The New Adventures of Tarzan (1935)

Simply Perfect

Sadly Over-hyped

Powerful

This movie was so-so. It had it's moments, but wasn't the greatest.

I saw this today for the first time in about 25 years. This is the cut- down, 70-minute version of a 12-chapter serial. I've never seen the complete version. This was filmed by Edgar Rice Burrough's company under harsh conditions in Africa and Guatemala. This is one jungle flick actually filmed in the jungle, and the scenery is lovely. There are l-o-n-g scenic passages. One aerial sequence is accompanied by what sounds like a vacuum cleaner on it's last legs. When we do finally get to the conclusion of the picture, we see glorious Queen Kia-Kia, who looks like Mae West slumming. The scenery, not poor Kia Kia, is pretty to look at, and the comprehensive animal footage is very interesting to see. There are some very good stunts here, and I understand that the filming was a major ordeal for all concerned.

This is the first of two feature-length films re-edited from the original 12-chapter serial (also titled) "The New Adventures of Tarzan" (1935). The main storyline involves the search for an ancient relic known as "The Green Goddess". As is common with most serial-to-feature works, something is lost in the translation. In the early running, the film spends an inordinate amount of time on its new jungle location footage. "Rough cut" scenes are not edited properly. And, there is juxtaposition of scenes that don't make sense."Tarzan" goes from cultured "Lord Greystoke" to swinging in the jungle and back again, with no transitional information.Muscularly handsome Herman Brix, later known professionally as Bruce Bennett, is fine in the role; but, his Tarzan yell sounds partially wounded. The character is much truer to the original Edgar Rice Burroughs' novels. The chimpanzee "Cheeta" is "Nkima". Those watching the MGM Johnny Weissmuller films should see this Tarzan as fast-forwarded to the near future; our hero has discovered his noble British identity, but occasionally returns to the jungle for new adventures. The ending picks up the pace.**** The New Adventures of Tarzan (1936) Edward Kull ~ Bruce Bennett, Ula Holt, Ashton Dearholt, Lewis Sargent

Forget about this feature version of 'The New adventures of Tarzan', and get the complete serial! Too many sequences showing Brix in action are missing from this feature version. Inspite of the long jungle shots and poor sound track- and slow-editing of the material you will come to the the conclusion that Herman Brix is the best movie Tarzan ever.His action scenes will thrill all Tarzan fans. He worked under harsh conditions in the deepest jungle's of Guatamala. doing his own stunts (unlike Weissmuller)He completed the serial even when he got very ill,lost a lot of weight, was down with jungle fever etc. And all this without even getting paid for the job! Now there's a real Tarzan for you! No wonder Edgar Rice Burroughs (writer-and creator of Tarzan)pointed Brix out as the best film-Tarzan ever...

How do you say slow in chimpanzee? Now consider this: this is the condensed (70 minutes) version of a 12 episode serial, a total of 257 minutes. If you remove the long jungle pans and the many shots of the jungle fauna, this movie is maybe 40 minutes long. The plot is pretty thin and confusing until the end. One tends to lose sight of the fact that Tarzan is on this journey to find a lost friend. There is also another person, a Ula Vale, who's motives are never made clear. If you are going to watch this movie on tape, I would suggest you keep your finger on the fast forward button and use it liberally. If you do like jungle shots, you will love this movie.