Tarzan Escapes

Last updated
Tarzan Escapes
Tarzan Escapes.jpeg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Richard Thorpe
John Farrow (uncredited)
James C. McKay (uncredited)
George B. Seitz
William A. Wellman
Screenplay by Cyril Hume
Based onCharacters created
by Edgar Rice Burroughs
Produced byBernard H. Hyman
Philip Goldstone
Jack Cummings
Starring Johnny Weissmuller
Maureen O'Sullivan
Cinematography Leonard Smith
Edited by W. Donn Hayes
Music by William Axt
Production
company
Distributed by Loew's, Inc.
Release date
  • November 6, 1936 (1936-11-06)
Running time
89 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$1,000,000 [1]

Tarzan Escapes is a 1936 Tarzan film based on the character created by Edgar Rice Burroughs. It was the third in the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Tarzan series to feature Johnny Weissmuller as the "King of the Apes". Previous films were Tarzan the Ape Man (1932) and Tarzan and His Mate (1934), with Jane's bikini-like attire and the famous skinny-dipping sequence. [2] Weissmuller and O'Sullivan starred together in three more Tarzan films, Tarzan Finds a Son! (1939), Tarzan's Secret Treasure (1941) and Tarzan's New York Adventure (1942). [3]

Contents

Plot

Lobby card Tarzan Escapes lobby card.jpg
Lobby card

Jane's (Maureen O'Sullivan) two cousins, Eric and Rita, arrive in Africa to tell Jane about a fortune left to her back in their world and to try to convince her to return with them. They are led to Tarzan's escarpment home by Captain Fry (John Buckler), a hunter with an agenda of his own. Jane convinces Tarzan to let her go back with Eric (William Henry) and Rita (Benita Hume), promising that their separation will only be temporary. But Captain Fry (unknown to the others) attempts to capture Tarzan to take him back to civilization so he can be put on public display, and actually succeeds in caging Tarzan. Fry's treachery includes making a deal with an unfriendly native tribe to give him food, canoes and protection for the journey back in exchange for his handing over Jane, Eric and Rita for "ju-ju" and taking away the greatest "ju-ju" – Tarzan.

Fry's plan goes wrong when the natives capture Tarzan in his cage and all four white people are taken prisoner. Tarzan manages to escape with the help of elephants and Cheeta, and guides what's left of Fry's party through a cave passage filled with treacherous quicksands. Just before they exit the caves to safety, Tarzan forces Fry to go back the way they came as punishment for his betrayal. Fry starts to go back, then seizes a heavy branch to attack Tarzan, but before he can exit the cave he falls into a quicksand bog (filled with "poisonous" iguanas) and is swallowed up. Rita and Eric tell Jane that it is not necessary for her to return with them and that she belongs with Tarzan. The film ends with Tarzan and Jane reunited at their tree house.

Cast

Production

The previous Tarzan film Tarzan and His Mate had a number of directors. Maureen O’Sullivan has said that James C. McKay actually directed the film. His official credit on that picture was Animal Director. McKay (1894–1971) had a resume full of various credits, and he jumped back and forth between the jobs of director and editor. McKay had received a Production Assistant credit on Trader Horn (1931), directed by W. S. Van Dyke. McKay was initially given the director's chair for the sequel, Tarzan Escapes (1936), indicating that MGM must have been happy with the work he did on Tarzan & His Mate; however, there would be many changes to cast and crew on that film too (including Elmer Sheeley replacing Cedric Gibbons as art director). John Farrow was handed the director's chair; reportedly he then practically re-shot the whole film. Regardless, Richard Thorpe ended up being given director's credit. Farrow (who had a fling with Dolores del Río) married Maureen O'Sullivan before the year was through. [4]

Deleted scene

A scene, which took a week to shoot, featuring Tarzan fighting vampire bats, was cut from the final edit after test audiences found the scenes too intense. The film's first director James C. McKay shot many of the "gruesome" scenes, but he was replaced by John Farrow in 1936 who re-shot much of the film. Richard Thorpe would finally get credit for directing the film. [5]

Critical reception

Film review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reported an approval rating of 71%, based on 7 reviews, with a rating average of 6.1/10. [6]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maureen O'Sullivan</span> Irish actress (1911–1998)

Maureen O'Sullivan was an Irish actress who played Jane in the Tarzan series of films during the era of Johnny Weissmuller. She starred in dozens of feature films across a span of more than half a century and performed with such actors as Laurence Olivier, Greta Garbo, Fredric March, William Powell, Myrna Loy, Marie Dressler, Wallace Beery, Lionel Barrymore, the Marx Bros. and Woody Allen. In 2020, she was listed at number eight on The Irish Times list of Ireland's greatest film actors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Johnny Sheffield</span> American child actor (1931–2010)

Johnny Sheffield was an American child actor who, between 1939 and 1947, portrayed Boy in the Tarzan film series and, between 1949 and 1955, played Bomba the Jungle Boy.

