Hilde and I have been watching old Johnny Weismuller Tarzan movies from the 1930s & '40s, via DVDs from Netflix. Not all were available, but we’ve watched TARZAN AND HIS MATE, TARZAN FINDS A SON, TARZAN’S SECRET TREASURE, and TARZAN’S NEW YORK ADVENTURE.
TARZAN AND HIS MATE was filmed before the prudishness of the Hays Code began in 1934, but released into theaters as the Code was starting to be put into effect. Maureen O'Sullivan's very skimpy outfit (see below) came in for some side-eye from Code censors, but the biggie was the nude swimming scene with O'Sullivan (actually her stunt double) and Weismuller (who kept his loincloth on). Only early theater audiences saw the original swim; a more modest version was substituted for later showings. The Netflix DVD we watched included the original version.
These…are not great movies. There’s a nostalgia factor in re-watching them. (I saw a lot as part of Saturday morning tv-watching growing up; it was cartoons in the early morning, then adventure and monster movies on the local channel in later morning.) With modern eyes, I can’t help noticing the many faults. Even overlooking the “of their time” ethnic stereotypes, the writing, acting, direction, etc. are, for the most part, pretty damn stiff and unimpressive. And there are a lot of plot elements recycled from movie to movie.
Some takeaways:
- The greatest dangers in the jungle are from stock footage
- Never trust a man with a thin mustache.
- If you’re an old man with a sense of decency, make sure your life insurance is paid up.
- Pretty sure Boy grew up to become The Professor on GILLIGAN’S ISLAND, where he recreated many of the devices in Tarzan’s treehouse.
- Where the hell did Tumbo go?
- Cheeta is an asshole.
(a somewhat shorter version of this piece first appeared as a comment at File 770)
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