Tarzan's New York Adventure

Some men come to Africa by plane looking for lions for their circus. Despite Tarzan's warnings to stay away from them, Boy is fascinated by the plane and tries to get a closer look. He's kidnapped by the circus owner, hoping to turn Boy into a big attraction back home. Tarzan, Jane, and Cheeta all head to New York to rescue him. Once there, Jane makes Tarzan obey the law and try to get Boy back the legal way. So they have to go to court to gain custody. Weird. Don't worry, this isn't a courtroom drama. There is plenty of action. Tarzan's escape from the police and the circus rescue is exciting stuff. There's also quite a bit of 'fish out of water' humor with Tarzan having to wear a suit and discovering radio and indoor plumbing for the first time. Cheeta's also lots of fun in this. That crazy laugh is something else. The phone call scene with Mantan Moreland will NOT sit well with everybody, so sensitive types be forewarned. Johnny Weissmuller, Maureen O'Sullivan, and Johnny Sheffield are all great, as usual. Good support from Paul Kelly, Charles Bickford, Virginia Grey, Chill Wills, and Cy Kendall. This is the sixth and final Tarzan film from MGM before the series relocated to RKO. It's also the last film with Maureen O'Sullivan, who didn't act again for six years. The subsequent RKO Tarzans are fun but it's hard to beat the MGM series which had, among other attributes, the wonderful chemistry between Weissmuller and O'Sullivan.

This is the last of the six great "Tarzan classics" with Johnny Weismuller and Maureen O'Sullivan. And I frankly didn't think I would like it: who, after all, wants to see Tarzan anywhere but in the jungle?

But this turned out to be a delightful tale after all. We are given enough of Tarzan, Jane, Boy, and the animals in the jungle to set the stage; and then are whisked to New York for a story full of situational humor, social commentary, and adventure.

Cheetah perhaps plays a bigger role in this movie than in any of the others. Cheetah provides us with great scenes of fun and good humor, opening the movie at the beginning and closing it at the end in the jungle. In both scenes, Cheetah opens with the elephants with delightful playfulness. In between, we have Cheetah going to New York with Tarzan and Jane for a series of easy-going, hilarious romps that help to really provide this movie with a special humor to offset what is I'll admit I really didn't like Boy's "tricks" with the baby elephants at the beginning of the movie. This all seemed very unnatural, and that really undermines the movies depiction of Boy in the Jungle.

However, the perhaps predictable but mordant social commentary contrasting "civilization" and Tarzan's jungle was to me a very good fit for a movie that really more than usual emphasizes environmental contrasts. The adventure/action scenes of Tarzan high above the streets of New York, and far above the Brooklyn Bridge, were wonderful.

The cinematography was excellent, crisply precise. The pace occasionally lagged, but in general, was good. All in all, this is a very worthwhile addition to the great Tarzan canon, and I would recommend it to anyone.

After a swim, jungle king Johnny Weissmuller (as Tarzan), pretty Maureen O'Sullivan (as Jane), and son John Sheffield (as Boy) see pilot Paul Kelly (as Jimmie Shields) land his plane in their idyllic African hideaway. It is an expedition led by hunter Charles Bickford (as Buck Rand), who needs lions for his circus. But, after seeing young Sheffield's animal antics, Mr. Bickford envisions the youngster as a circus act. Animal trainer Chill Wills (as Manchester Montford) tags him "The Boy King of the Jungle." When a mishap incapacitates his adopted parents, the interlopers take Sheffield to America...

Saved by "Cheeta" the Chimp, Mr. Weissmuller goes on a New York adventure to find Sheffield and bring him home...

After twenty exciting minutes in the jungle, we switch to seeing the Tarzan family in civilization. Actually, it's "Cheeta" who takes up most of the action, which turns out to be a good idea as the chimp handles the humorous situations better than Weissmuller. However, "Tarzan" does swing into action for an stupendous conclusion. "Tarzan's New York Adventure" was the most entertaining entry since the series began. Some of the editing, visuals and effects are worthy of an award nomination. Alas, this ended the comfortably budgeted MGM film, and Ms. O'Sullivan left. The RKO era would be next...

******* Tarzan's New York Adventure (5/42) Richard Thorpe ~ Johnny Weissmuller, Maureen O'Sullivan, Johnny Sheffield, Paul Kelly

If you're a Tarzan fan of the Johnny Weismuller films, this is one you can't afford to miss.

Even the first twenty-two minutes of jungle scenes are briskly paced and amusing while JOHNNY WEISMULLER, MAUREEN O'SULLIVAN and JOHNNY SHEFFIELD encounter downed pilot PAUL KELLY and hunter CHARLES BICKFORD after their plane crashes. The plot is the usual simple one--Boy has been taken from the jungle and taken to New York City by circus exploiters--and Tarzan's mission is to recover him in time for a happy ending.

No expense has been spared in this big budget production from MGM. Although Cheetah gets lots of prime time, especially during the first half of the film, the supporting cast includes a lot of recognizable players such as Virginia Grey, Chill Wills, Charles Lane and villainous Cy Kendall. In this sixth film of the series (the last one featuring Maureen O'Sullivan as Jane), there's lots of monkey business involving tricks and stunts by a team of smart elephants worthy of any circus revue.

And thanks to director Richard Thorpe, the script plunges ahead easily to become one of the most entertaining in all the Tarzan films featuring Johnny Weismuller. At the fadeout, all is well in the jungle again after some amusing adventures in the Big City--including Tarzan's plunge from the Brooklyn Bridge.

Highly recommended for fans of the series.

It brings back wonderful memories where, after going to church Sunday morning and having Sunday dinner (always roast beef, country ham or fried chicken), my sisters and I would gather around the old tabletop Philco B&W TV to watch "Jungle Theater" which always showed either Tarzan or Jungle Jim (Johnny Weismuller's other alter ego). This was always one of my favorites, especially the dive off the Brooklyn Bridge and Tarzan giving his famous yell in the shower, fully clothed. And to us and all our friends, there was only one Tarzan, Johnny Weismuller. Alas,kids today don't know what they're missing. Ongowa, pacey, Cheetah!