Tarzan Escapes (1936)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

Richard Thorpe
(more)

Writers:

Edgar Rice Burroughs (characters)
Cyril Hume (screenplay)
(more)

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 | Cousin | Hunter | Jungle | Expedition

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
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Everett Brown	...	Hostile Native Chief (uncredited)
Johnny Eck	...	Gooney-Bird (uncredited)

Directed by
Richard Thorpe
John Farrow		(uncredited)
James C. McKay		(uncredited)
George B. Seitz		(uncredited)
William A. Wellman		(uncredited)

Writing credits
Edgar Rice Burroughs		(characters)
Cyril Hume		(screenplay)
Jack Cummings		contributing writer (uncredited)
Edwin H. Knopf		contributing writer (uncredited)

Produced by
Sam Zimbalist	....	associate producer
Jack Cummings	....	producer (uncredited)
Phil Goldstone	....	producer (uncredited)
Bernard H. Hyman	....	producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
William Axt		(uncredited)

Cinematography by
Leonard Smith		(photographed by)

Film Editing by
W. Donn Hayes
Frank Lawrence		(uncredited)

Art Direction by
Elmer Sheeley

Set Decoration by
Edwin B. Willis		(uncredited)

Art Department
James E. Newcom	....	art effects (uncredited)

Sound Department
Douglas Shearer	....	recording director
T.B. Hoffman	....	sound (uncredited)
Standish J. Lambert	....	sound (uncredited)
M.J. McLaughlin	....	sound (uncredited)
Ralph A. Pender	....	sound (uncredited)
Ralph Shugart	....	sound (uncredited)
Michael Steinore	....	sound (uncredited)
R.L. Sterling	....	sound (uncredited)
Charles E. Wallace	....	sound (uncredited)
Don T. Whitmer	....	sound (uncredited)

Special Effects by
A. Arnold Gillespie	....	special effects (uncredited)
Tom Tutwiler	....	photographic effects (uncredited)

Stunts
Norm Taylor	....	stunt double (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Bob Gough	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Charles Salerno Jr.	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Albert Scheving	....	assistant camera (uncredited)

Music Department
William Axt	....	musical director (uncredited)
Sol Levy	....	composer: stock music (uncredited)

Other crew
Ernest Wilson	....	tutor: Swahili, Mr. Weissmuller (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (controlled by Loew's Incorporated)

Distributors

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1936) (USA) (theatrical) (controlled by Loew's Incorporated)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1954) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• ClassicLine (2003) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Continental Home Vídeo (19??) (Brazil) (VHS)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1992) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (19??) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Vídeo (2004) (Brazil) (DVD)

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:

Footage of the Murchison Falls in Africa, originally shot for Trader Horn (1931), was used in the film.

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: In the boat, Capt. Fry gives an order to Bomba who agrees saying, "Yes, bwana," but he does not move his lips.

Quotes:

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

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Tarzan: Silver Screen King of the Jungle (2004) (V)

Soundtrack:

Cannibal Carnival

The one that got away

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!