Tarzan's Revenge (1938) User Reviews

Not The Worst Tarzan Film

[Eric-62-2 · 6/10 · 6 April 2005]

Despite its reputation as being among the worst of the Tarzan films, this largely forgotten attempt to challenge the established MGM series of Johnny Weismuller and Maureen O'Sullivan is really no worse than any of the later Tarzan movies of the 1940s and 1950s (not surprising since Sol Lesser, who later took over the series after MGM abandoned the series produced this) in terms of silly plot, laughable stereotypes etc. The real reason why the film gets it's bad reputation is because of Glen Morris, the 1936 Decathlon champion, who makes for a very unconvincing Tarzan with a goofy expression and his awkward way of saying his only two words in the whole script ("Tarzan!" and "Good!"). The later movies at least have more convincing Tarzans. Morris learned his lesson and never tried acting again (I shudder to think of what might have happened had Yankees legend Lou Gehrig embarrassed himself by being in this film, as he had been Lesser's first choice).

By contrast, Olympic swimming legend Eleanor Holm fares much better. Like Morris, she had no experience for the part other than her athletic fame but she seems to at least be having a good time like the first prize winner on amateur night, showing off some spunk as Tarzan's eventual mate (keeping her own name Eleanor, rather than being called Jane), and also looking quite lovely in a bathing suit. If anything, she comes off as better than any of the women who followed Maureen O'Sullivan in the part of Jane and it would have been interesting to see her in other Tarzan films.

A 'must see" for Tarzan buffs

[Ernst-2 · 5/10 · 30 March 2003]

If you grew up with Johnnie, Lex, Gordon and Jock Tarzans, then you really owe it to yourself to see this one. You would be crazy to miss it; however, you would have to be even crazier to watch it a second time. It is really bad! I rated it a "5" on a nostalgic sympathy vote, which in one higher than the largest group of voters gave it. Seeing a different Tarzan makes the viewing worthwhile, but personally I am glad he never reprised the roll. Eleanor Holm was cute in the main female role, but my favorite was catching Wild Bill Elliott in a bit part as a ship's captain. He definitely paid his dues before starring later as a western hero. You'll recognize his voice before his face. Most of the movie is used showing one character or another going through the jungle (a studio backlot) with cuts to shots of various wild animals. Basically, thirty minutes of story and forty minutes of filler.

See it once.

"Were you molested by apes?"

[classicsoncall · 5/10 · 1 February 2008]

Well, he's not Johnny Weissmuller, but then again, Weismuller never did an upside down vine grab with his foot, so I guess that counts for something. As most reviewers on this board mention, Glenn Morris is rather stiff in his virtually silent role as the jungle hero. If one didn't know better, it would seem that this was Eleanor Holm's picture. She seems to dominate most of the screen time when it's not taken up by stock footage of wild animals, and she does a pretty fair job of maintaining interest, especially during the swim scenes. Curious how she had to go get her swim suit for the sequence with Nevin (George Meeker), but simply stripped down from her hiking gear to get wet with Tarzan.

Nominally the story has something to do with capturing animals for American zoos and locating a rare white crocodile. Eleanor's fiancée Nevin is an equal opportunity wild game hunter whose philosophy is best summed up in his own words - "I can't see what it is but it's something". The whole affair winds up at a rather Busby Berkeley looking set where an enormously rich sultan (C. Henry Gordon) intends to add Eleanor to his already large harem. I couldn't imagine how all those white harem dancers wound up in the heart of darkest Africa, but I won't be dwelling on that too much.

I always get a kick out of how Tarzan can engage a wild animal like a lion in combat and not suffer a scratch - pretty amazing! And just like all those Jungle Jim films of a decade later, geographical integrity isn't always maintained when it comes to things like South American macaws and aardvarks as part of the on screen menagerie.

If you have a choice between this Tarzan flick and virtually any of the Weismuller pictures, it's a no contest. But if you're in the mood for a mildly entertaining jungle picture, this isn't the worst thing going, especially up against a myriad of jungle ape pictures of the same era. I can't imagine though why Cheeta wasn't credited with an appearance here, if in fact it was Cheeta. Hard to tell you know.

The main question I have about the story - what's with Joe Sawyer's facial tic?

Watchable Low-Key Tarzan Feature

[Snow Leopard · 22 February 2006]

This low-key Tarzan feature relies more on the settings and the general situation than it does on the story, which is rather sketchy. It was Glenn Morris's only appearance as Tarzan, and while he certainly looks athletic enough, his lack of acting experience really shows. Some of the other aspects of the movie help out just enough to make it watchable.

