Tarzan Escapes (1936)

Director:

Richard Thorpe

Writers:

Edgar Rice Burroughs (characters)
Cyril Hume (screenplay)

Release Date:

6 November 1936 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure

Tagline:

It's New! It's amazing! 2 years to produce!

Plot:

An expedition seeking to bring Jane back to civilization, and Tarzan into captivity, gets more than it's bargained for.

Plot Keywords:

Tarzan | Expedition | Jungle | Hunter | Attack

Cast

Johnny Weissmuller	...	Tarzan
Maureen O'Sullivan	...	Jane Parker
John Buckler	...	Captain Fry
Benita Hume	...	Rita
William Henry	...	Eric
Herbert Mundin	...	Rawlins
E.E. Clive	...	Masters
Darby Jones	...	Bomba

Also Known As:

The Capture of Tarzan (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

89 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

UK:U | West Germany:12 | Australia:G | Finland:K-16 | Norway:7 | USA:Approved (PCA #1563) | USA:Passed (National Board of Review)

Filming Locations:

Backlot, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

The original director was James C. McKay, who filmed many gruesome scenes. In July 1936, he was replaced by John Farrow who practically re-shot the entire film. There were also cast and crew changes: Granville Bates was dropped from the cast, while Herbert Mundin was added, playing a new character. Darby Jones replaced Everett Brown as "Bomba"; Elmer Sheeley replaced Cedric Gibbons as art director; A. Arnold Gillespie replaced James Basevi for special effects; Tom Tutwiler replaced 'Max Fabian' for photographic effects; and Charles Salerno Jr. replaced cameramen Virgil W. Vogel and Walter Strenge.

Goofs:

Continuity: The stalk of the flower Tarzan gives to Jane shortens from one shot to another.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Riverboat Captain: All right. Tie her up. Make her fast. Pull her in, boys.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Day of the Locust (1975)

Soundtrack:

Cannibal Carnival

One of the better Tarzan adventures.

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.