Tarzan's Secret Treasure (1941)
d. Richard Thorpe, 81 minutes

Film Plot Summary

Gold hunters were led by good-hearted Professor Elliot (Reginald Owen) and his two greedy assistants Medford (Tom Conway) and Vandemeer (Philip Dorn). They let their expedition leader die of the plague and then forced Jane and Boy to lead them to the location of 'secret treasure' - a hidden gold mine with a solid gold vein of rock.

In the long, action-packed concluding rescue, Tarzan had to cross a wide ravine/gorge, run and vine-swing through the jungle, avoid crocodiles, and attack tribal war canoes that retaliated with spears, in order to save his hostaged family.

In the film, the Boy was threatened with being burned alive, and drowning with his hands tied after being thrown from a canoe.

Film Notables (Awards, Facts, etc.)

The plot of this fifth entry was predictable, with some of the footage provided by previous films (in order to save on budget).

Stock situations included crocodile and wild animal encounters, threatening native tribes, elephant stampedes, a last-minute rescue, etc.

Tarzan's New York Adventure (1942)
d. Richard Thorpe, 70 minutes

Film Plot Summary

In this unique Crocodile Dundee II-like tale, the Boy was kidnapped by big game hunters Mr. Buck Rand (Charles Bickford) and Jimmie Shields (Paul Kelly). Convinced that his parents died in a raging brush fire, the Boy was flown to New York City to be legally adopted by Rand and sold to the circus, where Tarzan and Jane followed (with Cheeta!).

'Fish-out-of-water' Tarzan was forced to temporarily acclimate to 'civilization' by wearing a tailored suit, staying in a hotel, showering (with his clothes on), taking a taxi, attending a court hearing, etc., and in one daring scene, he climbed out a skyscraper window and maneuvered up to the roof.

In another spectacular scene, Tarzan dove into the river from a suspension cable on the Brooklyn Bridge.

By film's end, the Boy was rescued from the big-top circus by Tarzan and circus elephants, and the family returned to Africa to happily swim.

Film Notables (Awards, Facts, etc.)

Originally titled Tarzan Against the World.

O'Sullivan made her final appearance as Jane, in this last of the MGM Tarzan films.

Weissmuller went on to portray Tarzan (without O'Sullivan) for another six feature films from RKO - through 1948.