The story has an expedition heading to Africa to capture some zoo specimens, with Tarzan indicating a strong preference for allowing his animal friends to stay in the wild. Meanwhile, a lecherous sultan has spotted a young woman in the expedition, and would like to add her to his harem, so he has made plans accordingly. Most of the screen time, though, does not advance the story, instead focusing on a variety of vignettes, and adding a lot of footage of lions, elephants, and many other animals, including a couple of cute lion cubs. The real action consumes just a small fraction of the running time.

Hedda Hopper, in a smaller role, is the liveliest of the cast members, and she has a few good moments with George Barbier, as the aunt and uncle of the heroine. As the heroine, Eleanor Holm is also pretty inexperienced, but she does have a solid screen presence. Morris's flat portrayal of Tarzan means that Holm has to try to carry a number of their scenes.

This is watchable as very light viewing, as long as you're prepared not to be too critical and don't mind a rather slow pace, but it doesn't have enough strengths to be any more than that.

Glenn Morris does okay as Tarzan.

[DigitalRevenantX7 · 5/10 · 12 July 2017]

The Reeds, a family of American zoo owners arrive in Africa in order to collect animals for their zoo. Patriarch Roger Reed is relishing the adventure while his wife is constantly having sneezing fits. Their daughter Eleanor is being targeted by an evil sheik who wants to add her to his collection of wives. He bribes their safari guide Olaf to lead them to a trap where he will kidnap her. But he hasn't reckoned on Tarzan, who is keeping an eye on the Reeds & is in love with her, causing complications between him & Eleanor's trigger-happy fiancée Nevin Potter, who is intent on killing as many animals as he can.

After MGM had made their three Tarzan adaptations, Twentieth Century Fox decided to give Tarzan creator Edgar Rice Burroughs a better deal & got the rights in return. But they couldn't get Johnny Weissmuller, the actor who played Tarzan in the MGM films & who was a former Olympic swimming champ, so they recruited 1936 decathlon champ Glenn Morris for the lead role. They also cast another swimming champ, Eleanor Holm, for the love interest.

The film is a rather goofy but passably entertaining Tarzan flick with some humour directed at the inept safari & some reasonable fight scenes & Tarzan grappling with lions & natives. Of course, some of the elements in the script have dated badly but Tarzan's Revenge is not too bad & does a fair job of giving some jungle escapism. Glenn Morris could manage the physical requirements of the role (he looked pretty good swinging on the vines in some scenes & is a good swimmer) but the public preferred Weissmuller so Morris' involvement in the franchise ended after this, his only turn as Tarzan. The other actors acquit themselves fairly although C. Henry Gordon's evil sheik is strictly one-dimensional & cardboard in nature.

So-so and routine adventure movie in which Tarzan takes on greedy trappers and a wealthy Sultan

[ma-cortes · 5/10 · 27 October 2020]

Here Tarzan dispatches hunters who are illegally trapping wildlife for menageries. Along the way , Tarzan manages to free all the captured animals as tigers, leopards , Lioness and their cubs . Meanwhile, he saves the damsel in distress , Eleanor Holm, when is kidnapped by an avaricious Arab, Ben Bey, to add his Harem who has already a lot of women, approx 100 . The latest and greatest of Edgar Rice Burrough famous adventures!. Tarzan calls again and new thrills sweep the jungle wilds!. Spectacularly produced! The Tarzan-thrill of all time!

Tarzan's Revenge is an adventure movie with action, thrills , animal attacks , angry natives , and mean trappers , but dubiously faithfful to Edgar Rice Borroughs . Being mostly shot on Twentieth Century Fox backlots, adding a lot of stock footage of jungle and wild animal. Glenn Morris is a better Olimpic runner than actor in this routine Tarzan movie. Glenn Morris was the fourth Olympic athlete to play Tarzan. He was the 1936 decathlon champion and won the Sullivan Award, outstanding amateur athlete of the year over the more famous Olympian Jesse Owens. Winning the Gold Medal at the 1936 Summer Olympic Games in Berlin, Germania, the so-called "Nazi Olympics" and the same Olympics where Jesse Owens upstaged Adolph Hitler. Subsequently, he played this movie hired by the independient producer Sol Lesser but the reviews were so throughly bad that Glenn never made another film. And co-star Eleanor Holm is frankly horrible . As secondary actress appears Hedda Hopper, known as Queen of the Quickies, starring hundreds of support roles and later on, she started a gossipy radio show, shortly after commenced a 30-year stint as a newspaper gossip columnist, rival of Louella Parsons. And, of course, the sympathetic chimpanzee Cheeta, who here steals the show while doing antics, mayhem and frolics. This is only for serious Tarzan fans. The picture was regularly directed by David Ross Letterman.

