Tarzan and the Mermaids (1948)

Director:

Robert Florey

Writers:

Edgar Rice Burroughs (characters)
Carroll Young (screenplay)
(more)

Release Date:

15 May 1948 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Romance

Tagline:

Tarzan at His Best !

Plot:

Boy is away at school in England. The high priest is trying to force a young girl to marry an evil pearl trader posing as the god Balu...

Plot Keywords:

Jungle | Rite | Disguise | Pearl Diver | Religious Cult

Cast

Johnny Weissmuller	...	Tarzan
Brenda Joyce	...	Jane
George Zucco	...	Palanth, the High Priest
Andrea Palma	...	Luana, Mara's Mother
Fernando Wagner	...	Varga, Pearl Trader
Edward Ashley	...	Commissioner
John Laurenz	...	Benji
Gustavo Rojo	...	Tiko, Mara's Fiancé
Matthew Boulton	...	British Inspector-General
Linda Christian	...	Mara
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Silvia Derbez	...	Aquitanian (uncredited)
Salvador Godínez	...	Aquitanian (uncredited)
Magda Guzmán	...	Aquitanian (uncredited)
Ana Luisa Peluffo	...	Aquitanian (uncredited)
Lilia Prado	...	Aquitanian (uncredited)

Directed by
Robert Florey

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Edgar Rice Burroughs		characters
Albert DePina		uncredited
Carroll Young		screenplay
Carroll Young		story

Produced by
Sol Lesser	....	producer
Joseph Noriega	....	associate producer (as Joe Noriega)
Julian Lesser	....	assistant producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Dimitri Tiomkin

Cinematography by
Jack Draper

Art Direction by
McClure Capps

Costume Design by
Norma Koch		(as Norma)

Production Management
Antonio Guerrero Tello	....	associate production manager
Ray Heinz	....	production manager
John Mari	....	associate production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Bert Briskin	....	assistant director
Jaime Contreras	....	associate assistant director
Moisés Delgado	....	associate assistant director (as Moises Delgado)

Art Department
Gunther Gerszo	....	associate art director

Sound Department
James L. Fields	....	sound supervisor (as James Fields)
Rafael Ruiz Esparza	....	associate sound mixer

Stunts
Ángel García	....	stunt double: Johnny Weissmuller (uncredited)
Paul Stader	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Gabriel Figueroa	....	associate photographer
Raúl Martínez Solares	....	associate photographer

Editorial Department
John Sheets	....	associate editor
Merrill G. White	....	supervising editor (as Merrill White)

Music Department
Dimitri Tiomkin	....	musical director

Other crew
Miguel M. Delgado	....	associate director
Bob Larson	....	production assistant (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Sol Lesser Productions

Distributors

• RKO Radio Pictures (1948) (USA) (theatrical)
• Banner Productions (1960) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Filmipaja (1966) (Finland) (theatrical)
• RKO Radio Films (1950) (Finland) (theatrical)
• RKO Radio Pictures (1951) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Mainostelevisio (MTV3) (1988) (1997) (Finland) (TV)
• Warner Bros. Entertainment Finland Oy (2008) (Finland) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2007) (Germany) (DVD)

Also Known As:

"Edgar Rice Burroughs' Tarzan and the Mermaids" - USA (complete title)

Runtime:

68 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

Finland:S | USA:Approved (PCA #12894) | West Germany:12 (nf)

Filming Locations:

Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico

Company:

Sol Lesser Productions

Trivia:

The last appearance of 'Johnny Wiessmueller' as Tarzan.

Goofs:

Continuity: Tarzan wears shoes in this movie, and the shoes have the ability to appear and disappear between shots. When he goes after Mara and her kidnappers, he has on what appear to be sandals. During the times he is in the cave, the shoes appear and disappear. Later on, when Tarzan is attacked by an octopus, he has no shoes on, and after he kills it, the shoes are back on his feet.

Movie Connections:

Follows Tarzan and the Amazons (1945)

Soundtrack:

My Guitar

Johnny Weissmuller at the End of His Rope

We begin with some background information about the plot, which concerns false god "Balu" and his native followers. Employing hocus-pocus, high priest George Zucco (as Palanth) wants "Balu" to become the bride of luscious Linda Christian (as Mara). She would rather have handsome Gustavo Rojo (as Tiko). "Tarzan and the Mermaids" features no mermaids, but Ms. Christian is referred to as one. Intermittent singer John Laurenz (as Benji) brings news explaining the absence of "Boy", who is studying in England. This was the last appearance of Johnny Weissmuller (as Tarzan) in the series. Clearly growing too old for the role, Mr. Weissmuller turned in his loincloth and signed on for the more appropriate "Jungle Jim" series. All of this is secondary to the lush Acapulco location and photography, which makes this a pleasant film in spite of itself.

***** Tarzan and the Mermaids (3/29/48) Robert Florey ~ Johnny Weissmuller, Linda Christian, Gustavo Rojo, John Laurenz