Plot-- Two money-hungry Englishmen organize a safari to Africa to bring back prizes of elephant ivory and a reluctant Jane Parker. Trouble is she seems to prefer an apeman, a loincloth, and a cave to city sophisticates, evening gowns and country mansions. In the safari process, however, they overlook that even the jungle has its laws.
Thanks TCM for showing the movie's uncensored version. I expect the morality watchdogs must have overdosed on 1934 viewing. But there's a heckuva lot more to the movie than bared female skin and two unmarried people living together. O'Sullivan's absolutely enchanting as Jane. Her charm even outshines herds of stampeding elephants and bands of chattering chimps. More importantly, I think I've got her bare hips memorized. Then too, add a man of few words, the lean and lithe Weismuller, to the movie mix. He's perfect as lord of the jungle, more at home in the wilds than in the city, traveling by swinging vine instead of clogged freeway.
Then too, I detect a topical allegory lurking in the subtext. Something about living in harmony with nature rather than trying to plunder it. Sure, nature here is a creation of studio wizards at MGM, and not the real Africa. Still, the results are impressive as heck, even with backscreen projection and liberal use of matte. But since when did I go to adventure movies expecting documentary realism. That I'll leave to the textbooks and PBS. Actually, my favorite movie moment is when thoughtless chimp Cheetah decides to tease three baby lions, only to find that a muscular mother doesn't quite understand. It's an amusing little touch. Anyhow, if there's a better Tarzan movie, I haven't seen it, even if this one is an antique. Meanwhile, I'm off to the jungle with visions of loincloth Jane dancing in my head. Okay, maybe not, but it's still a big thanks to this great movie.