The film was produced by Sol Lesser in medium budget . Lesser to continue producing a lot of Tarzan movies . As he financed the last movies starred by Johnny Weissmuller, such as : Triumph of Tarzan, Tarzan's desert mystery, Tarzan and the Amazons, Tarzan and the Leopard Woman, Tarzan and the huntress, Tarzan and the mermaids . As well as those performed by Lex Barker, such as : Tarzan's magic fountain, Tarzan and the slave girl, Tarzan's peril, Tarzan and the She-devil , Tarzan's savage fury . And the subsequent Tarzan : Gordon Scott , who starred : Tarzan fights for life by Bruce Humberstone , Tarzan's greatest adventure by John Guillermin, Tarzan and the Last Safari, Tarzan the Magnificent by John Guillermin and Tarzan and the trappers by Charles Haas and Sidney Howard .

Burrough's Famous Ape Man, Speechless (Again)!!

[redryan64 · 5/10 · 7 May 2012]

THIS MAKES THE third non-MGM Tarzan film to come out ever since the ascent of Johnny Weismueller to the role. In much the same way as the other movies did (including MGM), they all chose Olympic Champions to essay the role.*

AS THIS WAS the second Tarzan movie produced by Sol Lesser and his Principal Pictures Corporation, there was a precedent and a formula to follow. Much in the same way as his previous was his first effort, (that would be TARZAN THE FEARLESS with Buster Crabbe) the Jungle Lord spoke very little; being an even more of a mute than Weissmueller was. There also was no Jane; but rather an Eleanor (swimming champ Eleanor Holm). Perhaps this could be explained by relating this to have occurred before the 'Big Swinger' had met Jane!

BOTH IN SETS and other production values, REVENGE looked much better than the previous outing. This was, perhaps, due to the fact that the first effort, FEARLESS, was a sort of hybrid; having a short feature leading to a number of cliff hanger type of chapters, which both continued and added on to the story.

AS FOR THE storyline, the credits claim it to be adapted from a novel written by the old man, himself, Mr. Edgar Rice Burroughs. This seems to be somewhat of a stretch to us. The plot line concerns the efforts of a safari of Americans making a long journey up an East African river to a remote section of "the Jungle"; in search of a rare, Albino Crocadile!! It seems that the effort is well worthwhile to Eleanor's pater, who has some zoo or animal menagerie!

ALSO, UNLIKE ANY other celluloid foray of Burroughs' "Noble Savage", the story includes a rival for the hand of the female lead. In this case, veteran character, George Meeker, is cast as Eleanor's cruel and heartless fiancée. What, with his innate cruelty being displayed from the earliest scenes. He is revealed as both a monstrous killer of innocent, harmless animals and a coward!

THE LENGTH OF this feature is not too long; being that it is under the traditional (at that time) length of 90 minutes. Overall, it has a fine look about it; including a couple of swimming in a croc-free pond-much like those in most of those starring Weismueller and Miss Maureen O'Sullivan.

OVERALL, THIS IS an enjoyable, escapist entry into the world of the now famous Apeman; which is well worthwhile for at least one viewing. There are several sort of unique elements introduced here. For one, both principal players were imported from the 1936nAmeroican Olympic teams; with Miss Holm's being a beautiful and very feminine counterpoint to Mr. Morris's rugged muscularity.**

ODDLY ENOUGH, THE worst casualty of this Jungle Picture was that of Glenn Morris and his future in Hollywood. We well remember reading some years ago in some publication (we think it was Warren Publicsations' SCREEN THRILLS ILLUSTRATED), that some reviewer was particularly cruel to his performance.

THIS CRITICS' REVIEW went something lika thisa:

".....Glenn Morris' portrayal of Tarzan was totally

inept, for he posses facial features that are some

where between those of Broadway's Burgess Meredith and Hollywood's

Harpo Marx, with the talent of neither!"

WITH THAT, OLYMPIAN, Glenn Morris made no more movies; none as Tarzan nor as any other other character. For this to have occurred was a sort of minor tragedy; as Glenn would surely have improved his skills, gotten to feel more at home in "Tinsel Town" and have made a great leading man in "B" films, Westerns and Serials.

NOTE:* The other two Tarzan movies were TARZAN, THE FEARLESS (also from Mr. Sol Lesser's Principal Pictures)and THE NEW ADVENTURES OF TARZAN (Burroughs-Tarzan Enterprises, 1935), produced by 'Old Man' Burroughs, himself); which starred 1928 Olympic Decathalon Champion Herman Brix!

NOTE:** Miss Holm had been disqualified to compete as a Swimmer at those 1956 Olympics in Berlin for "conducting herself in an improper manner" (drinking and partying) on her way over the Atlantic in the ocean liner. My, my! How things have changed!!!