<i>Tarzan and the Leopard Woman</i> 1946 film by Kurt Neumann

Tarzan and the Leopard Woman is a 1946 American action film based on the Tarzan character created by Edgar Rice Burroughs and portrayed by Johnny Weissmuller. Directed by Kurt Neumann, the film sees Tarzan encounter a tribe of leopard-worshippers. It was shot in the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden. Its plot has nothing in common with Burroughs' 1935 novel Tarzan and the Leopard Men.

<i>The Big Clock</i> (film) 1948 film by John Farrow

The Big Clock is a 1948 American thriller directed by John Farrow and adapted by novelist-screenwriter Jonathan Latimer from the 1946 novel of the same title by Kenneth Fearing.

<i>Tarzan the Ape Man</i> (1932 film) 1932 film

Tarzan the Ape Man is a 1932 pre-Code American action adventure film released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer featuring Edgar Rice Burroughs' famous jungle hero Tarzan and starring Johnny Weissmuller, Neil Hamilton, C. Aubrey Smith and Maureen O'Sullivan. It was Weissmuller's first of 12 Tarzan films. O'Sullivan played Jane in six features between 1932 and 1942. The film is loosely based on Burroughs' 1912 novel Tarzan of the Apes, with the dialogue written by Ivor Novello. The film was directed by W.S. Van Dyke. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer released two remakes of Tarzan, the Ape Man in 1959 and in 1981, but each was a different adaptation of Rice Burroughs' novel. It is also the first appearance of Tarzan's famous yell.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brenda Joyce (actress)</span> American film actress (1917–2009)

Brenda Joyce was an American film actress. She was best known for playing Jane Porter in RKO's Tarzan films from 1945 to 1949.

<i>Tarzans New York Adventure</i> 1942 film by Richard Thorpe

Tarzan's New York Adventure is a 1942 American adventure film from Metro Goldwyn Mayer, produced by Frederick Stephani, directed by Richard Thorpe, that stars Johnny Weissmuller and Maureen O'Sullivan. This was the sixth and final film in MGM's Tarzan series and was the studio's last Tarzan feature until 1957's Tarzan and the Lost Safari. Although Tarzan's New York Adventure includes scenes set in New York, as well as the customary jungle sequences, it is yet another Tarzan production primarily shot on MGM's back lots.

<i>Tarzan and His Mate</i> 1934 film by Jack Conway, Cedric Gibbons

Tarzan and His Mate is a 1934 American pre-Code action adventure film based on the Tarzan character created by Edgar Rice Burroughs. Directed by Cedric Gibbons, it was the second in the Tarzan film series and starred Johnny Weissmuller and Maureen O'Sullivan.

<i>Tarzan the Magnificent</i> 1960 film by Robert Day

Tarzan the Magnificent is a 1960 British Eastmancolor film, the follow-up to Tarzan's Greatest Adventure (1959) and the twenty-third film of the Tarzan film series that began with 1932's Tarzan the Ape Man. Its plot bears no relation to that of the 1939 Edgar Rice Burroughs novel of the same name. The film was directed by Robert Day and produced by Sy Weintraub and Harvey Hayutin. Gordon Scott made his last appearance as Tarzan in the film, while Jock Mahoney appeared as villain Coy Banton. Mahoney would take over the Tarzan role himself beginning in the next film, Tarzan Goes to India, in 1962. The motion picture does not include Jane.

Jane Porter (<i>Tarzan</i>) Fictional character in Edgar Rice Burroughss series of Tarzan novels

Jane Porter is a fictional character in Edgar Rice Burroughs's series of Tarzan novels and in adaptations of the saga to other media, particularly film. Jane, an American from Baltimore, Maryland, is the daughter of professor Archimedes Q. Porter. She becomes the love interest, later the wife of Tarzan and subsequently the mother of their son, Korak. She develops over the course of the series from a conventional damsel in distress, who must be rescued from various perils, to an educated, competent and capable adventuress in her own right, fully capable of defending herself and surviving on her own in the jungles of Africa.

<i>Tarzan Finds a Son!</i> 1939 film by Richard Thorpe

Tarzan Finds a Son! is a 1939 Tarzan film based on the character created by Edgar Rice Burroughs. It was the fourth in the MGM Tarzan series to feature Johnny Weissmuller as the "King of the Apes" and the fourth of six films in which he stars with Maureen O'Sullivan as Jane; following this pairing was Tarzan's Secret Treasure (1941) and Tarzan's New York Adventure (1942).

<i>Tarzans Desert Mystery</i> 1943 film by Wilhelm Thiele

Tarzan's Desert Mystery is a 1943 American Tarzan film directed by Wilhelm Thiele and starring Johnny Weissmuller and Nancy Kelly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tarzan in film, television and other non-print media</span>

Tarzan, a fictional character created by Edgar Rice Burroughs, first appeared in the 1912 novel Tarzan of the Apes, and then in twenty-four sequels by Burroughs and numerous more by other authors. The character proved immensely popular and quickly made the jump to other media, first and most notably to comics and film.

