La Quila is a riverboat that appears in the 2021 American fantasy adventure film Jungle Cruise, directed by Jaume Collet-Serra and based on Disney's eponymous theme park attraction. The boat is owned and operated by Captain Frank Wolff (Dwayne Johnson), who uses it to offer tours of the Amazon River to tourists. La Quila is also the main mode of transportation for Frank, Dr. Lily Houghton (Emily Blunt), and her brother McGregor (Jack Whitehall) as they embark on a perilous quest to find the mythical Tree of Life.
Background[]
La Quila is a wooden boat with a canopy, a steam engine, and a propeller. The boat is decorated with various items that Frank has collected over the years, such as animal skulls, tribal masks, lanterns, and flags. The boat also has several features that Frank uses to enhance his tours, such as a phonograph, a megaphone, and a hidden compartment that contains fake animals and explosives. La Quila is equipped with weapons and defenses that Frank uses to fend off enemies, such as harpoons, rifles, dynamite, and torpedoes.
Role in film[]
La Quila plays a significant role in the film's plot, as it is the only boat that can navigate through the rapids and waterfalls of the Amazon River. The boat also serves as a symbol of Frank's adventurous spirit and his bond with Lily, who shares his passion for exploration and discovery. La Quila faces many dangers throughout the film, such as being attacked by a submarine, a jaguar, and cursed conquistadors. The boat is eventually destroyed by Prince Joachim (Jesse Plemons), who fires a rocket at it from his airship. However, Frank manages to salvage some parts of the boat and rebuilds it with Lily's help at the end of the film.
Inspiration[]
La Quila was designed by production designer Jean-Vincent Puzos and art director Harry E. Otto. The boat was inspired by the original Jungle Cruise attraction at Disneyland, as well as by other films such as The African Queen (1951) and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989). It was built by Legacy Effects using wood, metal, and fiberglass. The boat was also fitted with hydraulic systems that allowed it to move realistically on water. It was filmed on location in Hawaii and Georgia, as well as on sound stages at Kualoa Ranch and Blackhall Studios. The boat was also digitally enhanced by visual effects company Industrial Light & Magic to create some of its more fantastical elements.