Tarzan is strong but the script is weak

[gridoon2024 · 5/10 · 15 January 2018]

Physically, Glenn Morris is perfect for Tarzan: powerfully built, yet light on his feet. His feats of strength (wrestling with a hyena, bending cage bars, etc.) are almost credible in this context. But he's so taciturn (I think he utters 3 words in the entire movie: Tarzan, Eleanor, good) that he's a bit of a bore. Eleanor Holm is an excellent swimmer and a more than decent actress. This is a fairly polished production, but it suffers from tedious scripting - there isn't enough story for 70 minutes. ** out of 4.

ELEANOR and the APE man!

[profh-1 · 4/10 · 16 October 2022]

A safari collecting animals for a zoo run into trouble when a filthy-rich egomaniac decides he wants young Eleanor Reed as his latest harem member, and doesn't care if she's interested, or not. This poor girl's having bad luck with men, as her current fiance Nevin Potter is a trigger-happy idiot intent on killing every animal that crosses his path, not for food, not for their hides, not even for their heads, just for the sake of killing-- and, he's a wimpy coward to boot. But then along comes a nearly-MUTE Tarzan and his never-named chimpanzee sidekick, who repeatedly rescues her, winds up having fun swimming with her, and after getting her away from a kidnapping, winds up beating the fear of God into her now-ex boyfriend, who really had it coming!

Tarzan also spends a LOT of time rescuing cute animals from captivity, making him a very ecology-minded hero.

MGM's series was never like this!

Sol Lesser made a deal with Edgar Rice Burroughs even before MGM did, which no doubt annoyed MGM greatly. But once MGM was forced to replace the injured Herman Brix with Johnny Weismuller, and HE became such a sensation, Lesser decided on ALL his future ape-man films, to imitate their idea of a NEAR-illiterate Tarzan! What a shame. Lesser's 1st effort, TARZAN THE FEARLESS (1933) had one of the most charismatic actors of Hollywood's golden age, Buster Crabbe, in the lead role-- but he barely had a chance to show what he could do, when his dialogue was reduced to maybe 9 words in the entire feature version of the (now-lost) serial. I'm guessing Crabbe was busy elsewhere when Lesser decided to try again with TARZAN'S REVENGE (1938), as he set his sights on not one but TWO Olympic champion swimmers-- Glenn Morris, and Eleanor Holm. Of the two, SHE had far more charisma, screen-time, and pretty much stole the picture. I can't really say Morris was bad-- but with only 3 words of dialogue in the entire film, he didn't exactly get a chance to show off what he could have done, did he?

C. Henry Gordon, that perpetual baddie, played "Ben Alleu Bey", who has a totally out-of-place castle built deep in the jungle with a large group of dancing girls and a small army of natives at his disposal. This element seems more "authentic" to Burroughs than the MGM series, oh, IF ONLY Morris had played a more authentic TARZAN! (I've been spoiled by the Sy Weintraub films & TV series, and, the newspaper strip stories.)

George Meeker's fiance "Nevin" is such an annoying kill-crazy IDIOT, he reminded me of "Lyle" from GEORGE OF THE JUNGLE (1997), except Lyle was actually FUNNY-stupid, not STUPID-stupid. And that movie, which I consider one of the best things Disney ever did, was really less authentic to the Jay Ward cartoons than it was an actual adaptation of the first 2 TARZAN books! (Really!)

When MGM dropped their series, Sol Lesser was there to pick up the banner. He made 6 more with Weismuller, 5 with Lex Barker, and 4 with Gordon Scott... ALL the while maintaining the "Weismuller"-style illiterate Tarzan. Understand, I LIKE the Weismuller films-- it's just, he's NOT the "real" Tarzan!!! And sadly, neither is this guy.

"Me Tarzan,...you Eleanor?! "

[planktonrules · 5/10 · 22 January 2011]

This film is in the public domain and you can download it from the link provided on IMDb. If you get a hold of the DVD, don't expect anything better as the film has been brought out by Alpha Video--a company that seems to NEVER do anything to restore its releases. Fuzzy picture and no captions or special features is what you'll get with Alpha.

Tarzan is an odd sort of series. Normally you'd think that an author would license his character to a single studio, yet oddly EVERY sort of studio (from classy MGM to not so chic RKO to tiny studios like Sol Lesser Productions) seemed to be making Tarzan pictures. While the MGM versions with Johnny Weissmuller were pretty good, many of the others, were, frankly, pretty awful---so I watched this Lesser Production with some trepidation. And, apparently, it was filmed on the back lot of Twentieth-Century Fox Studios--and it was typical for a poverty row studio to rent space on a major studio's lot.

As far as the film footage goes, it's what you'd expect--lots of stock footage of mostly African animals along with Asian elephants (used because they are more trainable and less nasty than their African cousins).

