The Essential Tarzan...
1934's "Tarzan and His Mate" finds Johnny Weissmuller, the quintessinal Tarzan, in his second outing as King of the Apes, defending his mate Jane (Maureen O'Sullivan) from a variety of hazards. Southern California fills in reasonably seamlessly for Africa, while a zoo's worth of animals are either defeated by Tarzan in personal combat or led by him against vicious ivory traders and their savage allies.

As the story opens, Tarzan and Jane are accosted by two English traders, who intend to lure Jane back to civilization and to find and exploit an ancient elephant graveyard for its treasure of ivory. Tarzan proves to be the principal obstacle to both objectives. In a rapid-fire series of action sequences, Tarzan must face down hungry lions, charging rhinos, and rampaging tribesmen, while trying to rescue Jane and defeat the ivory traders.

This movie contains all the essential elements of the Tarzan series, including a Tarzan all but inarticulate except for his trademark call, and what were, for the time, cutting edge special effects. Weismuller, a former Olympic swimmer, rarely missed an opportunity as Tarzan to swim across some body of water. One of the highlights of this film, suppressed from the original release, is an underwater swimming sequence with a nude Jane. This VHS version features crisp black and white photography and is highly recommended to fans of the Tarzan genre.

INCREDIBLE & PROVOCATIVE ACTION THRILLER WITH EVERYTHING RATHER MODERN EXCEPT COLOR
FIRST THOUGHTS: CEDRIC GIBBONS HAS WON 12 OSCARS & ABOUT 40 NOMINATIONS

I rather disregarded this film since seeing it in the late 1950s or early 60s. Now, seeing it today, remastered, restored and with all the deleted footage back in place, I found myself shocked. What a thrilling and wildly exciting modern film this was! And to think, it was released less than 2 years after the original King Kong.

-----> BUT NOT ALL IS PERFECT IN TARZAN'S UTOPIA <-----

Having extolled "Tarzan and His Mate's" virtues, I was equally shocked with how the native people were treated, in essence, with much less regard than wild animals. I'd like to think at least that has changed -- somewhat!

IN A NUTSHELL: BEFORE SUPERMAN WAS SAVING LOIS LANE, TARZAN WAS DOING WHAT NO MORTAL MAN COULD

That's right, Tarzan saved Jane from every form of disaster in literally every scene. He always seemed to be just a yodel away from Jane who very smoothly always yodelled back. Young kids get an incredible kick out of this form of communication and our youngest son [age 6] insisted we replay the yodelling sequences repeatedly, with him smiling and giggling each time as if he had never heard it before.

SPECIAL EFFECTS BLENDED BETWEEN REAL WILD ANIMALS AND SUITS, PUPPETS, & BLUE SCREENS: THANK YOU CEDRIC GIBBONS

Johnny Weissmuller as Tarzan certainly distinguished himself as an incredible action hero in all his 12 Tarzan films for MGM. To do this without CGI, Weissmuller had to fight an eclectic array of wild animals, men in animal costumes, latex crocodiles, and 'Blue Screen Monsters' like rhinos, lions, lepards and snakes. This blend of special effect devices is so incredible that one literally can't tell where the real animal ends and the puppet, latex model, or blue screen begins in most cases. Cedric Gibbons was the man most responsible for the cinematic wonders and his 12 Oscars and about 40 nominations let us know that the man was a cinematic genius.

WHAT IT IS ALL ABOUT: YES - YES - THERE IS A STORY TOO!

The plot is 'reel' simple. Greed has brought white men from 'civilization' back to the jungle in search of the elephant graveyard and a fortune in ivory. Tarzan, of course, realizes that this is wrong and the 'civilized' men, of course, are prepared to get rid of Tarzan in a civilized way -- with guns.

ALONG THE WAY: JANE [Maureen O'Sullivan]

One of these fortune hunters is Jane's former beau who has brought with him a rather ridiculous selection of provocative clothes to tempt Jane to come back with him to 'civilization'. Yes, we see Jane rather scantily clad and a nude swim [a body double is slickly substituted for O'Sullivan]. There is the implication of intercourse between Tarzan and Jane, and Jane has declared that they have been married for the last 2 years. Maureen O'Sullivan as Jane is a terrific addition to the Tarzan franchise and her featured role in this film clearly makes it the most compelling, though the most adult of the series as well.

Sexy Installment
Tarzan and His Mate is a typical installment in the Tarzan film collection in terms of story. Jane's former beau travels to the jungle with a new entourage in hopes of rediscovering the elephant graveyard and perhaps the lovely Jane. He finds her indeed as well as her new "husband" Tarzan. He also finds plenty of action; trouble with natives, animals, and later, with Tarzan.

This film shocked the censors of later years with its sexual content. Although it is bluntly stated that Jane and Tarzan consider themselves to be married, the scene where he whisks a glamoured-up Jane into the trees for a night of passion still raises eyebrows. On top of the provocative dialogue, there are scantily clad and topless natives, a scene where a man undresses completely, and an underwater nude scene. Maureen O'Sullivan did not do this scene; a body double did, but we still get an eye-full of the beautiful star due to her loose loincloth outfit.

The stars are very capable in this film. O'Sullivan in coy, smart, and helpless as Jane. Johnny Weissmuller is heroic, simple, and strong; he leaps through the trees with the ease of silent movie star Douglas Fairbanks. His character is a bit wooden, but he shows range even with scarce lines at the end of the film when he is reunited with Jane.

The action scenes are frequent but the use of blue screens and mannequins make them less thrilling. Also, the disregard for the lives of the natives is somewhat disturbing.

Great Love Story
I just happened to sit down one evening and watch this film on Turner Classic Movies. The second it was over, I went online and ordered it from Amazon.com. I found that there's a great sexiness about these two living amidst a jungle with no one around them but themselves. It's a very well told love story about two people who help define "soul mate." I recommend this film to anyone who enjoys a little romance.

The Best of the Best !
I'll make this short: After King Kong was made (my father saw it 54 times while working as a stage hand at the Hippodrome Theather in Baltimore City back in '33)MGM knew that they had to come up with a picture that would top the mighty Kong-and guess what-they did! Tarzan and His Mate is not only the Greastest of the Weissmuller films but I do believe it is about one of the Best Movies of all times! Real animals,the most real lifelike natives ever filmed (even the Gabonie Natives were enough to freak you out). Great lines like "Who did this? Gabonie Barrona, arrow always hear wit Gabonie" while the lead boy is pointing to his forehead ! Enough said, this is the best it gets do yourself a favor and pick this one up. "ENJOY"