User reviews

If I was to summarize my feelings about "Tarzan Escapes" in one sentence, this is what I would write: I *loved* the first two Tarzan films, and I *like* the third film.

"Tarzan Escapes" isn't a bad film, but it's clear that the writers had used up a lot of their imagination on the first two installments. The basic premise is that Jane's cousins Rita and Eric go into the jungle to find Jane. Once again, they head to the Mutia Escarpment (the elephant graveyard), and they commission Captain Fry, along with his comedic friend Rawlins, to lead them there.

The first half of this film is basically kiddie fare. The Rawlins character attempts (but never quite succeeds) at providing comic relief, and the animal scenes are less perilous and more comedic. However, about halfway through the movie, a sudden twist occurs, and the story takes on a much more serious tone. It's not too strong for kids, so they should still enjoy it all. And adults, if they can overlook the bad comedy in the first half, should find the overall film very satisfying.

Tarzan has broadened his vocabulary a bit since the first two films, and his and and Jane's relationship is still sparkling. Cheeta has more of a role in this movie, and they've spiffed up their jungle décor considerably. (Only the castaways on Gilligan's Island have a more deluxe setup without electricity.)

Several of the animal scenes are lifted from "Tarzan and His Mate", so some of the excitement and freshness are lost. But there is still plenty to get excited about. I did notice that the sound quality is much improved. (I had to watch parts of the first two films with subtitles just to understand what they were saying. The sound is much clearer in the third movie.)

Overall, it's a rousing adventure film. It's nice to say hi to our jungle friends once again, and there are enough new elements to be more than just a rehash of the previous stories.

Nasty hunter Captain Fry (John Buckler) leads an expedition to Tarzan's stomping ground with the aim of capturing the ape-man and exhibiting him in England. Unaware of Fry's nefarious intentions, Jane's cousins, Eric and Rita (William Henry and Benita Hume), tag along for the journey hoping to convince their relative to return to England in order to help them claim the fortune that has been left to them in a will.

It's back to the Mutia escarpment for more jungle action in the third of the Weissmuller Tarzan films; unfortunately, this time around, much of what made the first two films so much fun—the gloriously un-PC violence and steamy sexuality—is missing thanks to the introduction of the Hays code, Hollywood's moral guidelines.

So instead of Maureen O'Sullivan giving us an eyeful in her animal skin bikini, we have her wearing a much more demure dress, and when the film gets down to the dispatching of native bearers, much of the nastiness happens off-screen; the film also suffers due to a troubled production which saw much of the original film being re-shot and re-edited. It all amounts to a rather tame offering that lacks the thrills and spills of Weissmuller's earlier outings as the affable ape-man (even the nasty execution via tree that horrified me as a child was less gruesome than I remembered).

Still, the film remains fairly watchable thanks to the chemistry between Weissmuller and O'Sullivan, some funny antics from Cheetah the Chimp (she teases lion cubs, attempts to ride a zebra, and laughs as comedy relief Rawlins tries to master swinging on a vine), the impressive sight of Tarzan's 'town-house' (complete with elephant powered elevator!), and one particularly bizarre scene featuring a weird dodo-like bird (which I presume must have been performed by a man with no legs, walking on his hands in a feathered suit!!!).

6.5 out of 10, rounded up to 7 for IMDb.

Tarzan Escapes is OK, though not a patch on its predecessors, Tarzan the Ape Man (1932) and Tarzan and His Mate (1934). Most interestingly, it was originally shot as Tarzan Returns in 1935, but this film was completely remade, largely because it 'lacked a central plot menace'. Paradoxically, what was cut from Tarzan Returns was its biggest 'plot menace' - a Giant Vampire Bat sequence, set in a swamp, which would have been great! Tarzan Escapes retains the swamp sequence but with giant lizards only and no bats. I've seen stills and production drawings of the prop bats and they were wonderful creations (as ridiculously large as the crocs were in these movies), with flashing red eyes... What a shame that we'll never get to see this version!

Jane's cousins come to Africa looking to take her back to England. They enlist the help of a big game hunter who, like every hunter in the Tarzan series, is evil. None of this goes over well with Tarzan. Third entry in MGM's Tarzan series is less impressive than the first two but still entertaining in its own right. Maureen O'Sullivan's charm and playful chemistry with Johnny Weissmuller is the best part of the movie. Actually, it's probably the best part of the entire series to me.

As other reviewers have discussed, this one was meddled with by the studio, who deemed the original cut too violent after poor screenings. Unfortunately, we'll probably never know how good that version was. The biggest cut we know of is the much-talked about climax involving giant bats. It sounds pretty cool and I hope someday a copy of that cut exists so we can see it. Still, even with the cuts, the climax of this film is still exciting.

