs
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Masterpiece of Camp!
skyhawk021 December 2003
Jane was a very popular British comic strip that ran through the war years. Churchill hated it and wanted it banned, but it was too popular. The artist used to use the strip to make political points, and whenever it would be getting too dry for the readers, Jane would somehow lose her clothes.

The film version is played for camp, and brilliantly so by Kristen Hughes, Sam Jones (who also conveniently loses his clothes a few times in a nod to a later age), Maud Adams, and Elsa O'Toole as the Leopard Queen.

Yes, it goes over the top - it's meant to. Get giggly with a few friends and watch it.
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1/10
rubbish
shaunmahaffey12 March 2009
Whoever made this nonsense completely missed the point. Jane is a silly comic strip to titillate without being sleazy.

This giant mess tries to be funny and exciting but is just a shambles. There is not one decent performance in it..even the usually reliable Jasper Carrott is painfully unfunny.

The American bloke whose name escapes me is just as rubbiush as he was in flash gordon.

Maud Adams tries as a villianess but she is a bit long in the tooth for this type of thing. All of these things would not matter if the girl was sexy or funny or likable.She is not. Kirsten Holmes faded into obscurity after this and so much the better.

I've flushed more entertaining things than this down the toilet. Avoid
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4/10
No glory for an adult WWII art form.
PCC092111 September 2020
The idea of the pin-up poster was never a bad thing. It was very helpful for the morale of homesick soldiers, stuck on the front lines, fighting for their lives, during WWII. Jane grew out of that era and was the creation of a British author. She too was created to help morale during the terrors of WWII and even the wars that followed that. We flash to 1987 and British filmmakers, along with New World Pictures, decide to reboot Jane, with this really bad effort. In Jane and the Lost City (1987), Jane (Kirsten Hughes), is basically working for the British government, helping her friend, the Colonel (Robin Bailey), protect diamonds from the bad-guys. Jane's super-power is her clothes fall off, just in time, which distracts enemies (and sometimes friends, if need be), until she is able to escape or attempt to apprehend them. It's not dirty. It's not in poor taste. Jane and the Lost City (1987), has a PG rating, so that tells you that there is nothing to fear about the pin-up nature of this IP. It's everything else in Jane and the Lost City (1987), that makes it bad. I wanted to rate this film, even lower than, a "4", but in my book, any film rated less than four is unwatchable and I want people to see Jane and the Lost City (1987), in order to believe it, so I stayed at "4". You won't.

PMTM Grade: 4.0 (F+) = 4 IMDB.
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5/10
Comeptent, but not remarkable
skinnybert24 February 2021
To its credit, many of the supporting roles are played so well, we almost have a decent Indian Jones type movie.

Everything everyone says here is true, which just shows how subjective enjoyment of a film can be. Comparison is made to the Carry On films, which is close ... but the Carry On films really relish their everything-is-about-sex undertone, while Jane And The Lost City prefers the innocence approach. Yes, Jane loses her clothing half-a-dozen times, but it always feels a bit out of place -- as if they really wanted to go Indiana Jones, but were saddled with this pinup-girl concept.