The film begins with Eleanor (Olympic champion swimmer Eleanor Holm), her family and her wimpy fiancé going for a safari in the jungle. When she falls into some water, Tarzan (Olympic decathlon champ Glenn Morris) comes to her aid--and the scene is pretty cute. Later, the evil Ben Alleu Bey (the excellent baddie actor C. Henry Gordon) kidnaps her--planning on adding her to his huge harem. So, it's up to Tarzan to save her virginity and rescue her.

While this is not a great Tarzan film by any standard, it is better than the RKO-produced Tarzan films with Johnny Weissmuller (after he and the series left MGM). And, it's a lot better than the later Tarzan films from the 1950s and 60s. However, it should be pointed out that despite decent production values and script, the leading man wasn't exactly interesting---and I can see why this was Morris' only Tarzan flick.

Fairly slow Tarzan movie's best aspect is the cast

[morrisonhimself · 8/10 · 20 June 2018]

Glenn Morris played Tarzan much as author Burroughs' wrote him: He was not a talker -- till later -- and when he met Jane, he said only, pointing to himself, "Tarzan." Then he pointed to Jane and said, simply, "Jane."

No "me" or "you."

In the books, he later became quite articulate, but only after being out in what we sometimes laughingly call "civilization."

In this rather languorous version -- at least three of which can be found at YouTube -- Glenn Morris' Tarzan does not meet "Jane," but he does meet "Eleanor," played by the lovely swimming champ Eleanor Holm.

The writers found a plausible excuse to get her into swim wear only a few times, but that included during the chase scene when the bad guys inevitably captured her.

Miss Holm made a few movies and Morris, sad to say, didn't. I think he should have: He was a great-looking and very athletic man, capable enough in this role and, with training perhaps, he could have played heroic roles into the future.

Other players here, even the atmosphere and bit people, seemed just perfect for what was needed and this Tarzan -- though unique and not part of any series -- is pleasant entertainment.

Yes, it's filled with stock footage, and there is very little violence, but that should not be considered a negative.

If only to watch Eleanor Holm, I'd watch "Tarzan's Revenge" -- a generic title, by the way, and not relating to the story -- again and I recommend it.

A Loincloth Fill-In

[wes-connors · 3/10 · 2 December 2007]

An African expedition intends to collect animals for zooery, which angers animal rights advocate Glenn Morris (as Tarzan). Eleanor Holm (as Eleanor aka Ellen) adds femininity to the casting expedition; of course, she catches Mr. Morris' eye. Morris, like Johnny Weissmuller, was an Olympic star; he looks great in the loincloth, but doesn't play either the Weissmuller or Edgar Rice Burroughs version of the "Tarzan" character very well. Ms. Holm was also an athlete; and, although she swims and cavorts wonderfully, she can't lift herself out of a shallow pool! Hedda Hopper (as Penny) and Cheetah (uncredited) provide support (and are supported). "Tarzan's Revenge" provided filmgoers with second-rate Tarzan fare, during a nearly three year wait between Weissmuller movies.

*** Tarzan's Revenge (1/7/38) D. Ross Lederman ~ Glenn Morris, Eleanor Holm, Hedda Hopper

Routine, not particularly memorable version.

[Poseidon-3 · 27 May 2005]

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.

Surprisingly cheap

[Leofwine_draca · 4/10 · 26 November 2018]

TARZAN'S REVENGE is a surprisingly cheap addition to the franchise, made in between a couple of the better-known Weissmuller flicks. This one goes through the motions without ever really engaging the senses, and Glenn Morris is one of the most wooden Tarzans out there. As usual there's a woman tacking along with a party of big game hunters and she goes for a lot of swims in ponds, where she attracts the attention of our hero. Some bad guys show up and are beaten. There are a few cute friendly animals, some bad yelling, and not much else besides, but at least it's short.

A Passage through Africa

[lugonian · 3/10 · 12 December 2021]

TARZAN'S REVENGE (A Principal Production released through 20th Century-Fox, 1938), directed by D. Ross Lederman, became the final independent "Tarzan" installment of the 1930s. Following three earlier minor attempts as TARZAN THE FEARLESS (1933), with Buster Crabbe, and THE NEW ADVENTURES OF TARZAN (1935) and TARZAN AND THE GREEN GODDESSS (1938), both with Herman Brix, all chapter serials later edited to feature length format. TARZAN'S REVENGE is a 70 minute Sol Lesser production with no prior weekly chapter elements to its name. The result being TARZAN'S REVENGE, regardless of its strong title, to be no threat to the ever popular Johnny Weissmuller Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer series (1932-1942). Often hailed as the worst of the Tarzan franchise, the leading players enacted by Olympic athletes as Glenn Morris and swimming champion Eleanor Holm, in her movie debut, did nothing to make this watchable nor the writers to make it exciting, even with screen credit given to its creator of Edgar Rice Burroughs as this based on his novel.