It's an enjoyable film, even if it doesn't hold up well compared to the two that preceded it. Weissmuller and O'Sullivan are terrific. The rest of the cast is pretty good, too, with Herbert Mundin a standout. I can't imagine any fan of the series not liking this one, even if the spectre of "what might have been" hangs over it. Too bad about those bats, though.

The Hays Code brought the Tarzan Series down from Adult Adventure to Teen Adventure (this one) to the Kiddie Adventures to come after.

"Tarzan Escapes" was made prior to the Hays Code but was released after it took effect and therein is the Problem with the Third in the Series. It Suffers from Extended Reshoots and Editing the "Good Stuff".

Although the Movie does Retain a bit of the Jungle Violence, the Nasty Natives of Previous Entries, and a Few Scenes of Terror, it Loses the Pre-Code Edge and is Replaced with some Clunky Scenes (Tarzan walking zombie like with depression and extended Cheetah shenanigans).

Overall, the Story of Tarzan being Caged and put on Exhibition is a Nervous Anxiety and some Safari Scenes Impress, the much Talked About Ju-Ju is Only Talked About.

After this, when the Hays Code and "Boy" showed up, the Series fell into a "Flintstones" Frolic that can at times be Witnessed in this one. The Beginning of the End for Tarzan as an Adult Adventure.

As a kid I LOVED all Johnny Weissmuller Tarzan flicks, including this one. But one incident has been bothering me all these years; Benita Hume finds two adorable lion cubs in a tree trunk, and as she picks them up in her arms and starts cuddling them, their mother appears rushing menacingly towards Benita. Capt Fry shoots the lioness dead just in the nick of time. What bothers me is that nothing more is said or shown of the two cubs, who, we are to assume, must have perished without their mother's protection and nourishment. My anxiety about the fate of the cubs was rekindled recently when I viewed the DVD version of the film. Another incident which disturbs me is when one of the native bearers tumbles screaming to his death from the precipitous rocky mountain passage; however, before falling he had dropped the large crate of supplies he was carrying, prompting Fry's comment: "That was a close call" (or something to that effect). Never mind that a human being has just perished horribly

Tarzan Escapes was released on VHS in the UK by Warner Brothers as part of a box set which also includes Tarzan Finds a Son and Tarzan and His Mate. I enjoyed this one.

Janes cousins, Eric and Rita arrive in the jungle to look for Jane to tell her she has inherited a lot of money. They arrive with Captain Fry, who plans to kidnap Tarzan and have him as part of his freak show. He does manage to get him into a cage but with the help of some of his elephant friends and Cheetah, he escapes and towards the end, gets his revenge when he makes Fry go back into a cave they just went through where there are hungry lizards and Fry is killed.

As always, Johnny Weissmuller and Maureen O'Sullivan are excellent as Tarzan and Jane.

Tarzan Escapes is a must for any Tarzan fan. Great fun.

Rating: 3 and a half stars out of 5.

As incongruous as it may sound, I'm beginning to detect similar patterns between the "Tarzan" and the "Rocky" series, a hunch I'll use to structure my review of the misleadingly titled "Tarzan Escapes", directed by Richard Thorpe and an uncredited John Farrow.

While the first "Rocky" film is more celebrated, "Tarzan: the Ape Man" is a true American classic nonetheless; marked by the legendary encounter of Tarzan and Jane, Johnny Weismuller and Maureen O'Sullivan who'd form one of the most endearing and enduring couples of Hollywood history just like Sylvester Stallone and Talia Shire with Rocky and Adrian. Their chemistry never inspired dubiousness and contributed to the film's best moments, which is saying a lot. And the second opus of both series marked a romantic culmination and "Tarzan and his Mate" featured some incredibly erotic shots, pinpointing the final breaths of creative freedom before the Hays Code would impose the most suffocating diktats of respectability.

So "Tarzan Escapes" is the "Rocky III" of the series, there's an obvious change of tone that betrays its obedience to the rampant puritanism that will slowly affect American celluloid. Jane has traded her sexy top halter for a more modest clothing item though we're conceded some generous shots on her legs every once in a while. Meanwhile, the plot is just a throwaway excuse to challenge her relationship with Tarzan, some vague cousins need her to come back to London for some financial issues, a rather bland William Henry is the young and well meaning Eric Parker and Rita (Benita Hume) is like a Jane Parker from the first film without the self-confidence, the humor and the perkiness. On the casting department, the cousins are only there to remind us one last (?) time about Jane's roots.