For me, there were just enough good comic moments to sustain through the ones that fell flat (mainly Jasper Carrott's endless mugging). I've seen my share of not-very-good jungle films; this ranks just about right, with the occasional clothes-ripped-off seemingly punched in for novelty. I think it would have been funnier to make that a more central concept -- even to play with audience expectation by having it almost happen, then partially happen, then not happen when you expect it to, then happen to someone else, etc -- you see? A running gag should be explored for all of its possibilities, not just the same gag used as window dressing, then sold as main attraction.
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4/10
Hasn't aged well
Leofwine_draca17 March 2021
Warning: Spoilers
One of the silly, old-fashioned and campy corny adventures that were all the rage in the 1980s. JANE AND THE LOST CITY is an open INDIANA JONES copy, with lots of action and even more mindlessness. They pick a non-actress to play Jane, a comic strip heroine from the 1940s, and have her join forces with FLASH GORDON actor Sam Jones, so you can imagine how cheesy this all is. The gags are laboured and silly, well telegraphed miles in advance, and Jasper Carrott pops up and reveals that his TV humour doesn't translate well to the big screen. Add in Maud Adams as the random Nazi villain and plenty of sexism, and you have a film which really hasn't aged well.
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2/10
Why!!
driftdog2 March 2021
I have watched some bad and questionable movies but this is truly the first time I have felt like I've lost a portion of my life. Sorry but it really, in my opinion, is rubbish. In today's pc world it is nothing short of sexist dribble. Go and wash the cat or polish the lawn, it truly will be a more satisfying use of life.
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6/10
Funny, archly written throwback comedy in the Carry On style.
dave13-115 April 2012
Anybody unfamiliar with British comic strips of the 40s and 50s might find this movie trite and contrived, but that was the way the strips played. Lost cities, buried treasure, wicked Eurotrash countesses, etc. etc., all of the usual comic strip clichés are here. The movie's creators worked hard and generally succeeded in capturing the original strip's silly tone and obvious contrivances - Jane loses her dress about every other scene and has to cavort about in embarrassment in her lingerie, and her hunky Jungle Jack boyfriend gets hit on the head or chained to a wall and needs rescuing by his distaff partner almost as often. The cast play the silly lines and sight gags with appropriately straight faces, and the result is a fairly obvious but entertaining comedy of an older fashion, rather like a vintage Carry On movie but in color.
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4/10
Not a Terribly Effective Film
Uriah431 February 2019
This film begins during World War 2 with both Great Britain and Germany locked in a death struggle and each one desperately needing money to finance their conflict. So, when a large deposit of diamonds is rumored to be located in a mysterious "lost city" in Africa, both countries send out a small party to retrieve them. Heading the British party is a bumbling Army "Colonel" (played by Robin Bailey) his servant "Tombs" (Graham Stark) and an attractive female employee named "Jane" (Kirsten Hughes). Not to be outdone, however, the Germans also send a party commanded by an SS officer named "Lola Pagola" (Maud Adams) who is extremely determined and ruthless. And she is willing to do whatever it takes to bring these diamonds back to Berlin. Now rather than reveal any more I will just say that this was a peculiar comedy which lacked the necessary humor to be very effective. Campy but not very funny. Likewise, there were repeated attempts at titillation involving Kirsten Hughes which weren't that impressive either. Even so, I suppose it wasn't a terrible film by any means, and for that reason I have rated it accordingly. Slightly below average.
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10/10
The good old days
shaula6 December 1998
For someone who remembers Jane in the Daily Mirror strip cartoon, viewing this film is an exercise in nostalgia. In that context it is wonderful, but younger viewers would undoubtedly find the comedy limp and would miss the point that the actors are cartoon characters. The plotline is also a bit limp for today's audience, but reflects the naivety of the 40s and 50s very well. Jane, you must remember, was part of the escapist fantasy of the wartime years, created to boost the morale of the troops. She gave a double meaning to the "strip" in strip cartoon.

The story has something in common with the tales of Edgar Rice Burroughs and Rider Haggard. The theme would have been a familiar one to readers in that era, a bunch of bumbling Nazis thwarted by a few equally bumbling Englanders, and set in the African jungle of course.

For Jane fans, a must see. For the rest of you, a damp squib.
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6/10
OK, more cheese than cheddar gorge .... but fun.
mvincent-123397 February 2021
Warning: Spoilers
This is one of those films where you switch your brain off and just sit back for chuckles. There are no real laugh out loud moments, although the tango scene comes close. The acting could be considered terrible until you remember that it is all done to try to emulate a 1930s comic strip. take that into account and it's not so bad. Jane's clothing coming off every few scenes is nothing for parents to be worried about, she has the 1930s satin underwear on and really, nothing inappropriate at all is seen. The dialogue is written as though it was a comic book and the only thing missing are the little speech bubbles. I watched it because I was bored and it was included in my amazon prime membership. I am very glad that I didn't pay to see it, but may one day watch it again (probably with a very large glass of wine in my hand though).
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4/10
Sp yeah...
BandSAboutMovies16 August 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Based on Norman Pett's Jane, which ran in The Daily Mirror from December 5, 1932 to October 10, 1959. Jane is pretty much an adventurer, but she loses her clothes nearly every time she goes into action, which I guess is a very male gaze way of making her a heroine.

British Prime Minister Winston Churchill sends Jane (Kristen Hughes) and the Colonel on a mission to prevent the diamonds of the fabled Lost City from falling into the hands of Germany. As they make their way to Africa, they meet Jungle Jack Buck (Sam J. Jones, playing yet another comic strip style hero after getting to be Flash Gordon and The Spirit) and battle the evil Lola Pagola (Maud Adams) and her soldiers Heinrich, Herman and Hans (all played by Jasper Carrott).

This was directed by Terry Marcel, who also made Hawk the Slayer and Prisoners of the Lost Universe. It's a good try, but trust me, it's no Gwendoline.
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So bad it's good!
Gareth_Hacking14 March 2003
I remember watching this year's ago on T.V. one quiet Sunday afternoon. This is one of those films that are so bad their good. I can't imagine why all involved thought this would be a good idea. It looks cheap and is terribly edited (there's a plane crash early on where you don't actually see crash). Every single performance is appalling though Jasper Carrot has to be singled out as worst offender (shouting your every line in a awful German accent just isn't acting). The whole thing is just so terrible you can't help but laugh at it, trying to guess what the next plot contrivance will be to allow Jane's clothes to be ripped off her yet again. I highly recommend this film and suggest you all try and watch it as soon as possible.
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5/10
Not as campy as suspected.
Bernie444414 December 2023
Based on the UK comic strip 'Jane.' Jane (Kirsten Hughes) and the Colonel (Robin Bailey) journey to find the lost city. That is the city that is lost and is said to have diamonds. It is WWII and the NSDAP's top cutie spy (Maud Adams) and her entourage are also in the trail.

