In 1948, Johnny Weissmuller was signed by Columbia Pictures to make a series of films starring him as “Jungle Jim,” the character originated(in 1934) and drawn (through the 30s and early-40s) by Alex Raymond but owned outright by King Features Syndicate.

From 1948 into 1954, Columbia house-producer Sam Katzman made 15 films starring Weissmuller as “Jungle Jim” Bradley, while Columbia paid royalties to the King Features Syndicate (owner of the comic script)for the use of the character. Universal Pictures Corporation, via their in-house Adventure Serials Inc., setup produced a 12-chapter serial featuring the character in 1937.

Columbia Pictures Corporation, with Sam Katzman as the producer made the following 15 “Jungle Jim” films, starring Johnny Weissmuller: “Jungle Jim (1948); “The Lost Tribe” (1949); “Captive Girl” and “Pygmy Island” (1950);”Fury of the Congo” and “Jungle Manhunt” (1951); :Jungle Jim in the Forbidden Land,” “Voodoo Tiger” and “Savage Mutiny” (1952); “Valley of the Headhunters” and “Killer Ape (1953)and the last “Jungle Jim” film in the series, “Jungle Man-Eaters” in 1954.

Following “Jungle Man-Eaters” Columbia chose not to renew their rights to the “Jungle Jim” character, but still had Weissmuller on a contract that had three films to go. Ipso facto, make three more films exactly like the previous 15 “Jungle Jim” films but have Johnny Weissmuller playing a character named “Johnny Weissmuller.” And those three non-Jungle Jim films starring Johnny Weissmuller (playing a character named “Johnny Weissmuller”) were: “Cannibal Attack” (1954) and “Jungle Moon-Men” and “Devil Goddess” in 1955.