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Tarzan's New York Adventure [VHS]

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With a title like "Tarzan's New York Adventure", how could you possibly resist this film? It being the last of the lavish MGM cycle of Tarzan movies stretching right back to 1932 you would think that by 1942 this would be a tired entry in the series. On the contrary it is in my belief one of the most entertaining of the series and while far removed from the original classic characters and settings created by Edgar Rice Burroughs for his acclaimed novel, it has much to commend it. Marking Maureen O'Sullivan's last appearance as Jane and MGM's last effort before the series moved over to RKO with Johnny Weissmuller in toe it has a certain historical value as well for those people who are interested in the evolution of the Tarzan character on screen.

By 1942 with 5 highly successful entries already released the ideas and originality of the series was getting strained. Maureen O' Sullivan, a very beautiful and talented actress was eager to move on from the role and in an effort to appease her MGM came up with a highly original storyline which saw Tarzan and Jane travelling to New York to find Boy who has been kidnapped from their jungle home. This storyline enabled the studio to allow Maureen O'Sullivan to get into some contemporary fashions while in the earlier part of the story still allowing Tarzan fans a sizable amount of jungle excitement with spectacular scenery, hostile natives and rampaging wild animals. The story begins with Tarzan, Jane and Boy enjoying the tranquility of their jungle paradise when they encounter a group of trappers who have landed in the jungle to capture wild animals for their travelling circus back in the United States. As distrustful as always of the motivations of men coming to his jungle Tarzan confronts them and insists that they leave. In the fight that develops when they dont leave as planned both Tarzan and Jane are knocked unconsious and left for dead. Having witnessed Boy's amazing rapport with the native animals Buck Rand the circus owner (Charles Bickford ) decides to abduct Boy when they fly home and keep him to perform in the acts at his circus. Roused by a distressed Cheeta (who steals every hilarious scene she is in in this film) Tarzan and Jane make a desparate journey via airplane to New York to hunt the kidnappers down. The transition for Tarzan adjusting to life in the "Stone Jungle" and having Cheeta along provides the great comic relief in this story as firstly the couple book into a hotel where Tarzan comes into contact with all the modern appliances such as radios and proper showers. Cheeta also runs amuk and causes all sorts of trouble in the refined hotel setting. With the aid of night club singer Connie Beach (Virginia Grey) who is the girlfriend of the pilot of the expedition Jimmie Sheilds, Tarzan and Jane manage to track down Boy to the circus where a battle for custody of their son begins. In the court case that follows Tarzan has a hard time trusting modern man's justice and when it is discovered that Boy is not the couple's natural son, and when Tarzan is accused of all kinds of breaches of the law he breaks free to find Boy himself. A lengthy pursuit across the top of some of New York's skyscrapers follows and then a spectacular dive by Tarzan off the Brooklyn Bridge before proper justice is done and he and Jane are happily reunited with Boy and set out for home.

Without a doubt one of the most popular and indeed amusing entries in the MGM series "Tarzan's New York Adventure", boasts top production values, sturdy fast paced direction by MGM veteran Richard Thorpe, and as was the case with these films an excellent suporting cast. By this stage in the series Johnny Weissmuller had more dialogue and a bit more character to work with than he had in the earliest films and his work with regular co star Maureen O'Sullivan is well crafted and quite touching at times. Although his later Tarzan films at RKO would be in the "B" class, Weissmuller would always be regarded as the definitive Tarzan for generations to come and still comes to viewers minds automatically if the character is mentioned. Ably supported by popular child actor Johnny Sheffield as Boy, Charles Bickford as the villian of the piece, beautiful Virginia Grey , and especially veteran character actor Chill Wills as Boy's sympathetic mentor at the circus, this film has an abundance of talent that really bolstered the story. The always welcome presence of the Cheeta in this story makes for some hilarious sequences in particular when she raids the cosmetics supply at the hotel and goes on a drunken rampage. Production values are of the highest order expected of MGM with their famous jungle set on the backlot being put to good use in the earlier scenes to be replaced in the second half by wonderful on location work around some of New York's most famous sights.

