Old Movie Classics: Tarzan's Revenge

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Tarzan's Revenge

1938 Tarzan Movie starring Glenn Morris as Tarzan

Watch Movie - Tarzan's Revenge (1938)

In yet another attempt to cash in on MGM's successful Tarzan series featuring Johnny Weissmuller, producer Sol Lesser produced this film starring not one, but two Olympic swimming champs. Morris takes on the role this time with Holm as a young lady on safari with her fiancée and her parents. The film concerns her father (Barbier) attempting to collect rare animals for a zoo back in the U.S. while her mother (Hopper) basically frets, fans herself and sneezes continually. Meeker plays the rather foolish and trigger-happy fiancée, joined by a feminine, fussypants, pinky ring-wearing valet (Corbet Morris) who occasionally tosses off a pithy remark. In the opening scenes (Tarzan doesn't appear until 13 minutes into the film!), Holm catches the eye of a wealthy Maharajah who wishes to add her to his harem. Later, when the group is on safari, he sends a band of natives to retrieve her with only Morris standing in the way of her future in sexual bondage. The film trudges on with many, many stock shots of jungle creatures, some cute (like a few little monkeys playing in the water) and some ordinary as Holm is periodically faced with Morris, who frequently has to come to her rescue. Their first encounter is rather amusing as he pulls her from a swamp only to get irritated when she won't allow him to grope her. Mostly, however, the film meanders on with its (by now) familiar plot line of a city girl discovering the charms of a man who sleeps on moss, forages for grapes and swims in a murky lagoon; helping animals in distress and killing anyone who causes trouble. Morris is physically fit and reasonably handsome, but lacks charisma in his virtually silent portrayal. Holm tries to inject some vigor into her scenes (and occasionally resembles Joan Crawford), but hasn't got very much to work with. Amusingly, her make up remains immaculate and her all white outfits (including a hysterical pair of little white boots) tend to stay crisp and fresh no matter what the circumstances. Film buffs may get a kick out of seeing Hopper (probably the least likely person expected in a Tarzan movie!) get carried around on a chiffon covered gurney by the natives and then complain about how worn out she is. It's of interest to fans of Tarzan, but hardly offers anything particularly special or entertaining. Neither lead continued with a career in acting, but at least the film affords a glimpse of these two athletes while they were in their prime.
IMDB Link Glen Morris Biography