TARZAN’S REVENGE (1938)
Article #860 by Dave Sindelar
Viewing Date: 7-23-2003
Posting Date: 12-20-2003
Directed by D. Ross Lederman
Featuring Glenn Morris, Eleanor Holm, George Barbier

An expedition out to trap a white alligator encounters a wild jungle man named Tarzan.

Title check: Except for picking up a man who tried to shoot him and throwing him on the ground, there is precious little vengeance going on here.

It’s tempting to write this movie off as a defanged and laundered take on the Weissmueller series, and for the most part the movie fulfills that function. The meeting between Tarzan and Eleanor here is far too reminiscent of the meeting between him and Jane in the Weissmuller films; they even go swimming together. However, the savagery of the Weissmuller films is not to be found here; this Tarzan is just one real nice animal-loving guy. Nonetheless, it is not without merit; the soundtrack was quite nice, and it does manage to add a touch of gentle lyricism to the mix that doesn’t appear to have been lifted from its inspiration; it’s a touch that this movie can definitely call its own. No, it’s not up to the Weissmuller series, but it’s not an embarassment, either, but I suspect that those who like the character of Tarzan for his violent savagery will find little to entertain them here.