This low-budget project opens with the map of view Africa when a steamship traveling down the Luckdar River carrying passengers as Eleanor Reed (Eleanor Holm), her fiance, Nevin Potter (George Meeker), and her parents, Roger Reed (George Barbier) and his hay-fever suffering wife, Penny (Hedda Hopper). Roger's venture is to spend five to six weeks in Africa to capture rare animals such as a white crocodile for his New York zoo. Nevin spends more time shooting animals to improve his aim-shot practices than with Eleanor. Ben Alleu Bey (C. Henry Gordon), an Oxford educated African ruler with a 100-plus wife harem returning from Paris, takes an interest in Eleanor after she witnesses and defends one of his servants getting beaten by him. Upon the arrival to their destination, the Reeds are met by Johnson, manager of the safari company, with Olaf (Joseph Sawyer) hired to act as their guide through the jungle. At the same time, Olaf is paid heavily by Ben Allu to abduct and bring Eleanor to him once the safari gets close to his palace. Later, Eleanor is rescued by Tarzan (Glenn Morris) after getting stuck in the mud, and disappears. During the course of the story, Tarzan, who takes an interest in Eleanor, rescues the caged animals captured by Reed, while Eleanor finds herself captured and held prisoner by Ben Alleu, wanting her as part of her harem. Others in the cast include John Lester Johnson, Corbet Morris, Frederick Clark and Gordon Elliott.

While pieces of the story appears to be a rehash to how Tarzan met Jane in the Weissmuller and Maureen O'Sullivan edition of TARZAN THE APE MAN (1932), TARZAN'S REVENGE is rather tame, and disappointing to fans of the Tarzan franchise. This Tarzan character comes 13 minutes into the story, and on the 22 minute mark, meets Eleanor for the first time. Tarzan barley speaks except to address himself as Tarzan. His belt out jungle yell, similar to the soundtrack used by both Buster Crabbe and Herman Brix, is quite different than the more iconic yell by Weissmuller. Considering the fact that Tarzan is accompanied by a chimpanzee, he is never addressed as Chetah. Heavily underscored by Hugh Risenfeld, production values show this is not MGM as Morris is no Weissmuller. While Eleanor Holm may be attractive, sporting white attire throughout the story, she is a better swimmer than she is an actress. Hedda Hopper's constant sneezing gets annoying after a while. C. Henry Gordon makes a good villain, but there seems to be something lacking with his mean image.

While the given title of TARZAN'S REVENGE is a misnomer, had the plot revolved around the vengeance Tarzan out to avenge someone who killed his mate or one of his animals, then TARZAN'S REVENGE might have become a better and stronger story. Aside from some underwater swimming, animal fights and native confrontation sequences, the plot revolves more on other characters than the Tarzan character, which is just as well since this Tarzan lacks character. Thankfully, Johnny Weissmuller continued his long running rein as lord of the jungle or both MGM and RKO Radio until hanging up his loincloth by 1948.

Distributed on video cassette in the 1980s, TARZAN'S REVENGE began to surface regularly on both commercial and public television after 1979, followed years later by cable television channels as American Movie Classics (1997-2000) and Turner Classic Movies (starting in 2012) as part of its long running "Tarzan" series package from 1932 to 1968. (*1/2 swing vines)

Was it revenge on MGM or the audience?

[mark.waltz · 4/10 · 18 July 2016]

The Edgar Burroughs Rice stories of Tarzan have been told on movie and T.V. screens for over 100 years now. There even has been a Broadway musical that failed to capture the magic of the movies. MGM got in the ball game in 1932 and over a decade, managed to fill up movie theaters with successful series starring Johnny Weissmueller and Maureen O'Sullivan. But afterward, Weismueller moved on without O'Sullivan to RKO and the films became almost serial like in their view of the white African jungle hero, playing mostly to teen crowds at Saturday matinees and often overlooked by critics.

Glenn Morris doesn't have the screen spark of Weismueller or 1933 serial Tarzan Buster Crabbe, and even if nice to look at, he lacks in the acting Department. Not that the grunting Tarzan really requires acting, but at least the other two had screen charisma. The leading Lady here is swimmer Eleanor Holm who is perfectly lovely but certainly no threat to MGM's Jane. George Barbier and gossip columnist Hedda Hopper manage to bring laughs, especially the constantly sneezing Hopper who hates the jungle flowers but loves the animals, especially Tarzan's chimp and two adorable leopard cubs.

Veteran villain C. Henry Gordon provides the only real conflict as a Muslim leader with his eye on Holm for his harem. Morris wrestles an obviously fake lion, swims with Holm, but he seems to have less footage than the characters who actually speak. The funniest moment comes from a lavish dance scene that looks like an outtake from a Sonja Henie movie. This will never fall in the list of classics with MGM's series, but you'll have fun laughing at it.