As an enjoyable Tarzan romp "Tarzan's New York Adventure" really is great entertainment. While a long way from it's original source this film needs to be viewed on it's own merit and by it's place in the order of Tarzan movies. Certainly you are seeing the best any studio could provide in the way of a jungle movie and the storyline while on the incredible side is of great interest in seeing the "fish out of water" manner in which the king of the jungle handles things in his own unique way. Enjoy Johnny Weissmuller and Maureen O' Sullivan, the movies classic Tarzan and Jane in their last appearance together in MGM's enjoyable "Tarzan's New York Adventure".

I watched this movie by accident at a friends house and was turned on to the Weissmuller Tarzan films right away. Watching the films uncut makes all the difference,there's so much thats gets snipped out when Tarzan movies are shown on the Late night movie. There's actually social commentary and some pretty funny bits that you might miss on tv. Basically some bad dudes kidnap Boy and take him back to New York to exhibit in a sideshow! Jane and Tarzan follow. Seeing Tarz adjust to civilization is a scream, especially the scene where he is trying on his first suit. Maureen O'Sullivan is an Ultra-Babe as usual.And the chemistry exhibited between the two stars is really amazing when you consider that Tarzan has about a 12 word vocabulary. But the best parts of the film are when Tarzan performs various skyscraper acrobatics in pursuit of the bad guys. It's just cool. Give the whole Tarzan series ala' Weissmuller and O'Sullivan a chance. You'll be surprised at how good they are

MGM's last `Tarzan' adventure was one of its best. This film shifts the setting from the African jungle to the concrete jungle and it really swings. We finally get to see Weissmuller and Maureen O'Sullivan outfitted in more stylish attire befitting the great city. This film is a good combination of plot and action as it boasts a great courtroom scene and skyscraper chase. This was a great crowd pleaser on its release and it still is today.

By the time "Tarzan's New York Adventure" went into production, Maureen O'Sullivan wanted out of the series. Producer, Frederick Stephani appeased O'Sullivan by basing the main setting of this film in New York City. This allowed O'Sullivan to wear a more fashionable wardrobe than audiences were used to seeing her in. Tarzan and Jane travel to the "Stone Jungle" to rescue Boy from a circus owner bent on displaying him as his main attraction. A highlight of this film and the series is the big city trial for custody of Boy and an ensuing police pursuit of Tarzan. It all ends happily however! This was one of the best critically received Tarzan films. It was also MGM's last. Producer Sol Lesser brought Weissmuller's Tarzan over to RKO. "Tarzan's New York Adventure" is one of my favorites. No, it is my favorite.

Life would be paradise for Tarzan if he would only be left alone. But he loves Jane and their adopted son Boy, and the two of them do things that create troubles for Tarzan. Johnny Weissmuller portrays Tarzan as the ideal man; granted he is not sophisticated; he cannot read; he seems to have difficulty putting a sentence together; his son Boy is able to speak well, but he does not; but he lives a peaceful life, killing only when necessary, playing with the animals, swimming.

This is the last episode in which Maureen O'Sullivan is Jane. It is the first episode in which we see Johnny Weissmuller dressed in a suit. John Sheffield is Boy. The trio see a plane land in the jungle and, as in other Tarzan films, Boy is curious, and without permission wanders off to see what a plane looks like. He comes with three elephants, which he had trained. He shows the plane people the tricks that he can do with the elephants. One man is so impressed that he kidnaps Boy and takes him to New York to show him in a circus. Tarzan in a suit, Jane in a dress, and naked Cheetah fly by plane to New York to recapture Boy. There are humorous episodes, especially those performed by Cheetah. Tarzan swings from flag pole strings rather than jungle vines. Tarzan and Jane have to testify before a law court that they are fit father and mother. While the elephants in the circus never met Tarzan, they know all about him and, as in other Tarzan film, they come to his rescue when he gives the well-known Tarzan call.

