Synopsis:
When two nefarious explorers (Tom Conway and Philip Dorn) — accompanied by a photographer (Barry Fitzgerald) — discover there’s gold near where Tarzan (Johnny Weissmuller), Jane (Maureen O’Sullivan), and their son Boy (Johnny Sheffield) live, they will stop at nothing to obtain it.

Genres:

• Africa
• Barry Fitzgerald Films
• Gold Seekers
• Jungles
• Maureen O’Sullivan Films
• Tarzan Films

Response to Peary’s Review:
Peary writes that this “fifth entry in MGM’s Johnny Weissmuller-Maureen O’Sullivan series” has a “pretty standard” plot and is “a bit on the juvenile level”, adding that the “budget cutbacks forced director Richard Thorpe to include action footage from Tarzan and His Mate and Tarzan Escapes.” However, he notes that “O’Sullivan is lovely” (when is she ever not?):

“Conway is vile:

… and Weissmuller is an ideal adventure hero”, as evidenced in the “exciting finale” when Tarzan “swims to the rescue, fights a giant crocodile, battles cannibals, and calls on the elephants.”

Peary notes that “the most interesting aspect of the film, considering the entire series was accused (rightly at times) of racism, is that a little black orphan boy [Cordell Hickman] becomes an adopted member of Tarzan’s family and is right there with them at the end” (though “predictably, he wasn’t even mentioned in the next Tarzan film”).

Otherwise, there’s absolutely nothing to distinguish this flick from others in the series: it follows the same exact formula, down to final capture by a “savage” local tribe. Only diehard fans of the series need check this one out.

Redeeming Qualities and Moments:

• The refreshing presence of a humanized African boy
  

Must See?
Nope; this is yet another GFTFF title fanatics can feel free to skip.

Links:

• IMDb entry
• Spinning Image Review
• TCM Article
• NY Times Original Review
• Moria Review