Tarzan's New York Adventure is a 1942 film, the sixth Tarzan film to feature actors Johnny Weissmuller and Maureen O'Sullivan. Of interest is the uncredited appearance as a circus roustabout by Elmo Lincoln who in 1918 was the first actor to star as Tarzan.
Plot
Circus workers land an airplane in the jungles of Africa in search of lions for their show. While trapping lions, the three men meet up with Tarzan, Jane and their adopted son Boy. Watching Boy's tricks with the elephants, the head of the circus, Buck Rand (played by Charles Bickford), realizes that Boy would be a great act for the circus. The group is attacked by natives, and it appears that Tarzan and Jane have perished in a jungle fire. The men take Boy on a plane back to the United States. Tarzan's loyal chimp Cheeta wakes Tarzan and Jane before they are burned by the fire. Then Cheeta tells Tarzan that Boy has left with the men on the plane.
Tarzan, Jane and the chimp track across the jungle and eventually end up in New York City where Tarzan is befuddled by the lifestyle and gadgetry of "civilization". Tarzan displays his quaint, "noble savage" ways by complaining about the necessity of wearing clothing, commenting that an opera singer that he hears on a "noisy box" is "Woman sick! Scream for witch doctor!", and expressing his childlike wonderment at taxi cabs. It is noteworthy that Tarzan comments that various African-Americans he sees making a living throughout New York City are from this or that tribe back in their jungle home.
Tarzan and Jane attempt to get Boy back first by legal means. This leads to a moving sequence where the judge asks Tarzan what the fishing is like back in Africa and what he considers to be important things that he needs to teach his adopted son. Unfortunately, the circus retains an unscrupulous lawyer who tricks Jane into admitting that Boy was not born in the jungle and is not her actual child and provokes Tarzan into attacking him in the court room. Tarzan makes a daring escape out the courtroom windows and after a rooftop chase by the police ends up doing a high dive off the Brooklyn Bridge into the East River.
Tarzan somehow finds the circus where Boy is being held and enlists the aid of circus elephants who are chained to stakes. He calls to them with his "jungle speak" and they take their revenge on their tormentors by tearing free from the chains and destroying the circus. In the ensuing bedlam, Tarzan is able to rescue Boy, and in the film's conclusion the judge grants Tarzan and Jane full custody of Boy before the family returns to Africa.
Cast
External links
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The films of Richard Thorpe |
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| 1920s |
Rough Ridin' (with John P. McCarthy) • Rarin' to Go • Battling Buddy • Fast and Fearless • Hard Hittin' Hamilton • Rip Roarin' Roberts • Bringin' Home the Bacon • Thundering Romance • Gold and Grit • Full Speed • Fast Fightin' • On the Go • Double Action Daniels • Quicker 'n Lightnin' • Tearin' Loose • The Desert Demon • Saddle Cyclone • Galloping On • A Streak of Luck • The Last Card • The Roaring Rider • Trumpin' Trouble • The Fighting Cheat • Coming an' Going • The Twin Triggers • Deuce High • Easy Going • Rawhide • Speedy Spurs • Double Daring • The Dangerous Dub • Twisted Triggers • The Bonanza Buckaroo • College Days • Josselyn's Wife • The Bandit Buster • The First Night • The Cyclone Cowboy • Between Dangers • The Galloping Gobs • Tearin' Into Trouble • The Ridin' Rowdy • The Meddlin' Stranger • Pals in Peril • Skedaddle Gold • White Pebbles • The Interferin' Gent • The Soda Water Cowboy • Ride 'em High • The Obligin' Buckaroo • Roarin' Broncs • The Desert of the Lost • The Ballyhoo Buster • Desperate Courage • The Cowboy Cavalier • The Valley of Hunted Men • Saddle Mates • Flyin' Buckaroo • The Bachelor Girl • Border Romance
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| 1930s |
The Dude Wrangler • Wings of Adventures • The Thoroughbred • Under Montana Skies • The Utah Kid • The Lawless Woman • The Sky Spider • The Lady from Nowhere • Wild Horse • Grief Street • Neck and Neck • Forgotten Women • The Devil Plays • Cross Examination • Murder at Dawn • Probation • Escapade • The Midnight Lady • Forbidden Company • Beauty Parlor • Thrill of Youth • The King Murder • Slightly Married • Women Won't Tell • Secrets of Wu Sin • Forgotten • Love Is Dangerous • I Have Lived • Strange People • Notorious But Nice • A Man of Sentiment • Murder on the Campus • Rainbow Over Broadway • The Quitter • Stolen Sweets • City Park • Green Eyes • Cheating Cheaters • Secret of the Chateau • Strange Wives • Last of the Pagans • The Voice of Bugle Ann • Tarzan Escapes • Dangerous Number • Night Must Fall • Double Wedding • Man-Proof • Love Is a Headache • The First Hundred Years • The Toy Wife • The Crowd Roars • Three Loves Has Nancy • The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn • Tarzan Finds a Son!
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| 1940s |
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| 1950s |
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| 1960s |
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| Serials |
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| Screenplays |
The Fightin' Comeback (1927) (with • Red Clay (1927) (with Charles Logue)
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