Human Jungle, The (ITV 1963-1965, Herbert Lom, Mary Steele)

The Human Jungle offered a good starring role for Herbert Lom, across the course of two seasons he played psychiatrist Dr Roger Corder who dealt with all manner of generally disturbed individuals. Being a drama of course he tended to get personally involved with the patients he treated.

Also working with Corder were his secretary Nancy Hamilton and Doctor James Davis who was also a psychiatrist. Corder’s home life mainly focused on his relationship with his teenage daughter Jennifer.

There were an important change for the second season, the first had been filmed at Beaconsfield Studios in Buckinghamshire but that closed down meaning the production team had to move to Elstree Studios in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire. Elstree at the time was owned by Associated British Film Corporation.

Many of the people who worked on the series would also work on fellow ABC series The Avengers.

Episodes were mostly written by John Kruse, Bill MacIlwraith and Robert Banks Stewart.

Guest stars tended to be quite high profile and included the likes of Margaret Lockwood, Joan Collins, Justine Lord, Ronald Leigh-Hunt, Jess Conrad, Derek Farr, Leonard Sachs, Melvyn Hayes, Ian Bannen, Francesca Annis, Dennis Price, Edward Judd, Robert Beatty, Annette Andre and Richard Johnson.

production details
UK / ITV – ABC – Independent Artists / 26×50 minute episodes / Broadcast 30 March 1963 – 15 May 1965

Theme Music: Bernard Ebbinghouse, John Barry / Story Editor: John Kruse / Medical Advisor: Dr Hugh L. Freeman / Producers: Julian Wintle, Leslie Parkyn

cast
Herbert Lom as Dr. Roger Corder
Mary Steele as Jane Harris
Mary Yeomans as Nancy Hamilton
Michael Johnson as Dr Jimmy Davis
Sally Smith as Jennifer Corder