Was I generous in grading?

[tomltd · 4/10 · 9 December 2021]

Bad acting. Bad script. Bad music. A triumvirate. It is one of those movies I ask how many needy people could have been fed for what they spent on making and distributing this movie.

2 Olympians for the Price of 1...Not Enough to Muster Much Energy...Below Avg.

[LeonLouisRicci · 5/10 · 12 February 2023]

Glen Morris (Decathlon Gold in Hitler's Games) and Elanor Holm (Gold in '32 for "Backstroke").

These Olympians were Paired Only 1 Time as "Tarzan and His Wannabe Mate",

both Her and Cheetah are Denied Their "Iconic" Names in this Non-MGM Filler made in a 3 Year Gap of the Johnny Weissmuller Popular Series.

It's Rumored that Morris was so Devastated by the Cruel and Bad Reviews, He Left Movies after His Only Attempt and Headed for Home.

It's a Fact, that Elanor "Partied So Hearty" on the Boat-Trip to the '36 Games that She was Disqualified and Benched. She Also Made No Other Fictional Movies.

In this Tarzan Picture, Once Again, the Ape-Man is Semi-Mute, Morris Only Uterring 3 Words the Entire Film,

but He is Handsome and Built Like "The Lord of the Jungle", Swings a Mighty Vine, Bellows a Commanding "Tarzan Yell", and, of course, Runs Like a Deer.

But None of this could Manage to Remove this Back-Lot, Low-Energy Production from the Doldrums.

Even Though, there is a Nifty, Energetic Fight with Tarzan and a Slew of Natives on a Wooden Bridge Hundreds of Feet in the Air,

and a "Busby Berkley" Inspired Gal-a-Athon Dance in a Harem-Filled Palace in the Middle of the Jungle.

The Constant, Repetitive Musical Underscoring is Nerve-Shattering, almost as Much as "Hedda Hopper" and Her Relentless "Sneezing".

For "Tarzan" Completest and Undiscriminating Lovers of "B-Movie" Adventures, it's...

Worth a Watch.

No Demand for the Morris/Holm Screen team

[bkoganbing · 3/10 · 21 April 2012]

20th Century Fox took its crack at the Tarzan franchise when producer Sol Lesser signed Olympic Decathlon champion from the 1936 Olympics Glenn Morris to play the jungle hero. As Tarzan Morris sure looked good in a loincloth, but Johnny Weissmuller handled dialog like John Barrymore in comparison to Morris.

There's no Jane in this feature, but there is an Eleanor, Eleanor Holm playing a character of the same first name. If you remember the film Funny Lady, Eleanor Holm 1932 Olympic female swimming champion was the woman who broke up Fanny Brice's marriage to Billy Rose. Here she's the daughter of George Barbier and Hedda Hopper and fiancé of George Meeker who are on an African Safari.

On the ship taking them up country to Tarzan's domain is rich Arab sheik C. Henry Gordon who brings out the villainous Moslem characters he did in such classic films as The Charge Of The Light Brigade for another run. Holm does an act of lese majeste upon Gordon's person, but all that does is whet Gordon's appetite for her. He pays off the expedition's bottom feeding guide Joe Sawyer to steer the party in his direction.

Meeker as always plays a shifty character himself, but one look at Morris and Meeker knows its curtains for him and Holm.

Done on the cheap and by a pair of leads who as actors were great athletes Tarzan's Revenge created no demand for these two as a screen team. The supporting players, professionals all, do their best to salvage this film, but it was impossible.

I Liked it!

[GOWBTW · 10/10 · 19 February 2018]

Being a fan of Tarzan, this movie is my personal favorite. In "Tarzan's Revenge", this turned out to be a very interesting adventure. Here you have a hunter from the USA with his family and fiancee. They go to Africa to catch game for a zoo. They run into Tarzan and Cheetah. In the normal movie it's Tarzan and Jane. But there's no Jane, there's Eleanor(Eleanor Holm, the swimming legend from Brooklyn) who is the fiancee of Nevin, the game hunter. She is also spotted by a king who wants her part of his harem. When Eleanor falls in a mudhole, Tarzan pulls her out, only to put her back in the mudhole. Her fiance is a total wimp. He thinks that Eleanor is suffering from the effects of the jungle. But she has more fun with Tarzan than Bevin. My favorite part of the movie is when Tarzan and Eleanor have their swim. Watching a movie when athletes are involved is a amazing show of strength and active intakes. This movie is classic, and it's recommended for all ages. This is for Tarzan enthusiasts.

Introducing Glenn Morris as 20th Century Fox's Tarzan!!

