Tarzan Finds a Son! (1939)

Tarzan finds a boy from a crashed plane and raises him with Jane in the jungle. A search party comes looking for the plane.

Director:

Richard Thorpe

Writers:

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

Stars:

Johnny Weissmuller, Maureen O'Sullivan, Johnny Sheffield

1 nomination.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Johnny Weissmuller	...	Tarzan
Maureen O'Sullivan	...	Jane
Johnny Sheffield	...	Boy (as John Sheffield)
Ian Hunter	...	August Lancing
Henry Stephenson	...	Sir Thomas Lancing
Frieda Inescort	...	Mrs. August Lancing
Henry Wilcoxon	...	Mr. Sande
Laraine Day	...	Mrs. Richard Lancing
Morton Lowry	...	Mr. Richard Lancing

Storyline

A young couple die in a plane crash in the jungle. Their son is found by Tarzan and Jane who name him Boy and raise him as their own. Five years later a search party comes to find the young heir to millions of dollars. Jane agrees, against Tarzan's will, to lead them to civilization.

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Plot Keywords:

danger | perilous escape | journey | unprecedented journey | woodland | 

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Taglines:

"THE Best TARZAN PICTURE I'VE EVER SEEN!" says Author EDGAR RICE BURROUGHS (Print Ad- Evening Star, ((Washington, DC)) 27 June 1939)

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Family | Romance

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Certificate:

Passed

Did You Know?

Trivia

The broken rifle belonged to Captain Fry, who was in the previous film, Tarzan Escapes (1936). Angry that an animal had been shot, Tarzan took Fry's rifle and smashed it against a tree.

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Goofs

A cockatoo is seen in the film. These birds are native to Australasia, not Africa.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Mr. Richard Lancing: Wildebeest again.
Mrs. Richard Lancing: I think we've seen about a million today.

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Alternate Versions

Originally released as Tarzan in Exile (1939), the film originally ended with the death of Jane. Protests by fans and Edgar Rice Burroughs forced the studio to reshoot much of the film so Jane survives.

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Connections

Followed by Tarzan's Desert Mystery (1943)

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Soundtracks

Cannibal Carnival
(1920) (uncredited)
Music by Sol Levy
Played during main titles

User Reviews

Good Tarzan Fun.

Tarzan and Jane adopt a baby boy, the sole survivor of a plane crash. The boy's parents perished and so Tarzan and Jane adopt the little tyke. A few years later and he's a boy grown into the guise of Tarzan...complete with Tarzan's abilities to swing vines and talk to jungle animals. Only unknown to Tarzan and Jane, this "Boy" they made their son is actually a wealthy heir and his relatives have come to their jungle hideaway searching for him. Now Tarzan and Jane are faced with a most difficult choice..let "Boy" return to civilization and lose him forever or hold on to him themselves and have him remain in the jungle at all costs and despite the many dangers.

This one is powerful and moves the viewer through a wide range of emotions as the plight of Tarzan and Jane over Boy really puts one through the wringer. Suitable for family viewing for the most part although a scene or two may disturb more impressionable kids.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 June 1939 (USA)

Also Known As:

Tarzan in Exile

Filming Locations:

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

Box Office

Gross USA:

$2,265,020

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$4,551,840

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

82 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White (Sepiatone)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1