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Tarzan and the Mermaids (1948)
Topic Started: Nov 18 2012, 04:50 PM (1,999 Views)
Laughing Gravy
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In his 12th Tarzan adventure in 16 years, Johnny Weissmuller finally hangs up the loin cloth. So to speak.

This is one bizarre movie. I attribute that to the fact that it was directed by Robert Florey, who'd never done a Tarzan picture before (correct me if I'm wrong, somebody), although he DID direct Harpo Marx, so there IS that. Also, it was the only Weissmuller Tarzan shot on location, out in Mexico, so that probably has something to do with it. But Tarzan and Jane don't even show up until the 12 minute mark (and, as usual with B movies, this thing doesn't run much longer than an hour) and afterwards, they disappear for long stretches. Boy? He gone. England. School. Mentioned, that it. Actually, Johnny Sheffield had outgrown the part and moved over to Monogram to play Bomba.

There are 30 or 35 songs in this movie, I think. But no - and I can't emphasize this too strongly - NO friggin' mermaids.

Anyway, gorgeous Linda Christian is a native girl who is being forced to marry a charlatan pretending to be a native God. Forced by whom? Why, George Zucco, that's whom. George dresses in the silliest High Priest robes you can imagine, all poofy bubbles and sea shells, many in the shape of a big star on his chest, just like Cap'n America. The God, named Balu (but he doesn't sing "The Bare Necessities", darn it) looks like Don Del Oro's brother, Marvin Del Oro.

Weissmuller (whose stunt double was killed in a high dive while making the film) was in his mid-40s and, yes, it was time for him to go. Brenda Joyce is back again as Jane, and still looks shockingly out of place in the jungle.

An okay picture, I guess, but the score (over-poweringly presented by Dimitri Tiomkin), myriad songs, and lack of much Tarzan make it one of the weaker Tarzans but certainly one that's unique.
"I'm glad that this question came up, because there are so many ways to answer it that one of them is bound to be right." - Robert Benchley
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CliffClaven
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A special charm is how Tarzan's jungle is magically relocated from Africa to somewhere in Latin America, complete with guitar-playing mailman.

The African neighborhood went from Lost World inaccessible to walking distance of assorted lost civilizations and anachronistic monarchies, so it's not that much of a leap to put Mexico a day or so down the river.
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andarius
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The first Tarzan flick I saw as a teenager and I was disappointed, but enjoyed the movies when the BBC started showing all the Johnny Weissmuller series in the 70s and enjoyed Mermaids much more the second time around..

"Natzees not hurt Tarzan, Tarzan not hurt Natzees", but when Natzees tried to kill little Boy (Johnny Sheffield)... "Now TARZAN make war!", lol. That's a superb movie.

Posted ImagePosted Image

Ooo - Gordon Scott was a great Tarzan and so was Johnny, but who was the best?
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Don Diego
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I Preferred Gordon Scott On the basis of movies like Tarzan the Magnificent even though his physique looked like Tarzan spent all his time in the Jungle Gym.
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andarius
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Yeah, but the best one has to be Tarzan's Greatest Adventure - there's a neat book called Tarzan of the Movies (£1.50 in London 1983, £89.00 on Amazon!) which for 1959 gives "Tarzan the best and Tarzan the worst!".

The worst was MGM's remake of Tarzan the Ape Man starring Denny Miller and Denny's flick held the crown for many years until MGM scored again with Bo Derek's stunner!

Bo was stunning, indeed, but...OMG!!!!!!!!! :D
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Don Diego
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andarius
Nov 25 2012, 04:39 AM
The worst was MGM's remake of Tarzan the Ape Man starring Denny Miller and Denny's flick held the crown for many years until MGM scored again with Bo Derek's stunner!

Bo was stunning, indeed, but...OMG!!!!!!!!! :D
You know it is not going to be much of a Tarzan picture when the title character only has 4th billing
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andarius
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The MGM lion's roar replace by "the cry of the Great bull Ape" was a nice touch - I wonder if it's improved with age?!

Richard Harris played Jane (Bo Derek) Porter's pappy and he was a very good actor.

They may *even*have filmed it in (steps back in amazement) Africa! :o

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<thanks to Cannon & Ball for "steps back in amazement" and ERB for the possibly dodgy quote>
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Don Diego
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Filmed in the Seychelles
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andarius
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Don Diego
Nov 26 2012, 07:48 AM
Filmed in the Seychelles
Must look up The Seychelles - heard of 'em!

Will Tarzan ever go to Kenya again!? :'(
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Don Diego
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here is a map


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andarius
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Don Diego
Nov 26 2012, 05:05 PM
here is a map


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Tarzan's Africa! :)
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AndyFish
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Weissmuller was definitely long in the cloth by this one, call me soft in the head but I liked Mike Henry as a James Bondish Tarzan.
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The Batman
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That's exactly what Sean Egan said in his book, Ape-Man: The Unofficial and Unauthorised Guide to 100 Years of Tarzan, about the Mike Henry films giving off a James Bond-ish vibe. Along with the other post-Weissmuller films, I have just received that set and look forward to checking theme out.


Always be yourself! Unless you can be Batman...then always be Batman!
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Sgt Saturn
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Speaking of Tarzan and the Valley of Gold, the pulpscans group on yahoo recently posted an epub version of Fritz Leiber's novelization. I have not read that book since it was new. I expect to soon find out if it is as good as I remember.
Edited by Sgt Saturn, Feb 7 2017, 02:06 PM.
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riddlerider
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Sgt Saturn
Feb 7 2017, 02:05 PM
Speaking of Tarzan and the Valley of Gold, the pulpscans group on yahoo recently posted an epub version of Fritz Leiber's novelization. I have not read that book since it was new. I expect to soon find out if it is as good as I remember.

I'll be interested in your appraisal. I too read Leiber's novelization when it came out but have never revisited it.
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