In a much showier role, there's the greedy explorer Captain Fry (John Buckley) who's so eager to help the Parkers to find Jane that we suspect his intentions might not be as pure as he pretends to, and to make the outsiders a tad more colorful and interesting, there's also Herbert Mundin playing Rawlins, the second in command in the comedy department... after Cheetah of course. I knew his face was familiar, he was the actor who flirted with Una O'Connor in "The Adventures of Robin Hood" and was a nice addition to the film, a shame that he died in a car crash a few years later (sadly enough, even Buckley prematurely died in an accident). Finally, speaking of Cheetah, she's more and more present and is obviously the third wheel of the relationships' dynamics like Paulie in the "Rocky" franchise, though Cheetah was probably better-mannered.

That exhaustive description leaves us with Johnny Weissmuller who's as athletic and at the top of his game for what's perhaps the less demanding role for a top athlete; and yet within his limited range of facial expressions and vocabulary (he made some progresses and so did Jane) he's perfect. And the plot, while not exactly revolutionary, is a solid vehicle to the usual characterization of both Tarzan and Jane as the king (and queen) of the jungle... with an exception this time: they have built their castle. They don't live in a cave anymore but in a sort of Flintstones-like treehouse where all the furniture and necessary equipment are available. It's cute in an urbane way, but the way it's all mundanely treated destroys all the values Tarzan proudly stood for: the adaptation not the triumph over nature, the raw and animal manhood conquering the heart of a bourgeois woman who realizes the futility of the Western comfort. Obviously, Jane did to Tarzan what victories did to Rocky... he got civilized... you can tell he doesn't feel comfortable, less than Cheetah anyway who had already made her marks.

And speaking for myself, I had the uncomfortable feeling that the film was distancing itself too much from the original material and it wouldn't get any better. There were still a few reminiscences of the glowing romance between Tarzan and Jane, a magnificent kiss where Tarzan approaches his face and the camera zooms on Jane who, in a state of ecstatic self-abandonment, drops a lotus flowers on a lake. A moment like this makes the film worthy of its predecessor and it was so perfect that the film didn't even need another swimming session.

Another aspect that didn't change either was the usual colonial racism displayed against the Natives and the way their deaths never carry any emotional resonance. I'm waiting for the "Tarzan" film where an African would play a more substantial role. It's true that the villains in the film (so far) are greedy explorers, but this time there's a difference since the standards of life that Jane escaped from in the first, and rejected in the second (the gifts she was offered) have been exported into Tarzan's life, which is a concession from the ape man's part. I can understand that one of the Hays Code' requirements was to establish that the Western civilization is a good, for lack of a better word, but the new house turns it into a joke.

Another more serious "joke" is the misguided and disturbing moment where a lioness is shot because Rita, Jane's cousin cuddled one of her cubs, maybe it was self-defense but the mother was also reacting from instinct. It's very indicative of the attitude of a film wasn't exactly made with the idea that these images would chock in fifty years, just like Tintin's infamous adventures in Congo. And I guess within that naivety, only the romance between Tarzan and Jane emerges as the only reason to enjoy the series, that and a few thrills and comedic effect.

On that level, the ending is perfect and Cheetah's scream is a clever nod to the audience, not to mention one of the best parts of the film.

My second Tarzan double-feature slot and the cracks are beginning to show! That said, TARZAN ESCAPES (1936; ***) is much better than online reviews would have you believe: true, there is ample stock footage on display here but it also boasts a strong plot line and cast (featuring Benita Hume, future wife of Ronald Colman and later George Sanders, as well as MGM staple Herbert Mundin and James Whale favorite E.E. Clive, not to mention the villainous John Buckler who comes to a particularly sticky end in this one) to even things out. By now, Weissmuller and O' Sullivan have grown considerably in their respective parts but the influence of the Hays' Office (established while the film was in production, resulting in extensive re-shoots before it could be classified for exhibition!) is also very much in evidence: Tarzan and Jane's behavior (to say nothing of the latter's 'wardrobe') is rather chaste this time around, and even the violence is there mainly by virtue of recycled scenes from the two previous entries in the series!!