[elo-equipamentos · 5/10 · 6 March 2024]

When Johnny Weissmuller already paved a solid career in three successful MGM's Tarzan with a huge box-office, then came up 20th Century Fox's Tarzan introducing another Olympic winner athlete to performer Tarzan aiming for share this profitable niche market, however due the poor production and onward lowest box office, Fox's Tarzan and Glenn Morris's career was buried for good in face he didn't enough skill to play another roles.

Now scrutinizing the low profile offering it turns out dealing with routine Tarzan's picture, over an expedition of wealthy American family on rain forest at black continent, something alike a touring, taking photographs, exploring news spots and just capturing some small animals, among them just a male hunter that is fiancé of the skinny eye-candy Eleanor Reed (Eleanor Holm) who approaches Tarzan when was in jeopardy as quicksand and on river swimming track down by a menacing crocodile, soon as intended arouse a mutual affect among them.

Meanwhile a local a womanizer Sultan bribes the dubious safari guide Olaf Punch (Joe Sawer) often with a nervous tic at your face, pushing the expedition entering at his territory where he intends to catch the pretty Eleanor to fill up his crowed harem, actually a fortress inside the dense jungle, forcing Tarzan to make a heroic act to save her, the "Jane" in question was miles away to match Maureen O'Sullivan whatever benchmarking, actually Eleanor delivered a pale Jane's performance, It never come out at Brazil in any format, I have found at Youtube a restored colorized print, for historical Tarzan background worthwhile a look as die-hard Tarzan's enthusiast like me.

Thanks for reading.

Resume:

First watch: 2014 / How many: 2 / Source: DVD-R - Youtube / Rating: 5.5.

Second Rate Tarzan

[Michael_Elliott · 23 April 2012]

Tarzan's Revenge (1938)

** (out of 4)

Winning a gold medal in the Olympics must have been pretty nice in the 1930s as not only did you get the gold but you also got fame and a role in a Tarzan movie. This time out it's Glenn Morris who takes over the role of Tarzan as he must constantly save a rich girl (Eleanor Holm) who falls into traps, gets attacked by lions and eventually kidnapped by a evil priest. TARZAN'S REVENGE is pure "B" movie non-sense and if you're expecting the quality of the MGM films then you're certainly going to be disappointed. It's clear that the producers of this film really didn't care about quality as it seems they were just happy to have the Tarzan rights, looked at what MGM was doing and just tried to copy it. It really does seem as if the producers would be happy with no flubbed lines so that they could quickly edit the material together and get it released into theaters. There's really nothing horribly wrong with this picture it's just that nothing's very good either and in the end we're left with a rather bland and unmemorable film. Morris really isn't all that good as Tarzan. He certainly has the physical look down but the speech and mannerisms simply aren't there. Holm isn't too bad in her part and we get familiar faces like Joe Sawyer and Hedda Hopper in supporting roles. The stock footage is the typical stuff you'd expect from a movie like this. The biggest problem is that there's just no energy to anything you're watching.

A Tarzan of considerable interest.

[JohnHowardReid · 8/10 · 19 December 2017]

An unusual entry in the series, Tarzan's Revenge (1938), featured Glenn Morris as Tarzan. Aside from a small role in Hold That Co-ed (1938) and a bit part in She Married an Artist (1937), Olympic athlete Morris made no other movies.

Producer Sol Lesser had previously used Buster Crabbe in Tarzan, the Fearless (1933) and was later to become the most famous Tarzan producer of all when he signed Johnny Weissmuller when both the actor and the series were foolishly dropped by M-G-M. Eleanor Holm, who displays much more personality in the "Jane" role here, was also an Olympic gold medalist (for swimming). This is her only feature film, although she did appear as herself in four or five shorts. In 1939, she married the famous Broadway producer Billy Rose (which put an end to her movie aspirations). So this shapes up as an interesting film even before we take a look at it. Top-rate support cast includes George Barbier, C. Henry Gordon and Joe Sawyer. Quite a bit of money has been spent too! Where the movie fails is that the screenwriters are too faithful to the routine characterizations and hum-drum plotting of the original Edgar Rice Burroughs novel and that D. Ross Lederman is not exactly the most sensitive or artistic of directors.

Talk About A Torso!

[donwc1996 · 10/10 · 3 April 2016]

I am at a loss to understand why so many reviews here are so negative and for some reason expect Shakespeare when come on guys we're talking about Tarzan. And this Tarzan is great, great, great to look at! In fact I could not take my eyes away from his rock hard sculpted bod - heaven help me. For one thing he was the most natural looking Tarzan and that added to his credibility not only as the character of Tarzan but as an actor as well. The storyline was okay for a Tarzan but then let's fact it all the Tarzan story lines sort of blend into one another. Also, the supporting cast was excellent - some really great character actors.