Tarzan Escapes (1936)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

Richard Thorpe

Writers:

Edgar Rice Burroughs (characters)
Cyril Hume (screenplay)

Release Date:

6 November 1936 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure

Tagline:

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

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Tarzan | Cousin | Hunter | Jungle | Expedition

Cast

Johnny Weissmuller	...	Tarzan
Maureen O'Sullivan	...	Jane Parker
John Buckler	...	Captain Fry
Benita Hume	...	Rita
William Henry	...	Eric
Herbert Mundin	...	Rawlins
E.E. Clive	...	Masters
Darby Jones	...	Bomba

Also Known As:

The Capture of Tarzan (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

89 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

UK:U | West Germany:12 | Australia:G | Finland:K-16 | Norway:7 | USA:Approved (PCA #1563) | USA:Passed (National Board of Review)

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

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.

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: In the boat, Capt. Fry gives an order to Bomba who agrees saying, "Yes, bwana," but he does not move his lips.

Quotes:

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

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Tarzan: Silver Screen King of the Jungle (2004) (V)

Soundtrack:

Cannibal Carnival

Slightly Disappointing, could have been better

That's not to say this is not quite good. No Johnny Weissmuller and Maureen O'Sullivan certainly shine as the romantic leads Tarzan and Jane. In fact, this may be the most romantic of all the Weissmuller films so if that's what attracts you, you'll likely love this. However if jungle adventure and fun is more up your alley, you may be slightly disappointed. Oh there are some surprisingly graphic attacks from enemy native tribes and Tarzan has an intense battle with a crocodile yet it doesn't seem quite enough somehow and doesn't make up for the story feeling slightly disconnected at times. There's a gaping plot hole here involving Captain Fry, after Tarzan is in his cage, later losing him. Also the lizards at the end are more likely to produce laughter than terror.