Move over Indiana Jones; Jane is on her way. As cute as Jane is with her outer garments dispatched periodically in unpredictable ways, The Leopard Queen (Elsa O'Toole) can give Kirsten Hughes a run for her money when it comes to ogling.

So, are there diamonds?

And is there a possible sequel?

This film has just the right amount of campiness.

Lots of good references to knowable films and books.

Excellent evacuated character types.

Good disposable wardrobes.

A good plot and follow through.

Keeps your attention all the way through.

If you use fast forward you will miss it.
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3/10
"Shall I lay out your bathing costume, sir?"
hwg1957-102-26570425 May 2023
Warning: Spoilers
During the Second World War a few people are seeking a lost city and a hoard of diamonds therein and a blonde woman loses her clothes a lot. Based upon an old comic strip, as an adventure story this is dull and as a comedy it is painfully unfunny. Every situation and every joke you can see coming a mile away. The cast isn't a bad one but the actors they have terrible material to work with which is a shame. Poor Jasper Carrott is reduced to tedious mugging in not just one role but three. One felt sorry for him. The tango scene was the only one that brought a slight smile to my lips. It was filmed in Mauritius so it looked pleasant enough but apart from that the movie seemed to drag on and on.
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6/10
All this is missing is a cartoon moose and squirrel.
mark.waltz2 July 2023
Warning: Spoilers
A very silly adventure based upon a British comic strip about a British adventuress (Kristen Hughes) who is busy searching for a lost city in Africa filled with diamonds, determined to get there before the Nazis do. She's aided by American adventurer Sam Jones who ends up in a precarious position, tied up in a locked barn as spears above him are triggered to fall when a candle burns the string they're attached to. The Nazis are represented by oversexed countess Maud Adams (definitely a likeness to the Russian Natasha Fatale), surrounded by a bunch of imbesillic Germans. This definitely requires a drinking game each time Hughes ends up in her scanties. A spur of the moment tango had me in hysterics.

There were many "Indiana Jones" ripoffs in the 1980's, and this is certainly better than the "King Solomon's Mines" and its outlandish sequel, a popcorn movie where the characters all parallel cartoon characters. A British officer is definitely exactly like Commander McBragg of "Tennessee Tuxedo" fame, and the other Nazis are amalgamation of various mustache twirling villains. You know all is going to work out in the end even if many of the situations seem impossible to survive. Probably one of the most delightful discoveries I've found in researching movies as I had never heard of it.
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8/10
The Comic Strip Meets Rider Haggard
EdeBorrett28 February 2021
The Comic Strip meets Rider Haggard meets (to a lesser extent) Monty Python. The movie has the same cheesiness (and level of excuses for Jane to lose her clothes) as the long-gone 'Daily Mirror' cartoon strip with a similar level of improbability as many similar strips and of the Saturday Morning serials of the same period.

Don't expect serious dialogue or anything less than real ham acting - but that is not because the cast are poor actors (just look at their credits on IMDB), it truly is deliberate. And there are enough fun references to make you pay attention - I am only surprised that Toombs wasn't playing "As Time Goes By" when he is on the piano.

Witty, silly, humorous and GREAT FUN. Thoroughly loved it as a piece of pure entertainment.
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7/10
Jane the British Pin Up strikes on black continent!!
elo-equipamentos5 November 2023
The British also has their own Pin Up heroin as American has Bettie Page, Jane portraits a glorious blonde girl with hearty air bags on front, fabulous legs on sexy way whenever she appears, now at black continent during WWII against the Nazi seeking for diamonds at lost city somewhere, as assistant of the powerful Colonel of British Army and their sidekicks, singularly the clever but questionable drinker Tombs, meanwhile gets help from the American jester Jack Buck, in other hand another eye-candy Nazi leader Lola Pagola dully escorted by the muddled Gestapo officer Heinrich and the stronger goofy Carl, in this endeavor thru the Africa's heart to find out the lost city both sides struggle which is less worst will win the diamonds as war efforts.

Having a robust cast as the famous Brummie entertainer Jasper Carrott (Jeff Lynne's closest pal) playing three characters altogether and the priceless Graham Starks who actually stolen the picture aside the sexy and breathtaking presence of Kirsten Hughes, without forget of Maud Adams as well, this picture is pretty silly on gruff black humor oriented, although faraway to be regard bad as the ratings implied, a fabulous landscape of the Mauritius Island help too much as backdrop as supposedly Africa, fine canyons, rivers, waterfall and so for, on the closest takes of Jane's stri.pping scenes to catch the slobbering audience is non-negligible whatsoever, sadly this picture never reach here as far I know, it will be welcome quite sure.

Thanks for reading

Resume:

First watch: 2023 / How many: 1 / Source: Yutube / Rating: 7.
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Sheer brilliance.
Pacolito26 January 1999
A dazzling performance from director, Terry Marcel.

What could be called, "A demonstration of GENIUS", this will thrill all viewers regardless.

Excellent.

10/10 from Paco.
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