TARZAN FINDS A SON! (1939; **1/2), though certainly briskly-paced and fairly enjoyable in itself, is where things really start to degenerate and a sense of deja'-vu hangs over the proceedings like a cloud; not that this factor is an isolated case in franchises of this period – consider, for instance, the noticeable leap in quality from the ornate SON OF FRANKENSTEIN (1939) to a strictly programmer-level THE GHOST OF FRANKENSTEIN (1942)… To make matters worse (though, I guess, this can be pinned down to personal opinion), we have here the addition of another jungle 'initiate' in the figure of Boy who emulates Tarzan in his every move, down to that grating yodel! Besides, his getting into endless predictable scrapes throughout, forcing Tarzan's nick-of-time intervention and queuing in further stock footage from the earlier films (now looking pretty rough-hewn alongside the lavish budgets MGM could afford by the end of the decade!), does the picture no favors at all in the story department!! Logic, too, is casually thrown out the window: the film opens with a plane crash-landing (i.e. before reaching its intended destination), yet when a search party is set in motion (5 years after the fact, conveniently allowing Boy to grow up and become attached to the Tarzans!), its members (invariably harboring an agenda of their own) go directly to the supposedly forbidden/secret part of the jungle where the Lord Of The Apes has set up residence…sheesh!! Once again, the familiar cast-list adds to the fun, though it has to be said that Ian Hunter (usually playing the reliable type) makes for an unconvincing villain in this one.

Johnny Weissmuller once again dons the loin cloth in this fun and breezy adventure for Edgar Rice Burroughs' famous creation. Directed by Richard Thorpe, story has Tarzan fending of the nefarious intentions of an expedition group who plan to take Jane (Maureen O'Sullivan)) back to civilisation, and Tarzan into side-show captivity.

Weissmuller flexes his muscles and gets help from his wildlife pals, while Jane wonderfully looks like she's auditioning for the porn movie version of the plot. Action is brisk, the dialogue not clunky, and the all round sense of adventurous fun never once leaves the scene. The wildlife footage is impressive for the time and Leonard Smith's photography is very slick.

There's some holes in the plot, but it matters not in the grand scheme of 30s Tarzan movies, it's the sort of film you watched as a kid and adored, and now as adults we go back to find it has thankfully lost none of its charm. Now, where is Jane's telephone number? 7/10

Jane's cousins come to the jungle to help her claim her share of an inheritance. The cousins played by Benita Hume and William Henry, hire Captain Fry, an evil white trapper, to guide them to Tarzan and Jane. His motive is to capture Tarzan and take him back to civilization as a caged exhibit.

Johnny Weissmuller, the most popular Tarzan, manages to escape and come to the rescue of the others that are being held captive. Equally popular as Jane is Maureen O'Sullivan. There is some romantic quality provided by Weismuller and O'Sullivan that makes them the best team of jungle mates. The bad Captain Fry is played by John Buckler and his bumbling side kick is played by Herbert Mundin.

This installment of the Tarzan series starring Johnny Weissmuller is very similar to one of these movies made just a few years later, "Tarzan Finds a Son!". Both have family members who come to retrieve one of Tarzan's family to take them back to civilization to retrieve a large inheritance and in both cases, it turns out that some of these 'nice people' aren't so nice after all.

The episode begins with Jane's family arriving at the Tarzan residence. They inform Jane that she's an heiress to the family fortune and that she should come back with them to claim it. None of them realize that the Captain, however, is unconcerned about this and has evil plans of his own. But, when this jerk tries to make a pact with a local tribe of nasties, the nasties turn out to be even bigger jerks and it looks like all the white folks are about to breath their last.

There are a few nice things about this film. E.E. Clive plays a very nice part as a guy who really seems taken with Tarzan and his lovely consort. Additionally, the film is very, very romantic--almost as much as "Tarzan and His Mate". However, the film also features very, very vague motivations for the Captain and you really never have any idea why he does what he does. There are also a few odd inconsistencies--such as Cheeta being called a 'she' despite featuring very large male anatomy! Also there is that stupid looking bird-like thing that made me laugh--and which was also in a bit scene in "Tarzan's Secret Treasure". And, like all the early Weissmuller Tarzan films it features Asian elephants with weird fake prosthetic ears! All in all, a decent but not particularly inspired entry but it's a darn shame that it's practically the same major plot ideas as are found in "Tarxan Finds a Son". Oh, and by the way, look for Tarzan to inexplicably use the word 'escarpment'!

That's not to say this is not quite good. No Johnny Weissmuller and Maureen O'Sullivan certainly shine as the romantic leads Tarzan and Jane. In fact, this may be the most romantic of all the Weissmuller films so if that's what attracts you, you'll likely love this. However if jungle adventure and fun is more up your alley, you may be slightly disappointed. Oh there are some surprisingly graphic attacks from enemy native tribes and Tarzan has an intense battle with a crocodile yet it doesn't seem quite enough somehow and doesn't make up for the story feeling slightly disconnected at times. There's a gaping plot hole here involving Captain Fry, after Tarzan is in his cage, later losing him. Also the lizards at the end are more likely to produce laughter than terror.

