It's interesting how movies slumped after the censors got their out of joint noses involved. Our Puritan foundation really diminished a lot of film for many years (in some ways, it's still happening today). Like "Bride of Frankenstein" surpassing the original, "Tarzan and His Mate" is superior to the first Weissmuller film. Maureen O'Sullivan is incredible to look at, but has all the feistiness and self esteem to hold her own with the big guy. But most importantly, the producers and writers asked themselves what a true depiction of these two, living in the jungle, should be like. They went for the rawness. In addition to the recognition of the sexuality in this film, it is filled with well crafted adventures and close calls. Efforts are still being made by the Westerners to try to reclaim the beautiful young woman. These movies were much more fundamental than the silly stuff that came later, as professional body builders and football players got into the mix. When filmmakers had to work with less, they often had to resort to creativity and imagination.
Review of Tarzan and His Mate