Johnny Weissmuller was the best of the loincloth-clad heroes of bravado and courage. This excellent film is a testament to that. Interesting script has Tarzan swinging into action in New York City. This is a good action and adventure tale with drive. It contains nice effects and beautiful photography. Notable supporting cast. This one also contains an exquisite love scene. Weissmuller was always the absolute master of swing. One of my favorites.

As MGM knew Maureen O'Sullivan was departing the 'Tarzan' series, and budget and talent constraints were forcing the long-running series out of the studio, they decided to end things with a bang, clothing Johnny Weissmuller in a double-breasted suit, and setting him loose in New York's jungle. The gamble works, magnificently!

The premise is simple; Boy, thinking Tarzan and Jane are dead, after falling into a raging fire during a tribal attack, is whisked away by an evil circus troup in their plane. (How so many planes land safely in the middle of the jungle in these films is never explained!)

Rescued by Cheetah, Tarzan and Jane hike across Africa, dress in more modern attire (a VERY funny scene!), and fly across the Atlantic to try and retrieve their son.

The fun begins when the pair reach New York. Tarzan's bemused reaction to a black taxi driver, his takes on radio, indoor plumbing, and nightclubs, are priceless (and were recreated years later in Paul Hogan's wonderful 'Crocodile Dundee'). There are a few slightly offensive racial stereotypes displayed, but considering the period of the film, these are really quite tame.

A few nagging questions about the series are addressed in this film...'What happens if Boy gets sick?' and 'How is he being educated?', although the biggest question is never addressed...How does a boy with a British 'mother' and an Ape Man 'father' end up with an American accent?

When the courts fail to return Boy, Tarzan takes matters into his own hands, breaking out of the courthouse, and performing an extraordinary series of rooftop swings, leaps and acrobatics to get to the New Jersey home of the circus, climaxing with a breathtaking 100-foot dive off the Brooklyn Bridge. The sequence is fabulous, even 50 years after the film was released!

The film concludes with the almost stereotyped rescue scene, with elephants rescuing Tarzan and Boy, yet again! Evil is vanquished, the family is reunited, and the judge is going to catch some really BIG fish when he comes to visit!

If you're looking for gritty realism, you won't be popping a Tarzan flick into the VCR, anyway, but if you want thrills, laughs, and wonderful escapism, look no further!

Every Saturday afternoon, as a child we'd flock tothe movies. I remember seeng this as a child and it brought back memories. In spite of what many say about Tarzan, somehow exploiting black people, I feel it was entertaining and not made to offend anyone.

I enjoyed watching this movie all over again! I love Johnny Weissmuller and Maureen O'Sullivan's work and it was like being a kid all over again. It was great to see that even though Tarzan was in normal clothes that he hadn't lost his jungle charm. Johnny Sheffield was also a treat to watch, he's such a good actor for such a young boy. I loved the court room scenes and the scenes on the bridge where Tarzan did a beautiful dive into the water. I recommend this film to anyone who is a Tarzan fan.

Tarzan (Johnny Weissmuller), Jane (Maureen O'Sullivan), and Boy (Johnny Sheffield) are living peacefully in the jungle when one day, an airplane lands nearby. Several hunters emerge in hopes of trapping wild animals, especially lions. Tarzan knows the danger of these men, so he warns them to leave, but Boy is curious about their airplane, and tries to befriend them. Seeing that they can use his repore with animals to their advantage, the hunters kidnap him and take him to New York to perform in a traveling circus. Tarzan will have none of their nonsense, regardless of the barriers between the jungle and the city. He and Jane venture to New York to find their son.

One would think that Tarzan in the city would make for a great film, but we have more camp than classic here. This is not unusual for a film in the series at this period in time; ever since Boy was introduced, the series took on a more entertainment for entertainment's sake kind of a feel. It is relieving though that Tarzan and Jane did not choose to stay in the city. The couple does not quite gel in the new setting; there is a same discomfort in the book series when Tarzan enters civilization.

There is one racially sensitive scene where Cheetah dials the telephone and reaches a black janitor at a nightclub. The janitor calls Cheetah "colored boy" and becomes offended by his "double talk," suggesting that black people are the same as chimps. The scene is supposed to be funny, but it is a product of its time and does not age well at all.