This may in fact have been the first movie in history to be the third installment in a series. It wasn't until much later that numbered sequels would even be applied to movies. I really do not like the title because it implies that Tarzan is captured and then he escapes from the city like King Kong. He is in fact captured in this movie, but he immediately escapes and it's pretty irrelevant to the rest of the movie. Anyway, this was still nice. I think my favorite bit would probably be how the sets still look great. I believe they used actual animals for this and it shows.

I admit the plot could be better. It features Jane's cousin trying to bring her back to the city. It really is nice to see how this connects to the previous two films. It's not that much of a direct continuation, but still good. It's great to see all the characters and settings the original two movies had. While not a classic, it's still pretty enjoyable. It just has a very humble feeling to it and it's nice to see such an iconic star like Johnny Weismuller in such an iconic role. ***

Arriving in Africa from England are handsome medical student William Henry (as Eric Parker) and his attractive sister Benita Hume (as Rita). They are on the continent to find cousin Maureen O'Sullivan (Jane) and bring her back to civilization, where they hope she will claim an inheritance of half a million pounds. Living among the apes by choice, Ms. O'Sullivan mated with jungle man Johnny Weissmuller (Tarzan) in "Tarzan and His Mate" (1934). Jane's cousins consider themselves lucky to find safari guide John Butler (as Captain Fry), but he secretly plans to cage Tarzan and display him as an exhibit...

Not much happens here that hasn't happened before, some of it even in the previous MGM Tarzan adventures. The plot about bringing Tarzan and Jane back to civilization by hook or by crook didn't work before, and it won't work again. The title "Tarzan Escapes" should be comforting. As this installment was released after the enforcement of the Hays Production Code, MGM had O'Sullivan wear a much more modest costume. This isn't a total loss, however, as O'Sullivan is still sexy and beautiful. This was noticed by writer/director John Farrow, one of those brought in to patch up production problems.

***** Tarzan Escapes (11/6/36) Richard Thorpe ~ Johnny Weissmuller, Maureen O'Sullivan, William Henry, Benita Hume

Third film in the Johnny Weissmuller--Maureen O'Sullivan Tarzan series. Two of Jane's cousins come to the jungle to persuade her to return to civilization. With them is safari hunter Captain Fry (John Buckler) who secretly has plans to capture Tarzan and bring him back to civilization as a sideshow attraction. And then there is the vicious native tribe near by...

Not as good as the first two (which were great) but still very enjoyable. This film was a disaster--it took 2 years to make and went through multiple rewrites, reshoots, cutting, editing and was overhauled completely when a test audience hated it. The film is pretty violent (for 1936) but the original was even more so with a vampire bat sequence that got completely cut out! The sex has been toned down too--Jane is dressed VERY modestly this time around and she's fully clothed during the underwater swimming sequence (she was totally nude in "Tarzan and his Mate". Still, this film isn't really for kids. The violence IS pretty strong. Also Tarzan and Jane's tree house is quite elaborate this time around. And there are shots of Cheetah laughing that are hysterical.

The acting varies--Weissmuller is very good as Tarzan--his emotions show clearly through his face (but he does look a little old in a few sequences); O'Hara is still bad as Jane and everybody else is TERRIBLE--especially Buckler and Herbert Munder (stuck with the thankless "comic" relief role).

Still this is fast-moving with plenty of action. Worth catching.

Johnny Weissmuller's third round as the loin-clothed Tarzan is a passable time-filler, nothing more. Plot has the Ape Man outwitting smarmy game-hunters who'd like to exhibit Tarzan as a freakish novelty back in England. Well-produced entry in the long-running series apparently had some directorial trouble behind the scenes, with credited director Richard Thorpe getting some unsung assistance. The sly sexual bits involving Maureen O'Sullivan's Jane are amusing, and the action sequences rousing, but there's nothing exceptionally fresh here to entice non-Tarzan buffs. Fans and film-historians should be more than satisfied. **1/2 from ****

In this episode,Jane meets again two of her cousins,eager to latch onto a rich inheritance ;they need her signature and she 's got to go back to England with them .Jane isn't interested in money at all,but she 's got to help her relatives so his cousin can study medicine .

A long sequence shows Tarzan and Jane is their garden of Eden .They do not need anything more,they could not ask for more.Civilization (here represented by a nasty man ,who wants to take Tarzan back to exhibit him in a circus) is evil,this will be even more obvious in "Tarzan's secret treasure" in which Boy would like to know the "other" world and all the things gold can bring.

Johnny Weissmuller and Maureen O'Sullivan were irreplaceable and these delightful black and white Tarzan movies owe much of their charm to them.