Tarzan and His Mate

Never before and never since has there been a more wonderful Tarzan movie than this one. While the first Weismuller Tarzan movie, "Tarzan The Ape Man" is required viewing before seeing this one, "Tarzan And His Mate" is the only one to watch if you have to pick just one Tarzan movie. The film delivers in action, excitement and romance on a grand level with Maureen O'Sullivan looking absolutely sexy in her abbreviated costume as Jane. Unfortunately, the iron hand of the Hays Office forced all subsequent Weismuller-O'Sullivan Tarzan films to be toned down in the romance department (with O'Sullivan getting more conservative wardrobe) and the series never came close to this film again. Highly recommended.

As noted by other reviewers this is one of the best Tarzan movies. Unlike others however, I like the beginning of the film as it feels like a pretty accurate depiction of what a trading post must have been like. Plus the exposition is needed so we know why Harry wants to go back into the jungle. In addition the beginning of the film contains one of the most thrilling and terrifying chase sequences ever made.This occurs when Harry's safari group has to outrun a tribe of cannibals. The pre-censorship production values add a lot of realism, genuinely depicting the terrible dangers that awaited Europeans going into the jungle. The film also offers, though perhaps antecedently, an accurate account of how horribly treated the native Africans were by their white employers. In addition sexy Jane, thousands of elephants , some great sets and two chetas! Not to be missed an adventure classic.

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.

It feels weird saying this as a young black man of 29, but Maureen O'Sullivan engenders/embodies a flirty sexuality unequaled in today's movies. She plays tomboyish, but is so flirty at the same time that renders her simply irresistible as Jane. I'm also surprised that Tarzan is still so rough with her and that that was acceptable back in the day. I mean, it's cute, but a tad ungentlemanly.

Since I need to write at least ten lines, I'll continue on...

It's actually really refreshing, the irrelevance of the shame of nudity in this film. Here we are, in 1934, with a man undressing for a bath in the same room with his friend. Jane's naked silhouette tempting the imaginations of every red-blooded American. It's just so natural and alluring in its unabashedness. The skinny-dipping scene is a beautiful ballet of light, water, and skin. It's not pornographic, simply playful and free.

As a black man, I'd love if there was some way the treatment of blacks in this film weren't so harsh, as though all they are are beasts of burden, but I suppose it was a sign of the times. It's darned near slavery. But then again, I never traveled on safari in Africa in the 30s.

It's interesting how movies slumped after the censors got their out of joint noses involved. Our Puritan foundation really diminished a lot of film for many years (in some ways, it's still happening today). Like "Bride of Frankenstein" surpassing the original, "Tarzan and His Mate" is superior to the first Weissmuller film. Maureen O'Sullivan is incredible to look at, but has all the feistiness and self esteem to hold her own with the big guy. But most importantly, the producers and writers asked themselves what a true depiction of these two, living in the jungle, should be like. They went for the rawness. In addition to the recognition of the sexuality in this film, it is filled with well crafted adventures and close calls. Efforts are still being made by the Westerners to try to reclaim the beautiful young woman. These movies were much more fundamental than the silly stuff that came later, as professional body builders and football players got into the mix. When filmmakers had to work with less, they often had to resort to creativity and imagination.