Tarzan Escapes (1936)

An expedition seeking to bring Jane back to civilization, and Tarzan into captivity, gets more than it's bargained for.

Director:

Richard Thorpe

Writers:

Cyril Hume (screen play), Edgar Rice Burroughs (based upon the characters created by),

Stars:

Johnny Weissmuller, Maureen O'Sullivan, John Buckler

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Johnny Weissmuller	...	Tarzan
Maureen O'Sullivan	...	Jane
John Buckler	...	Captain Fry
Benita Hume	...	Rita
William Henry	...	Eric
Herbert Mundin	...	Rawlins
E.E. Clive	...	Masters
Darby Jones	...	Bomba
Cheetah	...	By Herself - A Chimpanzee

Storyline

White hunter Captain Fry tries to take Tarzan back to civilization, caged for public display. He arrives in the jungle with Jane's cousins, Eric and Rita who want Jane's help in claiming a fortune left her.

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Plot Keywords:

hunter | jungle | expedition | trap | rescue | 

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Taglines:

It's New! It's amazing! 2 years to produce!

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Genres:

Action | Adventure

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

6 November 1936 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Capture of Tarzan

Filming Locations:

Backlot, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,058,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

89 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The original director was James C. McKay, who filmed many gruesome scenes. In July 1936, he was replaced by John Farrow who practically re-shot the entire film. There were also cast and crew changes: Granville Bates was dropped from the cast, while Herbert Mundin was added, playing a new character. Darby Jones replaced Everett Brown as "Bomba"; Elmer Sheeley replaced Cedric Gibbons as art director; A. Arnold Gillespie replaced James Basevi for special effects; Tom Tutwiler replaced 'Max Fabian' for photographic effects; and Charles Salerno Jr. replaced cameramen Virgil W. Vogel and Walter Strenge.

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Goofs

Cheeta is listed in the opening credits as playing "Herself", but numerous shots throughout the film show Cheeta with male genitalia.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Riverboat Captain: All right. Tie her up. Make her fast. Pull her in, boys.

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Connections

Referenced in Jeopardy!: Episode #22.65 (2005)

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Soundtracks

"My Tender One"
(1933) (uncredited)
from Mala the Magnificent
Music by William Axt
Played during end credits

User Reviews

Attempted kidnapping in the jungle

Tarzan Escapes was released on VHS in the UK by Warner Brothers as part of a box set which also includes Tarzan Finds a Son and Tarzan and His Mate. I enjoyed this one.

Janes cousins, Eric and Rita arrive in the jungle to look for Jane to tell her she has inherited a lot of money. They arrive with Captain Fry, who plans to kidnap Tarzan and have him as part of his freak show. He does manage to get him into a cage but with the help of some of his elephant friends and Cheetah, he escapes and towards the end, gets his revenge when he makes Fry go back into a cave they just went through where there are hungry lizards and Fry is killed.

As always, Johnny Weissmuller and Maureen O'Sullivan are excellent as Tarzan and Jane.

Tarzan Escapes is a must for any Tarzan fan. Great fun.

Rating: 3 and a half stars out of 5.