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!!!
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!!!