<i>Tarzans Magic Fountain</i> 1949 film by Lee Sholem

Tarzan's Magic Fountain is a 1949 Tarzan film directed by Lee Sholem and starring Lex Barker as Tarzan and Brenda Joyce as his companion Jane. The thirteenth film of the Tarzan film series that began with 1932's Tarzan the Ape Man, the film also features Albert Dekker and Evelyn Ankers. It was co-written by Curt Siodmak.

<i>Tarzans Hidden Jungle</i> 1955 film by Harold D. Schuster

Tarzan's Hidden Jungle is a 1955 black-and-white film from RKO Pictures directed by Harold D. Schuster and starring Gordon Scott in his first film as Tarzan, taking over the role from Lex Barker, who had in turn followed Johnny Weissmuller in the series. The film about Edgar Rice Burroughs' ape-man also features Vera Miles and Jack Elam. The last of twelve Tarzan pictures released by RKO before the rights returned to MGM and the eighteenth overall film of the Tarzan film series that began with 1932's Tarzan the Ape Man, it was followed by Tarzan and the Lost Safari in 1957.

<i>Tarzans Secret Treasure</i> 1941 Tarzan film directed by Richard Thorpe

Tarzan's Secret Treasure is a 1941 American adventure film directed by Richard Thorpe and starring Johnny Weissmuller, Maureen O'Sullivan and Johnny Sheffield. Based on the Tarzan character created by Edgar Rice Burroughs, it is the fifth in the MGM Tarzan series to feature Weissmuller and O'Sullivan. Original prints of the film were processed in sepiatone.

<i>The Emperors Candlesticks</i> (1937 film) 1937 film by George Fitzmaurice

The Emperor's Candlesticks is a 1937 historical drama film starring William Powell and Luise Rainer and directed by George Fitzmaurice. It is based on the 1899 novel of the same name by Baroness Orczy. The story follows the adventures of spies from opposing sides who fall in love while following the eponymous candlesticks—and the papers hidden inside them—all over turn-of-the-20th-century Europe.

<i>Tarzan Triumphs</i> 1943 film by Wilhelm Thiele

Tarzan Triumphs is a 1943 adventure film in which Tarzan fights the Germans during World War II. Johnny Weissmuller had portrayed the Edgar Rice Burroughs character in six films with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, but this was his first with the producer Sol Lesser at RKO Pictures. Lesser had previously produced Tarzan the Fearless and Tarzan's Revenge. Weissmuller was reunited with two of his three co-stars from several of the earlier films; Johnny Sheffield and Cheeta, but Maureen O'Sullivan was unable to reprise her role as Jane because the franchise switched from MGM to RKO, and O'Sullivan was an MGM contract player. Instead, Frances Gifford played the princess of the lost city of Palandrya, which is conquered by Germans.

<i>Tarzan and the Amazons</i> 1945 film by Kurt Neumann

Tarzan and the Amazons a 1945 American adventure film starring Johnny Weissmuller in his ninth outing as Tarzan. Brenda Joyce plays Jane, in the first of her five appearances in the role, and Johnny Sheffield makes his sixth appearance as Boy. Henry Stephenson and Maria Ouspenskaya co-star.

<i>Tarzan and the Huntress</i> 1947 film by Kurt Neumann

Tarzan and the Huntress is a 1947 American adventure film starring Johnny Weissmuller in his eleventh outing as Tarzan. Brenda Joyce makes the third of five appearances as Jane and Johnny Sheffield marks his eighth and final appearance as Boy. Patricia Morison and Barton MacLane co-star. The film was produced by Sol Lesser and Kurt Neumann, written by Jerry Gruskin and Rowland Leigh and directed by Kurt Neumann. It was released on April 5, 1947.

References

  1. "SCREEN NEWS HERE AND IN HOLLYWOOD: Warners Will Start Filming 'Wings Over the Navy' Next Month--Bacon to Direct 3 LOCAL PREMIERES TODAY ' Girl of the Golden West,' With Jeannette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy at Capitol MGM Seeks Return of Tarzan Coast Scripts Of Local Origin". The New York Times . March 24, 1938. p. 21.
  2. "Tarzan and His Mate (1934) – Jack Conway, Cedric Gibbons | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related". AllMovie. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
  3. "IMDb: Feature Film/TV Episode/Video/TV Movie/TV Special/TV Mini-Series/Documentary/Video Game/Short Film, with Johnny Weissmuller, Maureen O'Sullivan (Sorted by Year Ascending)". IMDb. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
  4. Media History Digital Library, accessed January 6, 2015
  5. "AFI|Catalog". catalog.afi.com. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
  6. Tarzan Escapes at IMDb OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg